Private Equity
Katherine Barr was doubly pleased about Mohr Davidow Ventures’ leading role in the recent $30 million Series B financing of BuildDirect. As a GP at the Menlo Park-based VC firm, Barr told peHUB Canada she was excited about backing a company that is single-handedly transforming the US$492 billion home improvement products market. And as co-chair of the C100, Barr felt pride knowing that BuildDirect also happens to be Canadian.
6 min read · 14 April 2014
Online talent marketplace Crew, previously known as Ooomf, has raised $2.1 million in follow-on funding. The news was published on Crew's blog, and confirmed with peHUB Canada by Canadian venture capital firm iNovia Capital, one of the investors in the startup. Along with iNovia, the other investors in the deal were BOLDstart Ventures, Real Ventures and a number of Canadian and U.S. angels. The Montréal-based Crew has been venture-backed since its founding in 2012. The latest investment will be used to develop the company's platform for matching mobile and web developers with projects that suit their skills, and increase its employee base.
1 min read · 11 April 2014
Online talent marketplace Crew, previously known as Ooomf, has raised $2.1 million in follow-on funding. The news was published on Crew's blog, and confirmed with peHUB Canada by Canadian venture capital firm iNovia Capital, one of the investors in the startup. Along with iNovia, the other investors in the deal were BOLDstart Ventures, Real Ventures and a number of Canadian and U.S. angels. The Montréal-based Crew has been venture-backed since its founding in 2012. The latest investment will be used to develop the company's platform for matching mobile and web developers with projects that suit their skills, and increase its employee base.
1 min read · 11 April 2014
Venture capital firm EnerTech Capital Partners has entered into a strategic collaboration with Hydro-Québec Research Institute. The partnership will see the two groups share knowledge and explore new commercialization strategies for technologies servicing the electric power industry. EnerTech, which has offices in Toronto, Calgary, Montréal, Philadelphia and Menlo Park, is currently investing from its fourth partnership, closed at $120 million in 2013.
3 min read · 10 April 2014
Cloud service marketplace and management platform AppDirect Inc has secured US$35 million in Series C financing. The round was led by U.S. venture capital firm Mithril Capital Management with participation from Canadian firm iNovia Capital and Foundry Group. AppDirect said this latest funding will facilitate its continued growth in the cloud services brokerage sector. The company's geographic reach, which expanded to more than 150 countries in the past year, includes a new office in Montréal. Chris Arsenault, managing partner at iNovia Capital, told peHUB Canada that the initiative will add significantly to Montréal's technology ecosystem. INovia seeded AppDirect in 2011 and led its two subsequent financings.
4 min read · 10 April 2014
Cloud service marketplace and management platform AppDirect Inc has secured US$35 million in Series C financing. The round was led by U.S. venture capital firm Mithril Capital Management with participation from Canadian firm iNovia Capital and Foundry Group. AppDirect said this latest funding will facilitate its continued growth in the cloud services brokerage sector. The company's geographic reach, which expanded to more than 150 countries in the past year, includes a new office in Montréal. Chris Arsenault, managing partner at iNovia Capital, told peHUB Canada that the initiative will add significantly to Montréal's technology ecosystem. INovia seeded AppDirect in 2011 and led its two subsequent financings.
4 min read · 10 April 2014
Blacksumac Inc, maker of Piper, a Wi-Fi-enabled home awareness and security device, has been acquired by iControl Networks Inc for an undisclosed amount. Founded in 2012, Blacksumac is based in Ottawa, Ontario. According to iControl, the transaction will allow the company to expand its connected home management offerings to new markets. Based in Redwood City, California, iControl has been venture-backed since 2006. Its U.S. investors include Charles River Ventures, Comcast Ventures, Intel Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. In 2011, the company also secured an investment from Canadian communications and media company Rogers Communications Inc.
3 min read · 10 April 2014
BrandProject LP, a provider of seed-stage funding to developers of disruptive consumer products and technology, has invested in TUNED Brands Inc, a digital search agency. The value of the investment was not disclosed. With offices in Toronto and New York, TUNED Brands partners with businesses to maximize their online revenues and ROI. The deal, which is intended to support TUNED Brands's continued growth, is the first platform investment of BrandProject. Founded in 2012, the firm was last year backed with over $12 million in commitments from BDC Venture Capital and other investors.
3 min read · 10 April 2014
BrandProject LP, a provider of seed-stage funding to developers of disruptive consumer products and technology, has invested in TUNED Brands Inc, a digital search agency. The value of the investment was not disclosed. With offices in Toronto and New York, TUNED Brands partners with businesses to maximize their online revenues and ROI. The deal, which is intended to support TUNED Brands's continued growth, is the first platform investment of BrandProject. Founded in 2012, the firm was last year backed with over $12 million in commitments from BDC Venture Capital and other investors.
3 min read · 10 April 2014
Wattpad, also known as WP Technology Inc, has secured $46 million in a Series C financing round led by OMERS Ventures, the venture investment arm of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System. The round was also joined by August Capital, Raine Ventures and Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund, as well as existing investors Union Square Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Jerry Yang of AME Cloud Ventures, Golden Venture Partners, and Boris Wertz of Version One Ventures. Based in Toronto, Wattpad is a social platform that creates direct connections between readers and writers. The company said it will use its latest funding to expand its Toronto team and to support product development and platform growth.
3 min read · 08 April 2014
