TalentED

What TalentED does

TalentED Greater Calgary is a non-profit work-based learning initiative that operates as a division of Calgary Economic Development Ltd., headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. It connects youth aged 18-24 who hold a high school diploma with local businesses and non-profit organizations across the Greater Calgary area, offering short-term paid and unpaid placements and projects designed to build job-ready skills and hands-on workplace experience. The initiative is funded and operated in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta, positioning TalentED as a public-sector workforce development program rather than a commercial enterprise.

The core product is the TalentED Matching Platform, an AI-enabled skills-matching work-based learning platform accessible at matchingplatform.jointalented.com. The platform evaluates text-based skills profiles to match employers with youth based on skills alignment rather than experience alone, with the stated objective of producing stronger fits and reducing time spent reviewing applications. The platform is supplemented by a portfolio of free service modules: 1:1 Employer Consultations with Employer Engagement Specialists (scheduled through HubSpot), in-person and virtual AI Training sessions delivered in partnership with Skills for Change (a google.org-funded organization), an AI Training Bootcamp for Youth held at venues such as SAIT Macdonald Hall, and a WIL Catalogue directory of Calgary post-secondary programs.

TalentED generates no commercial revenue; all services are provided free to both employers and youth, and the operating model is funded through Government of Canada and Province of Alberta grants routed via Calgary Economic Development Ltd. The go-to-market motion is multi-channel and community-led, combining product-led self-serve access to the matching platform with direct employer engagement (consultations, group presentations), recurring virtual training events (e.g., monthly Matching Platform Training, AI Training sessions via Microsoft Teams), and social/email marketing across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and a blog. The customer base comprises Greater Calgary small and medium businesses, startups, and non-profits on the employer side, and youth aged 18-24 with high school diplomas on the participant side.

Name

TalentED

Legal name

Calgary Economic Development Ltd.

Website

https://jointalented.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

TalentED is a non-profit work-based learning initiative and division of Calgary Economic Development Ltd. that uses an AI-powered matching platform to connect Greater Calgary youth aged 18-24 with local employers and non-profits offering short-term paid and unpaid placements, funded by the Government of Canada and Province of Alberta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Employment Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Educational Support Services (611710), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB)

Keywords

• Work-based learning
• Youth employment
• Skills matching
• Employer services
• AI training

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded program services: TalentED Greater Calgary is a strategic project for Calgary Economic Development, funded in partnership with the Government of Canada and Province of Alberta. Services are provided free to both employers and youth participants. Revenue is generated through government funding to support employment programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

TalentED operates a free AI-powered skills-matching work-based learning platform that connects employers (SMEs, startups, non-profits) with youth aged 18-24 (with a high school diploma) in the Greater Calgary area for short-term paid or unpaid placements and projects. The matching platform is bundled with AI training for employers and youth, 1:1 employer consultations, and curated funding and resource catalogues, all delivered at no cost to participants.

Product overview

TalentED is a work-based learning initiative by Calgary Economic Development offering a unified platform-plus-services portfolio. At its core is the TalentED Matching Platform, an AI-powered skills-matching platform that connects employers with job-ready youth aged 18-24. This core platform is complemented by AI Training programs (for both employers and youth), 1:1 Employer Consultations, and a suite of resource offerings including Funding Resources, a WIL Catalogue of post-secondary programs, and Employer Resources. The ecosystem also includes Youth Resources and Youth Opportunities modules, all designed to facilitate work-based learning placements across the Greater Calgary area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TalentED Matching Platform: AI-powered skills-matching WBL platform that connects employers and youth based on skills alignment rather than experience alone.

