McRock Capital related stories
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Closing the gap between management and financeSurveys of entrepreneurs often cite finance as a major barrier to starting and growing innovative companies in Canada. What is often ignored, writes Conference Board of Canada research director Michael Grant , is that funding is only half of the solution. The other half is management capabilities to use risk capital effectively and create value.
BDC, CVCA infographic points to VC's impact on Canadian startupsAn infographic http://www.bdc.ca/EN/solutions/venture_capital/newsroom/Pages/impact_vc_on_businesses.aspx created by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA) highlights data attesting to the positive impact of venture investment in Canadian innovative companies. Some of the data come from a 2013 report /canada/2013/11/03/the-collateral-benefits-venture-capital/ published by the CVCA in partnership with Industry Canada and Statistics Canada, providing new evidence of the economic benefits of market activity. Speaking about Canadian venture deal-making trends in 2013, BDC executive vice-president Jérôme Nycz said results show "the fruits of an ecosystem coming together." BDC also pointed to recent trends that have been influenced by BDC Venture Capital's fund-of-funds activity, direct investments made by its specialty IT, energy/cleantech and healthcare funds, and its role in facilitating the implementation of Ottawa's Venture Capital Action Plan.
Fund briefs Jan 1, 2014Recent fundraising achievements by Cendana, Illuminate and other venture firms
McRock Capital announces initial close of $50 mln industrial Internet fundCanadian venture capital firm McRock Capital has announced the initial close of its $50 million industrial Internet partnership, McRock iNFund LP. Capital committed was led by BDC Venture Capital with the participation of Canadian and U.S. institutional investors and family offices. The fund closing follows McRock's announcement /canada/2013/11/18/mcrock-capital-partners-ge-capital-advance-industrial-internet/ last month of a strategic partnership with GE Canada to help introduce a higher degree of connectivity and analytics of the digital world to resource sectors. Based in Toronto, McRock invests in Canadian and U.S.-based companies that are targeting large industrial markets looking to maximize efficiency by making their machines, equipment and devices run more intelligently.
- Toronto-based McRock Capital closes $50 mln for industrial internet fund
Toronto-based investment firm McRock Capital has raised $50 million in the first close for its industrial internet VC fund. Investors include BDC Venture Capital and "significant" Canadian and U.S. institutional investors and family offices.
- McRock Capital partners with GE Capital to advance industrial internet
Canadian venture capital firm McRock Capital has formed a strategic relationship with GE Canada to help introduce a higher degree of connectivity and analytics of the digital world to Canadian energy and mining sectors. Based in Toronto, McRock invests exclusively in Intelligent infrastructure companies across Canada and the United States.
- Venture capital’s glass ceiling
Canada’s venture capital industry today features a number of high-powered women occupying senior positions on the investment and executive teams of their firms. However, the presence of female VCs in the top ranks of their organizations might be more the exception than the rule, according to a new report produced by MaRS Data Catalyst, the research arm of Toronto-based innovation hub MaRS Discovery District.
- McRock Capital Adds Tech Talent to Advisory Board
Toronto-based McRock Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in intelligent infrastructure companies, has added four new members to its advisory board: Dr. Harry Zarek, founder and CEO of Richmond Hill, Ontario-based Compugen, Mike Fister, CEO of Enecsys and formerly of Intel Corp., Pete Van Deventer, a California-based serial entrepreneur, and Dr. Peter Williams, CTO for IBM’s Big Green Innovations. They will provide business guidance and mentoring to McRock's portfolio companies alongside of Marzio Pozzuoli, founder and former CEO of Woodbridge, Ontario's RuggedCom.
- Marzio Pozzuoli Named CVCA's Entrepreneur of the Year
Marzio Pozzuoli, founder and former President and CEO of RuggedCom Inc., has been named the 2013 ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ by Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association. Pozzuoli led RuggedCom, a communications networking solutions company, at the time of its Series A financing in 2003, and its initial public offering in 2007. The company was acquired by Siemens AG in 2012 for $440 million, providing its Canadian venture capital investors with a return on capital of approximately 19X and an IRR of over 48%.
McRock Capital Report Champions Canadian VCScott MacDonald and Whitney Rockley, managing partners of McRock Capital have completed a report examining Canadian venture capital, peHUB Canada has learned. In Canadian Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital 2013http://www.mcrockcapital.com/uploads/1/0/9/6/10961847/the_pheonix_report_2013_final.pdf they contend that despite challenges Canada has produced many high-growth technology companies and that "a new breed of entrepreneur and venture capitalist has emerged over the past decade." McRock Capital invests in companies developing industrial data solutions to help established industries operate more efficiently.