Fundraising Fox

Venture Ontario

Government fund

Toronto · Seed–Growth · 3 people tracked

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Investment thesis

Venture Ontario operates as the government of Ontario's venture capital agency, focused on strengthening the provincial venture capital ecosystem. Its mandate is to support high-potential technology companies in accessing the capital they need to grow, while promoting and developing the broader venture capital sector across Ontario. The agency partners with universities and established investment firms to seed new funds, such as a recent life sciences venture capital fund backing spinouts, indicating an emphasis on technology and life sciences within the province.

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage
Seed–Growth
HQ
Toronto, ON, CA
Instruments
Equity
Tracked investments
77

Team · 3 people

from the firm's website

What they invest in

from 30 of 77 portfolio companies

SaaS ×13Enterprise Software ×11AI & Machine Learning ×7Hardware ×6Consumer ×5Fintech ×5Healthtech ×5Biotech ×4

HQs:Canada×10United States×6

Who they back

founder profiles across 16 portfolio companies
50%
solo founders
8 of 16 mapped founding teams

Founding team size:solo founder×82 founders×73 founders×1

Investments · 77 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2019 · 12016 · 22015 · 14 dated

Edesa Biotechedesabiotech.cominNASDAQ: EDSA

Edesa Biotech is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing monoclonal antibody candidates as host-directed therapeutics for inflammatory and immune-related diseases.

BiotechHealthtechMarkham, US

Pardeep Nijhawan(Executive Officer, Director)Stephen Lemieux(Executive Officer)Michael Brooks(Executive Officer)Mary Catherine Brisson(Executive Officer)Mark A. McPartland(Executive Officer)Kathi Niffenegger(Executive Officer)

Co-investorsLumira Ventures

Shopifyshopify.caNASDAQ: SHOPOct 2019

Shopify is a commerce platform that enables businesses to build online stores, sell across multiple channels (web, social, marketplace, POS), and manage inventory and orders.

E-commerceRetail TechSaaSOttawa, CA

Daniel Weinand(Executive Officer)Tobias Lutke(Executive Officer, Director)inAmy Shapero(Executive Officer)Craig Miller(Executive Officer)Jeff Weiser(Executive Officer)Joseph Frasca(Executive Officer)

Co-investorsBright Pixel CapitalData TechDraft Ventures LlcFelicis VenturesFirstMark CapitalOMERS Ventures+2 more

Achieversachievers.com
Adapsyn Biosciences Inc.
AirVM
Aislelabsaislelabs.com

Aislelabs provides WiFi analytics and marketing solutions to enterprise teams in retail, aviation, restaurant, and hospitality sectors.

AdTechAI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechRetail TechSaaS

Apphero Inc.
Aptose Biosciences Inc.aptose.com

Aptose Biosciences is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel cancer therapeutics, with a focus on acute myeloid leukemia treatments.

BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesDel Mar, US

Auvik Networksauvik.comin𝕏

Auvik is a cloud-based AI-powered IT operations platform that helps managed service providers and IT departments monitor and manage networks, SaaS applications, and endpoints.

AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingEnterprise SoftwareIoTWaterloo, CA

Alex HoffMarc MorinDavid YachDouglas Murray(Chief Executive Officer)

Co-investorsBDC Fund Investments (Fund-of-Funds)BDC Venture CapitalCeltic House Asia PartnersCeltic House Venture PartnersGolub GrowthOpenView Venture Partners+2 more

Avidbotsavidbots.comin𝕏

Avidbots makes autonomous floor-cleaning robots and supports customers globally through a network of channel partners.

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningCleantechHardwarePropTechRoboticsKitchener, CA

Faizan Sheikh(Founder)inPablo Molinain

Co-investorsGolden VenturesNext47GGV CapitalTrue Ventures500 GlobalBDC Growth Venture Fund+4 more

Bluecat Networks Inc.
Blueline Bioscience
BranchSci
Canvaspop
Carrot Insights Inc.
Chango
Chatkit Inc.
Chatter
ChefHero
Clearpath Roboticsclearpathrobotics.comin𝕏Jul 2016

Clearpath Robotics builds unmanned vehicles and robotics platforms aimed at making robotics research and development easier for its customers.

Deep TechHardwareRoboticsKitchener

Bryan Webb(Executive Officer, Director)Matthew Rendall(Executive Officer, Director)

BoardMurray Gamble(Director)Karamdeep Nijjar(Director)inStuart Ellman(Director)inMichael Stork(Director)

Co-investorsGarage CapitalKeiretsu ForumKensington Capital Partners LimitedSWO Angel GroupWaterloo Accelerator CentreInovia Capital+1 more

Connections
Cority
Corsa Technology
Ecobeeecobee.comin𝕏

ecobee makes smart home devices including smart thermostats and cameras, along with its eco+ software that delivers energy savings and demand flexibility for the electricity grid.

CleantechConsumerEnergyHardwareIoTToronto, CA

Stuart Lombard(Executive Officer, Director)Jonathan Prosser(Executive Officer)Rajan Goel(Director)Deborah Merril(Director)Chris Carradine(Executive Officer)John Metselaar(Executive Officer)

Co-investorsEnergy Impact PartnersRelay VenturesAmazon Alexa Fund

eSentireesentire.comin𝕏

eSentire provides Managed Detection and Response (MDR) cybersecurity services combining a multi-agent generative AI platform with 24/7 human-led security operations to detect, investigate, and respond to cyberattacks.

AI & Machine LearningCybersecuritySaaSWaterloo, CA

Co-investorsWarburg PincusGeorgianCisco InvestmentsEdison PartnersInformation Venture PartnersLeawood Venture Capital Llc+2 more

Exact Imagingexactimaging.comin𝕏

Exact Imaging develops the ExactVu micro-ultrasound platform, a 29 MHz imaging system that lets urologists perform real-time targeted and systematic prostate biopsies within a standard workflow.