Products and services

• TalentED Matching Platform Free AI-powered skills-matching work-based learning platform that connects employers in the Greater Calgary area with job-ready youth aged 18-24 (with a high school diploma) based on skills alignment rather than experience.
• AI Training for Employers Free in-person and virtual AI training sessions delivered by Skills for Change to help employers integrate AI into everyday workplace processes and enable youth to build relevant digital skills.
• AI Training Bootcamp for Youth One-day AI certification bootcamp for youth aged 18-24 with a high school diploma that teaches practical AI skills for the workplace; participants can earn a $100 honorarium on completion.
• 1:1 Employer Consultations Free 30-minute online consultations with Employer Engagement Specialists offering Discovery Meetings, Funding Meetings, and Employer Success Meetings to help Calgary businesses and non-profits set up youth placements and projects.
• WIL Catalogue Directory of Calgary post-secondary programs offering work-integrated learning experiences such as internships, practicums, and co-op placements, enabling employers to browse programs relevant to their hiring needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth gain real workplace experience and job-ready skills through work-based learning opportunities
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Calgary Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTalentED Greater Calgary is a division of Calgary Economic Development Ltd. Calgary Economic Development is the parent organization overseeing this strategic project focused on increasing youth employability through work-based learning opportunities in the Greater Calgary area.
• Government of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support programs and services through TalentED. Funding partner supporting the youth employment initiative.
• Province of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support programs and services through TalentED. Co-funder of the youth employment initiative.
• Skills for ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTalentED has partnered with Skills for Change, a google.org funded organization, to deliver in-person and virtual AI training sessions. Skills for Change provides the training curriculum and delivery for AI programs helping businesses and youth adopt AI into the workplace.
• SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIT (Macdonald Hall) serves as a venue location for AI Training Bootcamp for Youth events. Youth aged 18-24 with high school diploma attend the bootcamp at SAIT facilities.
• Canada Summer JobssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner listed on TalentED Resources page. Provides wage subsidies for employers: up to 100% of provincial minimum wage for non-profits, up to 50% for public/private sector. For youth aged 18-30.
• MitacssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner listed on TalentED Resources page. Business Strategy Internship program allowing recent graduates (up to 24 months). Research & Innovation focused roles.
• Magnet Student Work Placement ProgramsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner listed on TalentED Resources page. Up to $2,000 extra for underrepresented groups. WIL student required. Additional employer resources available through Magnet Network.
• Technology Alberta: FIRST JobssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner listed on TalentED Resources page. Tech-focused funding for recent grads (past 6 months). Reimbursement after week 10 and week 20.
• BioTalentsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner listed on TalentED Resources page. Career Starter program for biotechnology or healthcare sectors. Up to $2,000 extra for underrepresented groups.
• ECO CanadasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner listed on TalentED Resources page. Student work placement program for environmental jobs in STEAM or Business in companies under 500 employees.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• LinkedIn (Microsoft): LinkedIn is the dominant professional network and increasingly offers skills-based job matching, recruiting tools, and learning content. It is the broad incumbent in the talent-matching category that any specialized WBL platform must contend with for employer attention and candidate flow.
• Randstad Canada: Randstad is a global staffing and employment placement firm with a large Canadian footprint in temporary and permanent placement. It overlaps with TalentED's employment placement function but operates as a commercial staffing agency rather than a youth-focused WBL platform.
• Indeed: Indeed is a global job-matching platform that serves both employers and job seekers, including youth and entry-level candidates. While not specialized in work-based learning, it represents the broad incumbent solution that TalentED's skills-matching platform must differentiate against.

Emerging players

• CEWIL Canada: Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada is the national body that accredits WIL programs and produces frameworks referenced in TalentED's employer resources. It is a peer in the WIL ecosystem and influences the standards TalentED's placements must meet.
• Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER): BHER is a Canadian non-profit that convenes employers and educators to expand WIL opportunities for students and youth. It is comparable to TalentED as a national WIL convening organization but operates as a policy/advocacy body rather than a transactional matching platform.
• RBC Future Launch: RBC Future Launch is a Canadian private-sector initiative funding youth skills development and career readiness programs. It addresses the same youth 18-24 demographic and employer partnership model as TalentED, though at a national funding level rather than as an operating platform.

Others

• Job Bank Canada (Government of Canada): Job Bank is the Government of Canada's official job-matching portal and a key element of the national youth employment ecosystem in which TalentED operates. It is a comparable channel for employer-youth matching but does not focus on skills-based WBL placements and serves a broader audience.

Direct peers

• Magnet (Toronto Region Board of Trade): Magnet operates a national Canadian employment and work-integrated learning network, including the Student Work Placement Program referenced as one of TalentED's funding partners. It directly overlaps with TalentED's mission of connecting students/youth with employers via WIL and is a key peer given its scale and policy alignment.
• Ten Thousand Coffees: Ten Thousand Coffees is a Canadian career-networking and mentorship platform aimed at early-career talent and youth. While its mechanics center on 1:1 networking rather than placements, it serves the same youth (18-24) and employer audience and represents an alternative approach to the talent-matching problem TalentED addresses.
• Riipen: Riipen is a Canadian work-integrated learning platform that connects educators, students, and employers through project-based placements. It is the closest direct competitor to TalentED, addressing the same employer/youth matching problem at national scale using a similar marketplace model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61591476192919
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jointalented
• Instagraminstagram.com/talentedgreatercalgary?igsh=MW1ybXd0dnNpczBsbQ==
• TikToktiktok.com/@talented.greater?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TalentED