FounderFuel
AcceleratorMontreal · Pre-Seed–Seed · 2 people tracked
Find your way into FounderFuel
1,391 people in our graph share verified history with the FounderFuel team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
FounderFuel runs a 16-week accelerator built around five pillars—Leadership, Narrative, Learning, Networks, and Execution—to develop both the skills and mindsets of early-stage founders. It invests C$120K per company (a C$100K SAFE plus a C$20K equity investment for 5% in founder shares) and works with companies across all sectors that use technology, particularly software and data, to build new business models in large markets. Hardware is considered when paired with a software or data component. The program targets pre-seed and seed-stage teams with a functioning product and early traction, offering mentorship, coaching, and access to the networks of Real Ventures, Panache Ventures, and Inovia Capital ahead of raising their first institutional round.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.
Team · 2 people
from the firm's website & public directories
Founder mafia
The FounderFuel mafia →10 people who came through FounderFuel went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 41 of 80 portfolio companiesSaaS ×24AI & Machine Learning ×11Consumer ×8Retail Tech ×8Enterprise Software ×7Fintech ×6E-commerce ×5Hardware ×5
HQs:Canada×26United States×5
Who they back
founder profiles across 26 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×112 founders×93 founders×54+ founders×1
Where their founders studiedfrom 32 founders with education data
McGill University ×4Université de Montréal ×4University of Toronto ×4Concordia University ×2Université Laval ×2University of Toronto - University of Trinity College ×2University of Toronto - Woodsworth College ×2UQAM | Université du Québec à Montréal ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 32 founders with career history
McGill University ×4Combustible ×2McGill X-1 Accelerator ×2Swift Trade ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
6 founders hold a PhD · 3 hold an MBA (of 35 with degree data)
Portfolio companies · 80 tracked
alumni founders can tell you what the program is really likeAim Colours develops NFC and E Ink technology integrated into physical devices and companion apps for brands, with expertise in circuit miniaturization at millimeter scale.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareHardwareNew Materials
Alejandra Huerta(Founder & Ph.D.)in
Apps bringing visibility, discoverability and monetization to web publishers; acquired by Unity Technologies in March 2014.
BenchSci builds AI infrastructure for preclinical drug discovery, using machine learning that reads scientific literature to extract experimental evidence and map disease biology for biopharma R&D teams.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechData & InfrastructureDigital HealthHealthtechToronto, US
David Qixiang Chen, PhD(Founder)inElvis Wianda(Co-founder & Chief Data Officer)inLiran Belenzon(Co-founder & CEO)inTom Leung(Co-founder & Chief Science Officer)inDavid Chen(Co-founder)in
Co-investorsInovia CapitalGeneration Investment ManagementGradient VenturesTCV500 GlobalAfore Capital+5 more
Marketplace where employers find and test-drive top students and recent grads.
BetaKit is a Canadian technology news publication covering startups, venture capital, and the tech industry through articles and a podcast.
Media & Entertainment
Co-investorsFlyover Capital
Co-investorsCreative Destruction Lab (CDL)
Bus.com provides charter and transit transportation services for enterprise and government organizations across North America.
Climate TechEnterprise SoftwareMarketplacesMobility & TransportationMontreal, CA
Kyle Boulay(Cofounder, CEO)inWolf Kohlberg(Founder)in
Co-investorsAutotech VenturesBMW i VenturesJackson Square VenturesY Combinator
Platform connecting designers and developers with vetted clients; acquired.
Enkidoo offers two products: DOOSYNC, a data migration service for transferring historical data into new cloud point-of-sale (POS) systems for retailers, and SPOQUE.AI, a patented interactive AI solution for supply chain and enterprise systems.
AI & Machine LearningLogistics & Supply ChainRetail Tech
Fundmetric provides artificial intelligence and data analytics software to help nonprofit fundraising organizations make data-driven decisions and increase donor lifetime value.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureFintechSaaS
Mark Hobbs(CEO)in
Co-investorsFront Row Ventures
GoBolt provides ecommerce fulfillment and last-mile delivery services, handling picking, packing, shipping, delivery, and returns for merchants, with a focus on sustainability and an electric vehicle fleet.
CleantechE-commerceLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Heindrik Bernabe(Co-founder)inMark Ang(Co-founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsIngka InvestmentsKensington Capital Partners LimitedPlaza VenturesWhitecap Venture PartnersBDC Capital CorporationBMO Capital Partners+4 more
Guides is a publishing platform for creating, updating, and sharing instructional guides without a CMS or developer.
EdTechMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
Hello Darwin operates a platform and advisory service that helps businesses identify, prioritize, and apply for grants, tax credits, and government funding programs, with a strong focus on Quebec and broader Canadian programs.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechGovTechSaaS
Francis Desrochers(Founder)inMathieu Plante 🍀(Founder)in
Co-investorsTactico
Tools for web publishers to create interactive, mobile-friendly infographics with live data; acquired.
instaMek is a mobile auto repair service that sends licensed mechanics to customers' homes for vehicle maintenance and repairs.
