Money comes in three basic colors: GREEN, GOLD and RED. Green money comes from patient,
equity-oriented investors including private, institutional and even public
investors. It is green because it allows companies to grow and prosper without
being impeded by repayment obligations. Gold
money is as good as gold. It comes from government and quasi-government
organizations that are part of the infra-structure support system paid for by
our tax dollars. Usually this money is in the form of grants, interest-free
loans, and other forms of assistance. Red
money comes from debt-oriented lenders. This includes banks, factoring
houses, leasing companies, and other lenders. It is red because this is the
color lenders see when the debt is not serviced -- and because you should see
this as a red warning light!
Want to connect with angel
investors? Check out www.vantec.ca – Canada’s
oldest and largest angel group.
The following table
identifies various money sources (with a Western Canadian focus) and their
respective Internet web links. Links to information sites other than the Green,
Gold and Red ones are at the end.
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MONEY LINKS for BC technology companies |
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SOURCE |
LINK |
COMMENTS |
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EQUITY
CAPITAL |
Green
Money |
Green
is for growth |
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ANGEL INVESTORS |
www.nacocanada.com (Canada) www.vantec.ca (BC) www.angelforum.org (BC) www.keiretsuforum.org (NorthWest) |
Canadian National Angel Capital Association & BC Networks |
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Banyan Capital Partners |
www.banyancapitalpartners.com/ |
Invests in or buys middle-market
companies located primarily in western |
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BMO Capital Corporation |
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Provides individually structured short-term & long-term investments. |
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BC Advantage Funds (VCC) |
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Invests in early-stage life-science, technology and clean-tech companies located in BC. Not currently making investments. |
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BC Angel Forum |
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Introduces emerging companies to private equity angel investors & venture capital. |
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BC Discovery Fund Inc. |
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A venture capital fund that invests in BC’s emerging technology industry. |
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Business Development Bank of |
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Provides Canadian small and medium sized businesses with flexible financing, venture capital & affordable consulting services. |
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CNSX (Canadian National Stock Exchange) |
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A stock exchange for trading the equity securities of emerging companies. |
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Discovery Capital Corporation |
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A venture capital firm whose focus is the enhancement of BC-based technology ventures, in areas of information technology, communications, health & life sciences and environmental & energy technologies. |
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Fundamental Technologies II Corp. |
www.fundamentaltechnologiesii.com
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An early-stage investor in technology companies in BC and Washington. |
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GrowthWorks |
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Manages and grows venture capital funds; a main focus is growth-oriented companies involved in information technology, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. |
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Keirestsu Forum |
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Lumira Capital |
Invests in emerging health and life science companies. |
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New Ventures BC Competition |
A competition for anyone with a new technology idea, who wants to turn the idea into a profitable company; prize pool worth over $100,000. |
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OVP Venture Partners |
Invests capital in new companies in growing markets – cleantech, digital biology & information technology. |
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Pacific Century Group Ventures Ltd. |
Invests in all stages of company development; focus is oil and gas, information and other technologies. |
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Pangaea Ventures Ltd. |
Invests in early-stage, clean-tech and advanced materials companies with world-class innovation. |
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PenderFund Capital Management |
Invests in undervalued technology companies with the potential for significant capital appreciation. |
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RBC Venture Partners |
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Invests in companies developing software and technology for the financial services industry. |
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Roynat Capital |
Provides patient financing solutions, including term debt, leasing, subordinated debt, mezzanine financing and equity, to companies with revenues between $2 million and $50 million. |
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TELUS Ventures |
Invests in the telecommunications sector, with a focus on exploiting the convergence of voice, enhanced data, digital media & wireless. |
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TMX Group (TSX Venture Exchange) |
Provides access to capital for companies at the early stages of their growth. |
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Introduces early stage investors and mentors to promising technology (i.e. all technology fields) ventures mainly in British Columbia. |
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Ventures West |
Invests in early-stage technology companies across Canada. |
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Working Opportunity Fund (GrowthWorks) |
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Invests in small and medium-sized Canadian businesses with high growth potential; covers most industries. |
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WUTIF Capital (VCC) Inc. |
An “angel” fund that co-invests with angel investors in promising new technology ventures in BC. |
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XITO Capital Corporation |
A venture capital firm that provides specialized investment banking services to leading private and public small capitalization companies. |
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Yaletown Venture Partners |
Invests in early-stage companies in Canada and the US Pacific Northwest; focus is cleantech and information technologies. |
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SUBSIDIES & GRANTS |
(Golden money) |
(As good as gold!) |
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BC Innovation Council |
A one-stop point of access and support; focus is key areas where BC is a recognized leader, including creative industries, ocean sciences & energy, and life sciences. |
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British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund |
Helps public post-secondary institutions, teaching hospitals and affiliated non-profit research agencies to invest in BC’s research infrastructure; priorities are agriculture, alternative energy/power technologies, health/biotechnology, forestry, high tech, indigenous studies and ocean sciences. |
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Funds up to 40 per cent of a project’s infrastructure costs (e.g. state-of-the-art equipment, buildings, laboratories, and databases); focus is Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions. |
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Canadian Institutes of Health Research |
Supports the work of health sciences
researchers and trainees in universities, teaching hospitals and research
institutes across |
|
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CANARIE Inc. |
An advanced-network organization that facilitates the development and use of its network, as well as the advanced products, applications and services that run it. |
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Export support programs |
Canadian Commercial Corporation Export Development |
CCC: gives Canadian businesses access to international opportunities EDC: provides financing, insurance and bonding solutions to Canadian companies that export goods & services, or invest in other countries. |
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Human Resources and Social Development |
Offers programs that help prepare individuals for employment-transitions. |
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Industry |
Click on “By subject”; then on “Financing.” |
