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BDC IT Venture Fund

North America, Ontario, Canada, Toronto

Description

BDC IT Venture Fund was a specialized venture capital fund operating under the umbrella of BDC Capital, the investment arm of the Business Development Bank of Canada. Based in Toronto, Canada, this fund historically focused on providing capital to emerging and mid-stage companies within the Internet, mobile, and enterprise technology sectors. Its mandate was to support the growth of innovative Canadian tech firms, aligning with BDC Capital's broader mission to foster economic development and innovation across the country. The fund aimed to help its portfolio companies scale operations, expand market reach, and solidify their competitive positions.

The investment strategy of the BDC IT Venture Fund was geared towards identifying high-potential technology businesses poised for significant growth. While BDC Capital, as the parent organization, invests across a wide spectrum of stages from seed to growth equity, the BDC IT Venture Fund had a more defined scope. According to information from around 2011, the fund's typical initial investment ranged from $2 million to $10 million, targeting companies that had already demonstrated product-market fit and were ready for substantial expansion. This strategic capital was crucial for companies looking to accelerate their development and penetrate new markets.

BDC Capital, as the overarching entity, is a pivotal player in the Canadian venture capital landscape. It has made over 500 investments in Canadian businesses, demonstrating a deep and sustained commitment to nurturing the nation's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The BDC IT Venture Fund contributed significantly to this effort, playing a role in the development and maturation of Canada's digital economy. While the specific "IT Venture Fund" may have evolved or been integrated into BDC Capital's broader tech investment strategies over time, its historical focus underscores BDC's enduring commitment to supporting the technology sector.

Investor Profile

BDC IT Venture Fund has backed more than 31 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 5 rounds, about 16% of its total and boasts 32 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in Canada, United States.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, SaaS, Apps.
  • Typical check size: $2M – $10M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (35%)
  • Series A (26%)
  • Series Unknown (13%)
  • Series D (10%)
  • Series B (6%)
  • Series E (3%)
  • Series C (3%)
  • Corporate Round (3%)

Country Focus

  • Canada (90%)
  • United States (10%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Saas
  • Apps
  • Analytics
  • Big Data
  • Cloud Computing
  • Point Of Sale
  • E-commerce
  • Retail Technology
  • Internet
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does BDC IT Venture Fund frequently co-invest with?

BDC Capital Corporation
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Wakefield
Co-Investments: 6
CM
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge
Co-Investments: 2
TELUS Ventures
North America, British Columbia, Canada, Vancouver
Co-Investments: 3
OMERS Ventures
North America, Ontario, Canada, Toronto
Co-Investments: 4
BDC Venture Capital
North America, Alberta, Canada, Calgary
Co-Investments: 24
Business Development Bank of Canada
North America, Quebec, Canada, Montréal
Co-Investments: 3
Celtic House Venture Partners
North America, Ontario, Canada, Toronto
Co-Investments: 2
Kensington Capital Partners Limited
North America, Ontario, Canada, Toronto
Co-Investments: 4
Relay Ventures
North America, Ontario, Canada, Toronto
Co-Investments: 6
Mistral Venture Partners
North America, Ontario, Canada, Ottawa
Co-Investments: 2

Which angels does BDC IT Venture Fund often collaborate with?

Dennis Phelps
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
JM
North America, District of Columbia, United States, Washington
Shared Deals: 1
Marc Morin
North America, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo
Shared Deals: 1
ED
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1
PR
North America, Florida, United States, Fort Walton Beach
Shared Deals: 1
KB
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 1
Roger Martin
North America, Canada
Shared Deals: 2
Jevon MacDonald
North America, Nova Scotia, Canada, Halifax
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1
BX
North America, California, United States
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by BDC IT Venture Fund?

League

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

League is a platform technology company powering next-generation healthcare consumer experiences.

Health CareInformation ServicesMedical
Corporate RoundOct 29, 2019
TouchBistro

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

TouchBistro is an iPad-based restaurant point-of-sale system enabling owners to manage reservations and take orders instantly.

AppsPoint of SaleRestaurantsSaaS
Series ESep 18, 2019
Amount Raised: $118,804,675
Mojio

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Mojio is a modular SaaS platform that designs, develops, and delivers connected mobility solutions.

AnalyticsFleet ManagementMobileSaaSSoftware
Series BFeb 20, 2019
Amount Raised: $40,162,472
CrowdRiff

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Crowdriff creates data-smart destinations for brands using custom scoring systems to deliver real-time content to its clients.

Marketing AutomationSaaSSocial Media MarketingSoftware
Series AOct 4, 2018
Amount Raised: $8,977,286
TouchBistro

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

TouchBistro is an iPad-based restaurant point-of-sale system enabling owners to manage reservations and take orders instantly.

AppsPoint of SaleRestaurantsSaaS
Series DJun 14, 2018
Amount Raised: $54,891,814
Solink

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Solink is a provider of video security and business analytics solutions for companies.

AnalyticsBig DataBusiness IntelligenceFraud DetectionRetailSecuritySoftware
Series UnknownNov 1, 2017
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
Hubdoc

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Your key financial docs in one place. Automatically.

AccountingArtificial Intelligence (AI)Cloud ComputingDocument ManagementFinTechInformation TechnologyMachine LearningSaaSSoftware
SeedJun 21, 2017
Amount Raised: $4,501,862
TouchBistro

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

TouchBistro is an iPad-based restaurant point-of-sale system enabling owners to manage reservations and take orders instantly.

AppsPoint of SaleRestaurantsSaaS
Series CMay 31, 2017
Amount Raised: $12,079,389
Wave

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Wave offers tailored financial services (payments, payroll) and award-winning free software for small/micro-businesses around the world.

AccountingAppsBookkeeping and PayrollCloud ComputingFinancial ServicesFinTechHuman ResourcesPaymentsSmall and Medium BusinessesSoftware
Series DMay 30, 2017
Amount Raised: $24,000,000
Axonify

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Axonify provides e-learning software, interval reinforcement solutions, and gamified learning.

E-LearningHuman ResourcesKnowledge ManagementSoftware
Series UnknownNov 1, 2016
Amount Raised: $27,000,000