Province Showcasing Ontario Innovators to Silicon Valley Investors

Ontario is helping innovative technology start-ups grow to become globally competitive companies by showcasing their talent and connecting them with investors.

The province has teamed up with The C100, along with other industry partners, to host Venture North, a new event focused on promoting the Toronto-Waterloo region’s tech start-up community. It will help local start-ups network and provide access to some of Silicon Valley’s biggest influencers. As part of the event, seven investment-ready start-ups from the region will pitch their products and companies to potential venture investors through the C100 Startup Challenge.

The event builds on Ontario’s plan to support innovative start-ups as they grow and create jobs. By helping to generate more investment interest in the Toronto-Waterloo region among prominent Silicon Valley-based venture capital firms, home-grown entrepreneurs will be able to continue building game-changing technologies and shape the region as the world’s next premier hub for tech commercialization.

Fostering promising start-ups to grow and stay competitive is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan includes investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.

QUOTES

” The Toronto-Waterloo region is home to one of the largest and most dynamic start-up ecosystems in the world. These companies bring a wealth of transformative innovations to market and also play a critical role in job creation across the province. Venture North will help connect venture capitalists, innovators, and entrepreneurs to scale up Ontario’s start-ups and shape the region as the world’s next powerhouse for tech commercialization.”
– Brad Duguid
Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure

” We’re working in concert with the Ontario government and other partners through Venture North to give our promising start-ups an opportunity to showcase their innovative products to potential investors. Toronto-Waterloo is on the verge of becoming the next Silicon Valley. Introducing the quality of the region’s start-ups to international venture investors will create more growth opportunities so these companies can become major global players.”
– Scott Bonham
Co-Chair of C100, and Co-founder of GGV Capital

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario ranks second in North America (after California) in terms of the total number of information and communication technology establishments.
• Ontario ranked eighth in North America for venture capital investment in 2014, up from 14th in 2009.
• The C100 is a non-profit organization built by successful Canadian entrepreneurs living in Silicon Valley that helps Canadian start-ups get access to venture capital and insight as some of the best companies in the world.
• The companies participating in the C100 Startup Challenge are: Bridgit, SparkGig, Suncayr, The Sampler App, Plooto, Statflo, and Medella Health.
• Ontario has a suite of programs that support start-up ventures to grow and compete on a global scale. These include the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs, Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund, the Ontario Venture Capital Fund, the Investment Accelerator Fund and the Angel Network Program.

LEARN MORE

• See what else Ontario is doing to support entrepreneurs and start-ups.