Private Equity
Wellington Financial has provided undisclosed growth capital to iPerceptions Inc, a digital customer research business with headquarters in Montréal. The company said its partnership with Wellington, a Toronto-based specialty finance firm, will support its Voice of Customer analytics platform, which captures customer perceptions of value to enterprises. Founded in 1999, iPerceptions is backed by Canadian technology investor Telesystem and Canadian growth equity investor XPND Capital. Earlier this week, Wellington announced it had provided financing to a mobile software technology startup.
2 min read · 10 December 2014
BuildDirect, a Vancouver-based online home improvement products supplier, has secured $50 million in new financing, adding to the $30 million it raised in early 2014. The latest round was backed by Canadian and U.S. investors, including Mohr Davidow Ventures, OMERS Ventures and BMO Asset Management. BuildDirect said the funds will be used to expand and scale its Home Marketplace platform, which creates a one-stop solution connecting buyers with sellers. Founded in 1999, BuildDirect has been venture-backed since 2006. Its other investors include BDC Capital, Difference Capital Financial and GrowthWorks. In April, the company was profiled by peHUB Canada in an interview with Mohr Davidow's Katherine Barr.
6 min read · 10 December 2014
Anges Québec, Anges Québec Capital Fund and Desjardins Capital de risque have invested in a $2.75 million follow-on financing of medical device company Handyem Inc. Led by technology entrepreneur Jean-François Grenon, 23 members of Anges Québec contributed to the round. Investment proceeds will support the marketing of the company's portable flow cytometer, which was designed for life sciences researchers to measure and analyze biological samples. Founded in 2010, the Québec City-based Handyem raised $1.7 million in initial financing in January 2013.
4 min read · 09 December 2014
Clean energy crowd-funding platform CoPower Inc has provided a $370,000 loan to support solar photovoltaic rooftop projects developed by OYA Solar Inc. Around a dozen individual investors placed capital into the loan through CoPower's online platform. OYA, which is based in Windsor, Ontario, is building the solar projects, which include a 120 kW and a 48 kW installation located on two rooftops. CoPower's latest investment follows its recent refinancing of an energy retrofit project at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. Founded last year, CoPower has its headquarters in Montréal.
3 min read · 09 December 2014
Clean energy crowd-funding platform CoPower Inc has closed its first deal, refinancing an energy retrofit project at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre (HFC). The transaction, the value of which was $60,000, was made by private investors through Co-Power's platform in partnership with the Toronto Atmospheric Fund. CoPower said the initiative has helped HFC to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its operating costs. Based in Montréal, CoPower facilitates the pooling of investor capital to invest in pre-vetted clean energy opportunities, such as solar and energy efficiency systems.
4 min read · 09 December 2014
Wealthsimple, which in September secured $1.9 million in venture capital financing, has received regulatory approvals to expand its operations into Alberta, Manitoba and Québec. The Toronto-based startup has created a platform for delivering low-cost wealth management strategies and personalized services to investors. The initial funding of Wealthsimple came from a number of investors, including Eric Kirzner, Roger Martin, Joe Canavan and Canadian venture capital firm Impression Ventures.
3 min read · 09 December 2014
Wagepoint has raised US$2 million in seed-stage financing. The round was led by Canadian venture capital firm Extreme Venture Partners, and was joined by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agencies (ACOA) and several Canadian and U.S. angel investors. Wagepoint, which has developed an online payroll platform that assists small businesses in automating and simplifying payroll processes, said the funding will help accelerate its penetration into the U.S. market and enhance its product portfolio. The company currently serves nearly 700 North American customers from its offices in Waterloo, Halifax and New York.
4 min read · 09 December 2014
Canadian specialty finance firm Wellington Financial has provided $6 million in venture debt financing to a Canadian mobile software technology enterprise. The company, which Wellington said is backed by venture capital investors, was not identified. Proceeds of the deal are intended to facilitate development and the launch of the company's new product offering. Based in Toronto, Wellington provides term, venture and amortizing loans of up to $30 million.
2 min read · 08 December 2014
Export Development Canada (EDC) has provided $2 million to Diacarbon Energy Inc, a startup that produces renewable fuels from biomass, to provide waste solutions for pulp and paper, forest, and agriculture industries. Investment proceeds will allow the company to complete its thermal biomass refinery in British Columbia, which will convert wood waste into low carbon bio-fuels ready for distribution. Founded in 2009, Diacarbon has its headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia. The company has also received funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).
3 min read · 04 December 2014
Vancouver LED technology startup Cooledge Lighting has raised US$18.4 million in a Series B financing, peHUB Canada has learned. The round was led by an unidentified alternative assets firm and was joined by Yaletown Venture Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, Export Development Canada and GE Ventures. Yaletown's Kirk Washington told peHUB Canada that the deal reflects a tipping point for the fast-growing LED lighting market.
3 min read · 04 December 2014