CSBF Program encourages financial institutions to make their financing available to small businesses by reimbursing 85% of lender’s losses in event of default |
|
National Research Council’s IRAP Program (BC
& |
Helps small and medium-sized Canadian firms build their capability in technology and innovation; offers technical assistance, access to the latest technological advances, expertise, facilities and resources, as well as cost-shared financing of innovative technical projects. |
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Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council (NSERC) |
Helps Canadian companies by jointly funding collaborative R&D projects with university scientists and engineers, as well as by supporting the training of scientists and engineers. |
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Precarn Incorporated |
Funds and coordinates collaborative research conducted by industry, university and government researchers. |
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Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR & ED) Tax Incentive Program |
(Click on “A to Z index”; then choose letter “S” in “Topics for Business” box.) |
A federal tax incentive program to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. |
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Western Economic Diversification |
Helps small businesses acquire the information, training, business advisory services & capital they need to succeed. |
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DEBT CAPITAL |
(Red
Money) |
(Red
helps – in moderation!) |
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Customers & suppliers |
|
These are among the best and easiest financing options. Getting supplier credit and up-front advances from customers can go a long way in addressing cash flow needs. Don’t be shy. Ask! |
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Bank of |
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For business accounts, loans and other types of assistance. |
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Bond Capital |
Provides mezzanine debt and equity to small and medium-sized enterprises in Western Canada and the USA. |
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Business Development Bank |
Provides small and medium-sized enterprises with financing, venture capital, and consulting services. |
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Canadian Youth Business Foundation |
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Provides start-up mentoring, financing and business resources to young Canadians (18 to 34 years old) who want to create their own successful businesses. |
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CIBC |
Offers financial products and services for both start-up and established businesses. |
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Export Development |
Provides Canadian exporters with financing, insurance and bonding services, as well as foreign market expertise. |
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The Interface Financial Group |
Provides affordable funding for small business through a version of factoring known as "invoice discounting." |
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Northstar Trade Finance Inc. |
Supports Canadian exporters by offering financing to credit-worthy buyers of eligible Canadian goods and services. |
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Pyx Financial Group Inc. |
Provides funds and manages accounts
receivables for companies in |
|
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Royal Bank of |
Offers numerous services and financing options to businesses. |
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Roynat Capital |
A source of term debt, leasing, subordinated debt and other financial solutions for firms with revenues between $2 million and $50 million. |
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Tallinn Capital Corp. (formerly North Point Capital Corp.) |
Provides equity, convertible debt and subordinated debt to established mid-market operating companies. |
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TD Bank Financial Group |
Offers a full range of financial products and services. |
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Vancity Capital |
Provides growth capital to fast-growing small-to-medium-sized organizations based in BC. |
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Western
Economic Diversification |
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Supports the creation and growth of knowledge-based clusters (life-sciences, information & communication technology, and other technologies); collaborates with other levels of government and organizations to support entrepreneurship. |
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Women’s Enterprise Centre |
http://www.womensenterprise.ca/
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Helps women start and grow businesses in BC; provides essential business services, resources, and referrals to other business service-providers. |
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OTHER INFORMATION |
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AlbertaVenture magazine |
Web site is a good source of up-too-date information on Alberta industries; contains industry reports, information on events, new trends, success strategies, etc. |
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AngelBlog |
Site devoted to the development of best practices for angel investors and entrepreneurs, so their interactions can be profitable, fair and enjoyable. |
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BC Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development |
For information, reports and web links relating to activities undertaken on behalf of BC businesses. |
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Represents most of |
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Canadian Financing Forum |
Matches North American corporate and VC investors with serious entrepreneurs looking to build world-class technology companies. |
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Community of Science (COS) |
Provides information critical to scientific research and other projects across all disciplines – e.g. funding sources, research activities, publications, patents, new positions, etc. |
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eBusiness Connection (eBC) |
Offers e-business information and services to help BC businesses remain competitive in an online market. |
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High Technology in |
A gateway to web sites that provide support, information, advice and other assistance to BC investors, entrepreneurs, technology-based companies and science, technology and engineering students. |
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Industry |
A source of business support services, re financing, innovation, research, science & technology, intellectual property, trade, investment, economic and market research/statistics, etc. |
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National Angel Capital Organization
(NACO) |
Industry
association for Angels; dedicated to
promoting best practices and connectivity in relation to innovation and
early-stage capital formation in Canada. |
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National Venture Capital Association
( |
A
trade association that represents the |
|
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New Ventures BC Competition |
A competition for anyone with a new technology idea, who wants to turn the idea into a profitable company; prize pool worth over $100,000. |
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Facilitates the creation of university-industry R&D partnerships and the commercialization of SFU-based research results. |
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Small Business BC |
Connects small companies and entrepreneurs to BC business resources and websites |
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Stock exchanges |
TSX Group ( NASDAQ – http://www.nasdaq.com/ OTC Bulletin Board – http://www.otcbb.com/ |
Stock exchanges allow the public to invest in companies; listing rules and criteria vary; best to find a “sponsoring” broker or underwriter. |
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Thomson Financial |
An information source on Canadian venture capital and private equity markets. |
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T-Net |
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Provides information and business services to technology companies, industry suppliers and individuals in the BC technology industry, which helps them achieve their full potential. |
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(University-Industry Liaison Office) |
Facilitates the exchange of knowledge between UBC, its affiliated hospitals, industry and the wider community. |
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Vancouver Enterprise Forum (VEF) |
A networking forum for technology entrepreneurs. |
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Did we leave you out? No
matter what color your money is, you should be on the list. To get added, send
an email (see below).
Copyright 1997 - 2008 by Michael C.
Volker
Email: mike@volker.org - Comments and
suggestions will be appreciated!
Last updated: May 2009