Amplitude Ventures related stories
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StandUp Ventures’ debut fund raises fresh capital, ups target to $25 mlnStandUp Ventures, part of a small but fast-growing group of Canadian women-focused venture firms, held the second close of its inaugural fund, raising $18 million. StandUp Ventures Fund I secured additional commitments from CIBC, Export Development Canada, Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund II, RBC and Vancity, a news release said. The new limited partners joined BDC Capital, which helped anchor the fund’s launch in 2017. With the second close, Fund I surpassed its original goal of $15 million. The Toronto firm, overseen by MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund, is now targeting a final close of $25 million.
Jewelry brand Mejuri nabs $31 mln in NEA-led Series B: TechCrunchMejuri, a Toronto-based fine jewelry brand, has raised about $31 million (US$23 million) in a Series B financing, according to a report https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/25/mejuri-23m-series-b/ by TechCrunch. U.S. venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA) led the round, the report said. Existing investors BDC Capital, Dash Ventures, Felix Capital and Incite Ventures also participated. The news follows last September's announcement of a $5 million Series A financing /canada/2018/09/jewelry-brand-mejuri-raises-5-mln-in-felix-led-series-a-round/ led by Felix. Other investors in that deal included Real Ventures. Founded in 2015 by CEO Noura Sakkijha and COO Maj Masad, Mejuri designs, makes and sells handcrafted, everyday jewelry directly to consumers, avoiding traditional retail markups.
Venture-backed Milestone seeks up to $115 mln in Nasdaq IPOMontréal-based cardiovascular drug maker Milestone Pharmaceuticals has filed a preliminary prospectus with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission for an initial public offering. The company is seeking up to $115 million (US$86 million) from an offering of common shares on the Nasdaq Global Market, the filing said. It intends to list under the symbol MIST. Founded in 2005, Milestone is the developer of etripamil, a nasal spray formulation of calcium channel blockers used to terminate episodes of transient cardiovascular conditions. Milestone has raised roughly $220 million in venture capital financing. This includes $105 million raised last year /canada/2018/10/milestone-pharmaceuticals-secures-80-mln-in-rtw-led-round/ led by RTW Investments.
Robotics maker Avidbots closes $23.6 million Series B roundKitchener, Ontario-based robotics company Avidbots has secured $23.6 million in a Series B financing. True Ventures, a U.S. venture capital firm, led the round, which brings Avidbots' total funding to $36 million. Joining the deal were existing investors, including GGV Capital, SOSV, Real Ventures and 500 Startups Canada, as well as new investors, including Next47, BDC Capital and KCPL. Founded in 2014 by CEO Faizan Sheikh and CTO Pablo Molina, Avidbots designs and makes autonomous connected robots. Its first product, Neo, is a robotic floor scrubber deployed in commercial locations worldwide. The funds raised will be used for global growth and to invest in talent acquisition, engineering, marketing and sales.
Warburg Pincus invests $130 mln in growth of Assent ComplianceAssent Compliance, an Ottawa-based supply-chain data management company, has secured a $130 million investment from Warburg Pincus, a U.S. private equity firm. As a result, Warburg's Justin Sadrian and Sam Lipsick will join the board. BDC Capital, Greenspring Associates, OpenText Enterprise Apps Fund and Volition Capital, which backed /canada/2017/07/assent-compliance-raises-40-mln-in-series-b-financing-report/ Assent's Series A and B rounds, will remain as investors. Assent provides cloud-based enterprise supply-chain data management software to help companies manage and reduce third-party market access, reputational, financial and operational risks. It will use the deal's proceeds to enhance the platform and expand product compliance, vendor management and social responsibility solutions.
Vancouver Founder Fund secures $31 mln in close of Fund IIVancouver Founder Fund (VFF) has closed its second seed-stage venture capital fund to invest in technology companies in the Pacific Northwest. VFF said Fund II raised more than twice the committed capital of Fund I, which raised $14 million in 2016. According to a report https://betakit.com/vancouver-founder-fund-closes-31-million-fund-ii/ by BetaKit, the amount secured was $31 million. BDC Capital was Fund II's sole institutional investor, the report said. Fund II's debut investment was real estate marketing software platform AvenueHQ, which earlier in 2018 raised $4.5 million in a seed round /canada/2018/05/avenuehq-secures-4-5-mln-vff-led-seed-financing/ Vancouver-based VFF was founded in 2015 by Managing Partner Fraser Hall and Partner Dan Eisenhardt, who together formerly led Recon Instruments, and Partner Jay Rhind.
Omnirobotic seeded with $1 mln in Element AI-led roundLaval, Québec-based robotics automation startup Omnirobotic has secured $1 million in a seed-stage financing. The round was led by Canadian artificial intelligence solutions company Element AI and joined by Real Ventures, Alexandre Taillefer and Genik. Founded in 2016 by CEO Francois Simard and CTO Laurier Roy, Omnirobotic helps mass customization manufacturers robotize their operations and address personnel shortages. It said the proceeds of the seed round will allow the company to demonstrate its first product, OmniPainter, an autonomous painting robot targeted to the painting industry, and develop additional industrial applications.
Real estate tech company NestReady grows VC funding to $5.7 mlnMontréal-based real estate technology company NestReady has raised a new, undisclosed financing that brings its total funding so far to $5.7 million. Investors in the latest round include National Bank of Canada and Peter Aceto, former CEO of Tangerine (ING Direct). The company has previously been backed by TechStars, 500 Startups, BDC Capital, 7Seas Partners, Stage1Ventures, NXT Ventures and angel investors. Founded in 2012, NestReady's platform streamlines the home-buying process to include everything from home search and property visits to selecting agents and financing. The funds raised will be used to advance artificial intelligence capabilities.