The University of Calgary achieved a remarkable 38-place climb in PitchBook’s 2025 global university rankings of venture-backed founders, solidifying its position as a leading entrepreneurship powerhouse in Canada. According to the university, UCalgary has produced 189 alumni founders since 2014 who have collectively raised $3.4 billion in venture capital, demonstrating the institution’s significant impact on the global startup ecosystem across multiple industries.
The university’s alumni have founded notable companies spanning technology, energy, finance, and agriculture sectors, including major successes like Dapper Labs (blockchain and digital collectibles), Eavor (geothermal energy technology), Neo Financial (digital banking), Pairwise (agricultural biotechnology), and Expa (venture studio). This diverse portfolio of successful ventures reflects UCalgary’s interdisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship education and its strength in both traditional energy sectors and emerging technology fields.
UCalgary was one of only eight Canadian institutions to make the prestigious PitchBook Top 100 list, joining the University of Toronto among international climbers challenging established U.S. powerhouses including UC Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, Penn, and MIT. The ranking represents a significant achievement for Canadian higher education, demonstrating that institutions outside traditional Silicon Valley networks can produce globally competitive entrepreneurial talent.
Beyond alumni success, the University of Calgary has led Canada in research-based startup creation, launching 105 new ventures over the past six years. This impressive track record in translating academic research into commercial ventures positions UCalgary as a critical bridge between laboratory discoveries and market applications. The university’s innovation ecosystem provides comprehensive support for both research commercialization and alumni entrepreneurship initiatives.
Dr. William Ghali, vice-president (research) at UCalgary, emphasized the significance of the ranking achievement: “UCalgary ranking in the PitchBook Top 100 list is an important indicator of success in our research and innovation implementation plan. Our innovation ecosystem provides robust supports for our research and alumni community, and we look forward to continued impact and success.” This statement reflects the institution’s strategic commitment to maintaining its upward trajectory in global entrepreneurship rankings.
PitchBook’s annual ranking methodology analyzes more than 173,000 venture-backed founders, tracking their educational backgrounds before launching companies. The comprehensive data set provides credible insight into which universities most effectively prepare students for entrepreneurial success and venture capital fundraising. UCalgary’s dramatic improvement in these rankings validates the effectiveness of its entrepreneurship programs and innovation support infrastructure in producing founders capable of securing significant venture funding.
The university’s success comes amid growing recognition of Canada as an emerging startup hub, with Calgary particularly benefiting from its traditional energy sector expertise combined with growing technology capabilities. As the global economy increasingly values sustainable energy solutions and financial technology innovation, UCalgary’s alumni companies are well-positioned to capture market opportunities while contributing to Canada’s reputation as a source of world-class entrepreneurial talent.
