Scaling Ripple Ventures’ Canadian Presence with VCCI and Opening Our Vancouver Office

We are thrilled to announce that Ripple Ventures has partnered with Canada’s Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI) Inclusive Growth Stream through an investment in Fund III to support underserved founders in Canada. Read more about our announcement here.

Alongside this investment from the Government of Canada, Ripple Ventures will be opening a new office in the heart of Vancouver on November 1st, 2023 led by our Partner, Dominic Lau. Our new space, located at Pavilion Cowork in Mount Pleasant, signifies our commitment to fostering innovation, growth, and entrepreneurial spirit in the entire Canadian ecosystem.

🍁 Doubling Down Ripple’s Canadian Presence 🍁

At Ripple Ventures, we are steadfast in our mission to build a coast-to-coast venture fund that supports founders no matter where they are in Canada. Our portfolio is a testament to this strategy, reflecting the robust ecosystem that Canadian startups embody. We have built a strong presence on the East Coast being founded in Toronto, but also spending material time on the West Coast, especially in Vancouver investing in companies like:

• Zenhub (a project management platform for software teams) we backed at the seed round and they recently had their Series A led by Yaletown Partners.
• Artemis (a better way to build data pipelines + workflows using AI) we backed in our Fellow Fund and shortly after they were accepted into the Founder Fuel program!
• Asepha (a platform to help healthcare professionals make faster clinical decisions) we also backed in the Fellow Fund prior to them being accepted into the Techstars Toronto batch. Asepha was Vancouver-founded by Eunice Wu until her recent move to Toronto to join her co-founder Can!

Beyond investment, our RippleX Fellowship stands as a beacon for ecosystem development, particularly for underserved student founders and aspiring VCs across Canada. We recognize the existing gaps in education, networking, funding, and job opportunities that many entrepreneurs face, and we are dedicated to bridging these gaps. The RippleX Fellowship is designed to empower founders with the resources, support, and connections they need to thrive.

By expanding our presence and reinforcing our commitment to the Canadian startup ecosystem, we at Ripple Ventures are not just witnessing the growth and innovation unfolding across the country; we are actively contributing to it, ensuring that visionary entrepreneurs have the backing they need to make a significant impact. This strategic move allows us to be closer to key hubs like San Francisco while maintaining our Toronto office to cover the East Coast, including New York and Boston.

💡 Validating the Vancouver Founder Network 💡

Over the past year, we have run various events to validate the founder network and assess the demand for a more inclusive and active startup community. These events have not only strengthened our connections within the community but have also reinforced the need for a dedicated space to nurture innovation and collaboration.

• Over the summer, we ran a Vancouver Founder Breakfast with AWS Startups, Boast AI, and BCJobs, and saw a huge demand from founders to spark more activity in the ecosystem.
• Earlier this year, we hosted an Indigenous in Tech Founder Breakfast with inBC and Ryan St. Germain.
• We even did a founder social at Kitsilano Beach with various RippleX alumni, portfolio companies, and new founders in the area.

✨ Sparking More Initiatives in the Ecosystem ✨

With the opening of our office, our team will be hosting a vibrant event series with something for all including:

• Weekly founder + investor coworking sessions
• Founder and investor networking events
• Angel investor and family office educational workshops
• Weekly tech basketball runs for all skill levels

We believe that by bringing together diverse groups of thinkers, innovators, and investors, we can catalyze the growth and success of startups in the region.

🎉 Join Us in Celebrating this Milestone 🎉

We invite you to join us in celebrating this exciting new chapter for Ripple Ventures. Stay tuned for more information about the grand opening and upcoming events at our new Vancouver office. Together, let’s continue to make waves in the startup ecosystem and support the innovators and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future.

Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we look forward to welcoming you to our new space in Vancouver.

Reach out to dom@rippleventures.com if you’d like to get in touch.

Link & Resources:

• Ripple Ventures: https://www.rippleventures.com/
• RippleX Fellowship: https://fellowship.rippleventures.com/
• Founders Seeking Funding: https://airtable.com/app7YM1KIxjnuyEAD/shrG0Gd8qTTb0Uko9
• Sponsor the Fellowship: https://airtable.com/shrhKh1uD85ZGEoBY
• Become an LP: https://form.typeform.com/to/DKF7SCfx?typeform-source=ripple-ventures.typeform.com