HardwareHealthtechMedical DevicesMarkham, CA

Harold Wodlinger(Director)Randy AuCoin(President & CEO)Rob Sandler(Executive Officer)Jerrold Wen(Executive Officer)

BoardWilliam Wortman(Director)Gaston Matthyssens(Director)

Co-investorsiGan PartnersLumira VenturesPMVVesalius Biocapital Partners

Figure 1Jul 2015

Toronto

Gregory Levey(Executive Officer, Director)Zen Chu(Director)Richard Penner(Executive Officer, Director)Andrew Weissman(Director)Joshua Landy(Executive Officer)

BoardBoris Wertz(Director)

Co-investorsVersion One Ventures

Filefacets Corporation
Flybitsflybits.comin𝕏

Flybits provides an AI-powered engagement platform that turns customer data into real-time, personalized experiences for banks and other regulated financial institutions.

AI & Machine LearningFintechMarketing Tech

Co-investorsBosch VenturesPoint72 VenturesRobert Bosch Venture CapitalToronto Innovation Acceleration PartnersReinventure Group

Fresh Booksfreshbooks.comin𝕏

FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting and invoicing platform designed for small service-based businesses.

Enterprise SoftwareFintechHR TechSaaS

Mike McDerment(Founder)in

Co-investorsAccompliceEvolution VC PartnersOak Investment Partners

Fusion Pharmaceuticalsfusionpharma.comin𝕏

Fusion Pharma develops targeted alpha therapeutics that link alpha-emitting medical isotopes to molecules targeting biomarkers on cancer cell surfaces to selectively kill tumor cells.

BiotechHealthtech

Co-investorsFACIT (Fight Against Cancer Innovation Trust)HealthCapLumira VenturesSeroba Life SciencesYsios CapitalAdams Street Partners+2 more

Gallop
Graphite Software
Helpful
Inkboxinkbox.com

Inkbox makes semi-permanent temporary tattoos featuring original designs created in collaboration with artists.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerToronto, CA

Braden Handley(Cofounder)Tyler Handley(Founder)in

Co-investorsEvolution VC PartnersGolden VenturesHemisphere Ventures LLCKombo VenturesMaveronParade Ventures

Integrate.ai Inc.
Intuitive
Jiffy
Joistjoist.comin

Joist is a job management platform for contractors that simplifies estimating, invoicing, and payment collection.

Construction TechEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSEastern Canada, CA

Co-investorsGolden Ventures

Kira Talentkiratalent.comin𝕏

Kira Talent offers a holistic admissions platform for higher education programs, combining on-demand timed video and written assessments with structured live interview technology to help schools evaluate applicants' skills and traits.

EdTechSaaS

Emilie Cushman(Founder)

Co-investorsBisk VenturesETS Strategic CapitalRelay Ventures

KodaCloud
Locationary
Newterranewterra.cominacquired by Frontenac

Newterra provides water solutions and technologies for customers dealing with water-related challenges.

Advanced ManufacturingCleantechClimate TechArkansas, US

Co-investorsFrontenacXPV Water Partners

Nuvyyo
Nyminymi.comin𝕏

Nymi develops wearable authentication devices and connected worker solutions for Industry 4.0 environments, using ECG-based biometric identification to enable secure, persistent access and digital interactions.

CybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareHardwareIoTToronto, CA

Karl MartinFoteini Agrafioti

Co-investorsFundersClubRecruit Strategic PartnersRelay VenturesSalesforce Ventures

Plootoplooto.comin

Plooto is a payments platform for accounting firms and their SMB clients that handles accounts payable, accounts receivable, and international payments with automated approval workflows and two-way sync to existing accounting software.

Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS

Co-investorsFINTOP CapitalCentana Growth PartnersLuge Capital

Polar
PostBeyondpostbeyond.comin𝕏

PostBeyond is an employee advocacy platform that enables organizations to centrally manage social media content and empower employees to share company messaging on their personal social accounts.

Enterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSSales TechSocial

Co-investorsPlaza VenturesInformation Venture Partners

Pumpup
Q4 Inc.q4inc.comin

Q4 provides an AI-native CRM platform designed for investor relations teams to manage the full investor lifecycle by combining intent data, ownership information, and market intelligence.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS

Darrell Heaps(Founder, Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer)

Co-investorsHotung Investment Holdings Ltd.Kensington Capital Partners LimitedPlaza VenturesInformation Venture Partners

Rare
Ritual
Roadmunkroadmunk.comin𝕏

Roadmunk (now Strategic Roadmaps by Tempo) is a product roadmapping tool that lets teams capture customer feedback, prioritize ideas, and build shareable timeline, swimlane, and table roadmaps to align stakeholders across an organization.

Enterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkSaaS

Co-investorsDiversisGarage CapitalGolden Ventures

Ross
Rubikloud Technologies
ScribbleLive
Sensibill
ShopLocket
Snaptravel
Soapbox

Exits · 3

IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolio

Edesa BiotechNASDAQ: EDSAShopifyNASDAQ: SHOPNewterraacq. by Frontenac

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has Venture Ontario made?
Venture Ontario has 77 tracked investments, 2 of which have exited via acquisition or IPO.
What stage does Venture Ontario invest at?
Venture Ontario invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
What sectors does Venture Ontario focus on?
Venture Ontario focuses on Biotech, Cleantech, Healthtech, Medical Devices, Sector Agnostic.
Where is Venture Ontario located?
Venture Ontario is headquartered in Toronto, CA.
Who does Venture Ontario co-invest with?
Venture Ontario most often shares deals with Golden Ventures, OMERS Ventures, Kensington Capital Partners Limited, among 81 tracked co-investors.

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