StandUp Ventures

StandUp Ventures is a Toronto-based early-stage venture capital firm focused on addressing the funding gap for women-led businesses in Canada. The firm is managed by a team of seasoned investors supported by a diverse advisory committee that includes successful founders and venture investors. StandUp Ventures aims to enhance deal flow across Canada by syndicating seed rounds with angel investors and U.S. venture capitalists. Their investment strategy targets sectors such as business products and services, information technology, healthcare, health technology, and SaaS. Over a period of three to five years, StandUp Ventures seeks to invest in 30 to 40 women-owned companies, emphasizing the belief that diverse teams contribute to stronger business outcomes. The firm has gained significant interest and collaborates with BDC to improve access to capital for underfunded women-led enterprises.

Lauren Epstein

Principal

Lucas Perlman

Senior Associate

Past deals in Ontario

ODAIA

Series B in 2023
ODAIA Intelligence Inc. is a Canadian company that specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-based platform for customer engagement analysis. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Toronto, ODAIA offers a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) platform that enables enterprise clients to automate the mapping of customer touchpoints and journeys. Utilizing advanced techniques in big data mining, process journey mapping, and machine learning, the platform provides insights into customer behavior, predicts future actions, and identifies potential churn. ODAIA simplifies data ingestion and normalization from various sources, offering an intuitive dashboard for visualizing insights and predictions. The company was established by a team of academics and industry professionals, including members from the University of Toronto and the University of Lausanne, whose research has been widely recognized in the field.

ODAIA

Series A in 2022
ODAIA Intelligence Inc. is a Canadian company that specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-based platform for customer engagement analysis. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Toronto, ODAIA offers a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) platform that enables enterprise clients to automate the mapping of customer touchpoints and journeys. Utilizing advanced techniques in big data mining, process journey mapping, and machine learning, the platform provides insights into customer behavior, predicts future actions, and identifies potential churn. ODAIA simplifies data ingestion and normalization from various sources, offering an intuitive dashboard for visualizing insights and predictions. The company was established by a team of academics and industry professionals, including members from the University of Toronto and the University of Lausanne, whose research has been widely recognized in the field.

TealBook

Series B in 2021
Tealbook, Inc. develops and operates an online supplier knowledge management and procurement platform. The company’s platform offers up-to-date, credible information from suppliers that facilitates teams to identify qualified suppliers for specific needs and collaborate with stakeholders on supplier information and searches. Its platform centralizes and consolidates supplier-shared information, such as company name, contact information, product or service offerings, a brief capabilities presentation, social media feeds, diversity status and certification forms, public client recommendations, and aggregated intelligence from industry peers; and client supplier intelligence, including vendor master, preferred suppliers list, other supplier status listings, legal status and optional secure contract upload, relationships with internal colleagues, and shared notes. It integrates with ERP systems, spend management systems, E-sourcing tools, contract management systems, and portals. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Bridgit

Series B in 2021
Bridgit Inc., founded in 2014 by civil engineer Lauren Lake and entrepreneur Mallorie Brodie, specializes in construction project management solutions. Headquartered in Kitchener, Canada, the company offers two primary products: Bridgit Bench and Bridgit Field. Bridgit Bench is a construction resource planning and workforce management tool designed to streamline the management of construction resources, eliminating the need for cumbersome spreadsheets. Bridgit Field focuses on enhancing communication, accountability, and visibility on construction sites, making project management more efficient and straightforward. By leveraging modern technology, Bridgit aims to simplify the complexities of construction projects, helping contractors and developers complete their work more effectively and on time.

Disco

Seed Round in 2021
Disco is a platform for creators to build and scale their learning empire easily in one place. Our vision for learning leaves the industrial age behind and looks to a world of lifelong learning, that's live, with peers, led by creators we trust and accessible from anywhere.

Arteria AI

Series A in 2021
Arteria AI applies artificial intelligence to the drafting, negotiation, and analysis of contracts.

AmacaThera

Series A in 2021
AmacaThera Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, founded in 2016. The company specializes in developing and commercializing an innovative injectable hydrogel platform technology designed for various medical applications. This technology aims to enhance therapeutic delivery and improve patient outcomes across multiple healthcare sectors.