ConsumerMarketplacesMobility & TransportationSaaS
Asem(Co-founder)
Co-investorsEdmonton Unlimited
Mikael Cho(Founder)in
Co-investorsAstellaAvant Global LLCBDC Venture CapitalNomad Venture Partners, LlcThe CraftoryTinySeed+3 more
Keatext offers a cloud-based, AI-powered text analytics platform that interprets customer and employee feedback using natural language understanding to help organizations improve the experience of the people they serve.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareMedia & EntertainmentSaaSMontreal, CA
Narjès Boufaden(Founder & CEO)inCharles-Olivier Simard(Co-founder & CTO)in
Co-investors500 GlobalGood AI Capital
Co-investorsDiaspora Ventures
Co-investorsCompanyon VenturesPanache Ventures
Share and listen to friends' music for free; acquired.
Machine vision for bird deterrence.
LoginRadius provides a fully-managed customer identity and access management (CIAM) platform that handles authentication, social login, and identity management for enterprises, governments, and organizations.
CybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareSaaSVancouver, CA
Rakesh Soni(Founder)in
Co-investorsForgePoint CapitalBDC Capital CorporationEdmonton UnlimitedM12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)Verdex CapitalYaletown Partners
A retailer offering sustainably and ethically produced fine jewelry at accessible prices, designed for everyday wear and conscious consumption.
Co-investorsIncite.org
Mejuri is a jewelry brand that designs and sells fine jewelry directly to consumers, with a philanthropic program (the Empowerment Fund, purpose-driven products, and corporate giving) supporting women and underrepresented communities.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceRetail TechToronto, CA
Co-investors500 GlobalCedar Mundi VenturesDASH VenturesFELIX CAPITALImaginary Venture CapitalIncite.org+1 more
Mosaic manufactures automated FFF 3D printing systems that enable on-demand production of polymer parts at scale for manufacturers.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningHardwareToronto, CA
Mitch Debora(Founder)in
Co-investorsTechstars
Kickflip is a platform that enables ecommerce brands to sell customizable, made-to-order products without requiring the cost and complexity of enterprise solutions or the poor user experience of low-cost alternatives.
E-commerceRetail TechSaaSQuebec City, CA
NameShouts helps people celebrate and properly pronounce their names.
ConsumerSaaSMontreal, CA
Nectar builds software and data tools for migratory and commercial beekeepers, including a traceability system that generates operation-specific best management practices from hive data.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningIoTSaaSMontreal, CA
Marc-André Roberge(Co-Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsTall Grass VenturesGV (Google Ventures)MenloMenlo VenturesTrue Ventures
Headbands of Hope manufactures and sells headbands, with a buy-one-give-one model that donates a headband to children with cancer for each unit sold.
ConsumerE-commerceImpact & Social GoodRetail TechSaaS
Jess Ekstrom(Founder)
Hardware company (OSCP) backed by FounderFuel.
Opencare operates a curated network of vetted dentists across North America that helps patients find and access quality dental care.
B2B MarketplacesHealthtechMarketplaces
Cameron Howieson(Founder)in
Co-investors8VCAcequia Capital (AceCap)Collaborative FundFf Venture CapitalGraph VenturesInovia Capital
Monitoring email and cloud files for compliance risk with automatic tagging.
Co-investorsSilicon Catalyst
Paper provides personalized academic support services to K-12 schools, including tutoring, 24/7 support, and after-school enrichment programs designed to build student confidence and academic skills.
EdTech
Philip Cutler(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsBirchmere VenturesBullpen CapitalFramework Venture PartnersIVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Sapphire VenturesSoftBank Vision Fund+4 more
Pelcro is a subscription and membership management platform that handles recurring billing, paywalls, member data, access control, e-commerce, and donation processing, with AI tools built into its workflows.
FintechMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
Co-investorsFront Row Ventures
Periodic is a white-label booking and scheduling platform for businesses with multiple locations, service types, and resources, letting them run branded booking sites on their own domain.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaSBloomington, US
Brad Wisler(Executive Officer, Director)Michael Trotzke(Director)Nealesh Patel(Director)
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Prospecer is a cloud-based platform for interior designers to create, track, and manage project specifications, schedules, and contract documents for finishes, lighting, furniture, and other project elements.
Construction TechPropTechSaaS
QuoteMachine is a sales, invoicing, and order management platform built for retail businesses.
Retail TechSaaSSales Tech
Co-investorsClocktower VenturesManresa VenturesPrecursor VenturesTelegraph Hill Capital
Ready Education provides a campus experience platform for higher education institutions that integrates academic and co-curricular learning experiences to enhance student community and retention.
