Canada\u2019s AI minister announces $10.2 million for six Manitoba businesses.<\/p>\n
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The federal government is dispensing $10.2 million across six Manitoba businesses to help them grow and adopt new technologies like AI.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The news: The Prairies Economic Development Canada\u2019s (PrairiesCan) funding was announced by AI Minister Evan Solomon at a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce event on Tuesday morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The largest recipient was Winnipeg-based adtech Taiv<\/a>, which got $5 million in repayable funding under the Business Scale-up and Productivity Program. The money will help it manufacture more of its ad replacement hardware and grow its team as it expands in Canada and the United States.<\/p>\n The Manitoba Construction Sector Council is also receiving just over $1 million in grant funding under the Regional Innovation Ecosystems Program to create a \u201cdrone and sensor library\u201d for small and medium-sized construction companies, which will give those businesses a way to access the equipment, training, and technical support.\u00a0<\/p>\n From the source: \u201cThroughout Taiv\u2019s history, we have promised to create jobs in Manitoba and have since followed through; creating over 75 jobs since 2025,\u201d Taiv co-founder and CEO Noah Palansky said in a statement. \u201cThis funding will let us continue to support the local economy as we build Taiv into a key part of Manitoba\u2019s tech ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n Following the thread: Four other companies received repayable funding, including ExpensePoint, Mode40, Aryval, and ConstructionClock<\/a>. ExpensePoint received just over $2.3 million to add new roles and integrate automation into its expense-management platform, while the rest received $800,000 or less to expand their platforms and integrate AI.\u00a0<\/p>\n Final thought: One of the federal government\u2019s primary focuses in the national AI strategy<\/a> was increasing the number of businesses and workers adopting the technology. With the strategy earmarking an additional $500 million for the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative<\/a>, which is delivered through regional development agencies like PrairiesCan, many businesses across the country will likely receive similar federal cheques in the coming years.\u00a0<\/p>\n BetaKit\u2019s Prairies reporting is funded in part by YEGAF<\/a>, a not-for-profit dedicated to amplifying business stories in Alberta.<\/p>\n