TealBook

Series A in 2021
Tealbook, Inc. develops and operates an online supplier knowledge management and procurement platform. The company’s platform offers up-to-date, credible information from suppliers that facilitates teams to identify qualified suppliers for specific needs and collaborate with stakeholders on supplier information and searches. Its platform centralizes and consolidates supplier-shared information, such as company name, contact information, product or service offerings, a brief capabilities presentation, social media feeds, diversity status and certification forms, public client recommendations, and aggregated intelligence from industry peers; and client supplier intelligence, including vendor master, preferred suppliers list, other supplier status listings, legal status and optional secure contract upload, relationships with internal colleagues, and shared notes. It integrates with ERP systems, spend management systems, E-sourcing tools, contract management systems, and portals. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Aya

Seed Round in 2020
Aya Payments, Inc. is a healthcare fintech company based in Toronto, Canada, founded in 2018. The company specializes in developing innovative healthcare spending solutions designed to administer health benefits and adjudicate claims. Its offerings include novaHSA, a platform that enables users to access, manage, and monitor healthcare costs, and Dynamic Ledgering, which provides a range of financial products including payment, deposit, lending, and investment solutions tailored for fintech companies. Aya Payments primarily serves employees and their dependents, aiming to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare financial management.

ODAIA

Seed Round in 2020
ODAIA Intelligence Inc. is a Canadian company that specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-based platform for customer engagement analysis. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Toronto, ODAIA offers a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) platform that enables enterprise clients to automate the mapping of customer touchpoints and journeys. Utilizing advanced techniques in big data mining, process journey mapping, and machine learning, the platform provides insights into customer behavior, predicts future actions, and identifies potential churn. ODAIA simplifies data ingestion and normalization from various sources, offering an intuitive dashboard for visualizing insights and predictions. The company was established by a team of academics and industry professionals, including members from the University of Toronto and the University of Lausanne, whose research has been widely recognized in the field.

Acerta Analytics

Series A in 2020
Acerta Systems Analytics Inc. specializes in providing machine intelligence solutions that convert raw machine data into actionable insights. The company's primary offering, Acerta CHECK, employs a combination of statistical methods, data mining algorithms, and machine learning techniques to identify critical issues and anomalies in machine behavior. Targeting the automotive sector, Acerta's solutions cater to OEMs, parts suppliers, and vehicle testing equipment providers, enhancing vehicle health monitoring and data acquisition. Additionally, the company's algorithms are utilized in the aerospace industry for airplane health management and engine testing. By detecting anomalies and predicting equipment failures, Acerta supports manufacturers in optimizing their processes and improving product quality. Founded in 2014 and based in Waterloo, Canada, Acerta is committed to transforming quality control in the automotive industry through advanced artificial intelligence applications.

Sampler

Series B in 2020
At Sampler, we help consumer packaged good brands of all sizes and categories deliver physical samples to digitally targeted consumers. Our turnkey solution helps brands gather consumer feedback and demographic insights that will increase successful trial and in-turn conversion rates. Using Sampler, brands no longer need to hand out samples at random, and can get product into the right hands. We call it Direct to Consumer Product Sampling.

Bridgit

Venture Round in 2020
Bridgit Inc., founded in 2014 by civil engineer Lauren Lake and entrepreneur Mallorie Brodie, specializes in construction project management solutions. Headquartered in Kitchener, Canada, the company offers two primary products: Bridgit Bench and Bridgit Field. Bridgit Bench is a construction resource planning and workforce management tool designed to streamline the management of construction resources, eliminating the need for cumbersome spreadsheets. Bridgit Field focuses on enhancing communication, accountability, and visibility on construction sites, making project management more efficient and straightforward. By leveraging modern technology, Bridgit aims to simplify the complexities of construction projects, helping contractors and developers complete their work more effectively and on time.

TealBook

Seed Round in 2020
Tealbook, Inc. develops and operates an online supplier knowledge management and procurement platform. The company’s platform offers up-to-date, credible information from suppliers that facilitates teams to identify qualified suppliers for specific needs and collaborate with stakeholders on supplier information and searches. Its platform centralizes and consolidates supplier-shared information, such as company name, contact information, product or service offerings, a brief capabilities presentation, social media feeds, diversity status and certification forms, public client recommendations, and aggregated intelligence from industry peers; and client supplier intelligence, including vendor master, preferred suppliers list, other supplier status listings, legal status and optional secure contract upload, relationships with internal colleagues, and shared notes. It integrates with ERP systems, spend management systems, E-sourcing tools, contract management systems, and portals. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

ODAIA

Seed Round in 2019
ODAIA Intelligence Inc. is a Canadian company that specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-based platform for customer engagement analysis. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Toronto, ODAIA offers a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) platform that enables enterprise clients to automate the mapping of customer touchpoints and journeys. Utilizing advanced techniques in big data mining, process journey mapping, and machine learning, the platform provides insights into customer behavior, predicts future actions, and identifies potential churn. ODAIA simplifies data ingestion and normalization from various sources, offering an intuitive dashboard for visualizing insights and predictions. The company was established by a team of academics and industry professionals, including members from the University of Toronto and the University of Lausanne, whose research has been widely recognized in the field.