ConsumerEdTechFuture of WorkSaaSSocialMontreal, CA
Danial Jameel(Founder/CEO)inAlice Dinu(Founder)inJames Dang(Founder)inGary Ambrosino(Chief Executive Officer)in
Co-investorsFundersClubGoAhead VenturesLevel EquityY Combinator
reelyActive stewards open source IoT middleware and technologies for ambient identification, sensing, and real-time location systems using wireless devices and gateway infrastructure.
Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareHardwareIoTSector AgnosticMontréal, CA
Jeffrey(Co-founder and CEO)Traian(Co-founder)Pier-Olivier(Co-founder)
Roll lets people play board games with friends from a phone or browser by sharing a link to join a game.
ConsumerGamingSocial
Smart data targeting for efficient social media advertising.
SnapWrite is an AI merchandising platform that connects to a company's existing systems (ERPs, PIMs, PLMs, spreadsheets) to collect, clean, structure, and enrich product data, then automatically publishes it across sales channels and AI discovery engines.
AI & Machine LearningE-commerceRetail Tech
Sonder operates a hospitality platform offering managed short-term rental accommodations across multiple cities globally, combining contemporary design with technology-enabled services for guests.
MarketplacesPropTechTravel & HospitalitySan Francisco, US
Francis Davidson(Co-Founder & CEO (2014–2025))inMartin Picard(Co-Founder)inLucas Pellan(Co-Founder)Sanjay Banker(President & Chief Financial Officer)Satyen Pandya(Chief Technology Officer)Daniel Cornwell(Interim Co-CEO (from June 2025))
Co-investorsAkkadian VenturesAlate PartnersBDC Venture CapitalBlackbird VenturesGreylock PartnersReshape+4 more
Integrating hotel and apartment booking into web/app platforms.
Transit is a public transit app that helps people navigate cities using buses, trains, bikes, and walking instead of cars.
AI & Machine LearningConsumerMobility & TransportationSaaSMontreal, CA
Sam Vermette(Co-founder & CEO)inGuillaume Campagna(Co-founder & CTO)inJake Sion(Chief Operating Officer)inDavid Block-Schachter(Chief Business Officer)in
Co-investorsAccelAlliance Ventures
Personalized skincare solutions website.
Using few-shot learning to design better drug candidates, faster
AI & Machine LearningBiotechData & InfrastructureDeep TechHealthtechMontréal, CA
Daniel Cohen(Founder)in
Co-investorsAir Street CapitalAmplify CapitalBrightspark VenturesFront Row VenturesPanache VenturesTechstars+3 more
Vish is a color management system for salons that tracks inventory, automates service workflows, and measures color performance to reduce waste and increase revenue.
ConsumerHardwareRetail TechSaaSMontreal, CA
Tim Howard(Founder and Chief Innovation Officer)Joshua Howard(Founder and CEO)inRyne Flood(Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer)
Willful operates an online estate planning platform that guides individuals through creating legally valid wills and power of attorney documents.
FintechLegalTechSaaS
Erin Bury(Co-founder & CEO)inKevin Oulds(Co-founder & Head of Research and Innovation)inJulia Wilkie(Head of Customer Experience and Operations)inChris Long(Head of Product)in
Co-investorsBackbone AngelsMaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF)TacticoMaRS
KAMPI is an app and platform that uses machine learning and AI to turn shrimp farmers' daily records into recommendations for managing biomass, biological and environmental parameters, feeding, and profitability across the harvest cycle.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningFoodTech
Co-investorsAqua SparkDesigner Fund
Zeffy operates a 100% free, all-in-one fundraising and donor management platform for nonprofits and charities, offering tools such as donation collection and volunteer management.
FintechImpact & Social GoodSaaS
Thibaut(Co-founder)François de Kerret(Founder)in
Co-investorsMAINRing CapitalPanache Ventures
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioValence Discoveryacq. by Recursion
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Transit · kqed.org · Aug 18, 2026
Zeffy · rallyup.com · Jul 24, 2026
Bus.com · chad.co.uk · Jul 19, 2026
Sonder · singletrackworld.com · Jul 16, 2026
Nectar · demandgenreport.com · Jun 2, 2026
Paper · finsmes.com · May 7, 2026
Wavo · wavo.fr · Mar 25, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has FounderFuel made?
- FounderFuel has 80 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited via acquisition or IPO.
- What stage does FounderFuel invest at?
- FounderFuel invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is FounderFuel's typical check size?
- FounderFuel typically writes checks of $88K.
- What sectors does FounderFuel focus on?
- FounderFuel focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Data & Infrastructure, EdTech, Fintech, Hardware, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is FounderFuel located?
- FounderFuel is headquartered in Montreal, CA.
- Does FounderFuel lead rounds?
- FounderFuel typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does FounderFuel co-invest with?
- FounderFuel most often shares deals with 500 Global, Front Row Ventures, BDC Venture Capital, among 80 tracked co-investors.
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