Nudge

Series B in 2019
Nudge Rewards is a Toronto-based company that offers a team performance management platform designed for retailers, foodservice, and hospitality sectors. The platform includes a mobile solution that facilitates employee engagement, knowledge assessment, and performance monitoring for frontline workers, enabling brands to effectively motivate and reward their teams. Nudge's clientele features notable global brands such as Mercedes Benz, Rogers Communications, and Samsung, among others. The company, which was established in 2011 and rebranded from Greengage Mobile in 2014, has formed strategic partnerships with organizations like ReThink and BrandXP Ltd to enhance its offerings. Through its innovative app and content management system, Nudge Rewards aims to measurably improve frontline team performance and drive overall company success.

Bridgit

Series A in 2019
Bridgit Inc., founded in 2014 by civil engineer Lauren Lake and entrepreneur Mallorie Brodie, specializes in construction project management solutions. Headquartered in Kitchener, Canada, the company offers two primary products: Bridgit Bench and Bridgit Field. Bridgit Bench is a construction resource planning and workforce management tool designed to streamline the management of construction resources, eliminating the need for cumbersome spreadsheets. Bridgit Field focuses on enhancing communication, accountability, and visibility on construction sites, making project management more efficient and straightforward. By leveraging modern technology, Bridgit aims to simplify the complexities of construction projects, helping contractors and developers complete their work more effectively and on time.

Sampler

Series A in 2019
At Sampler, we help consumer packaged good brands of all sizes and categories deliver physical samples to digitally targeted consumers. Our turnkey solution helps brands gather consumer feedback and demographic insights that will increase successful trial and in-turn conversion rates. Using Sampler, brands no longer need to hand out samples at random, and can get product into the right hands. We call it Direct to Consumer Product Sampling.

Aya

Seed Round in 2019
Aya Payments, Inc. is a healthcare fintech company based in Toronto, Canada, founded in 2018. The company specializes in developing innovative healthcare spending solutions designed to administer health benefits and adjudicate claims. Its offerings include novaHSA, a platform that enables users to access, manage, and monitor healthcare costs, and Dynamic Ledgering, which provides a range of financial products including payment, deposit, lending, and investment solutions tailored for fintech companies. Aya Payments primarily serves employees and their dependents, aiming to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare financial management.

Nudge

Series A in 2017
Nudge Rewards is a Toronto-based company that offers a team performance management platform designed for retailers, foodservice, and hospitality sectors. The platform includes a mobile solution that facilitates employee engagement, knowledge assessment, and performance monitoring for frontline workers, enabling brands to effectively motivate and reward their teams. Nudge's clientele features notable global brands such as Mercedes Benz, Rogers Communications, and Samsung, among others. The company, which was established in 2011 and rebranded from Greengage Mobile in 2014, has formed strategic partnerships with organizations like ReThink and BrandXP Ltd to enhance its offerings. Through its innovative app and content management system, Nudge Rewards aims to measurably improve frontline team performance and drive overall company success.

Bridgit

Series A in 2017
Bridgit Inc., founded in 2014 by civil engineer Lauren Lake and entrepreneur Mallorie Brodie, specializes in construction project management solutions. Headquartered in Kitchener, Canada, the company offers two primary products: Bridgit Bench and Bridgit Field. Bridgit Bench is a construction resource planning and workforce management tool designed to streamline the management of construction resources, eliminating the need for cumbersome spreadsheets. Bridgit Field focuses on enhancing communication, accountability, and visibility on construction sites, making project management more efficient and straightforward. By leveraging modern technology, Bridgit aims to simplify the complexities of construction projects, helping contractors and developers complete their work more effectively and on time.

TealBook

Seed Round in 2017
Tealbook, Inc. develops and operates an online supplier knowledge management and procurement platform. The company’s platform offers up-to-date, credible information from suppliers that facilitates teams to identify qualified suppliers for specific needs and collaborate with stakeholders on supplier information and searches. Its platform centralizes and consolidates supplier-shared information, such as company name, contact information, product or service offerings, a brief capabilities presentation, social media feeds, diversity status and certification forms, public client recommendations, and aggregated intelligence from industry peers; and client supplier intelligence, including vendor master, preferred suppliers list, other supplier status listings, legal status and optional secure contract upload, relationships with internal colleagues, and shared notes. It integrates with ERP systems, spend management systems, E-sourcing tools, contract management systems, and portals. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Toronto, Canada.