Backing impact-driven founders and joining Amplify Capital
Over the past few years, I've realized how important it is to back impact-driven founders. While I could write personal cheques to founders here and there, I found they only went so far. And so I decided to join Amplify Capital's team as a Venture Partner.
Carbon Upcycling Technologies: Why We Invested
Carbon Upcycling Technologies (CUT) use the pollution of today to build the materials of tomorrow. CUT is converting carbon dioxide (CO2) gas to develop an additive in concrete, one of the most widely used building materials. Their solution supports a stronger, efficient, and more durable concrete additive to utilize carbon as a resource.
Amplify Capital Selected for the ImpactAssets' IA 50 2022 Impact Fund Listing
Amplify Capital has been selected for the ImpactAssets 50 2022. Impact Assets is an impact investing trailblazer dedicated to changing the trajectory of our planet's future and improving the lives of all people. The #IA50 recognizes a diverse group of impact investment fund managers who demonstrate a commitment to generating positive social, environmental and financial impact.
Uvaro: Why We Invested
Uvaro is changing lives for the better at scale. With their career accelerator platform focused in tech sales, Uvaro has developed a first of its kind program that blends training, technology and work to develop well-trained, work-ready talent after just 12 weeks. Uvaro graduates are hired 5x faster, ramp up 3x faster, and are 2x likely to exceed quota in their roles, empowering more of the workforce the opportunity to find fulfilling careers.
Uvaro Closes $12M in Series A Funding to Accelerate the Future of Tech Sales Careers
Online tech sales academy Uvaro is pleased to announce it has closed a $12M (USD) Series A funding round with lead investment from global multi-stage technology investment firm White Star Capital with participation by Real Ventures and BDC Capital’s Women in Technology Venture Fund.
Valence Discovery Announces $8.5 Million in Seed Funding to Scale AI-Based Generative Chemistry Engine and Collaborations with Leading Discovery Organizations
Valence Discovery (“Valence”) , a leader in AI-first design of novel chemistry against previously intractable biology, announced today that it has closed an oversubscribed US$7 million seed financing. The financing, which was co-led by Fifty Years and Air Street Capital, with participation from Amplitude Ventures, Phoenix Venture Partners, and Abcam founder and former CEO, Jonathan Milner, adds to US$1.5 million raised previously, bringing Valence’s total seed funding to US$8.5 million.
Hydrostor Secures US$250 Million Investment from Goldman Sachs Asset Management to Accelerate Growth
Hydrostor Inc. (“Hydrostor”), a leading long-duration energy storage solution provider, today announced a preferred equity financing commitment of US$250 million from the Private Equity and Sustainable Investing businesses within Goldman Sachs Asset Management (“Goldman Sachs”).
EarlyBird Education Raises Funding from Lobby Capital for Game-Based Pre-Literacy Assessment
EarlyBird Education, developer of the EarlyBird game-based early literacy assessment, has raised $3.5 million in funding, led by venture capital firm Lobby Capital. In addition, David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital and founder of the Lobby Conferences, will join the EarlyBird Education Board of Directors.
Amplify Capital Closes $30.7 Million for Second Fund, Eyes Québec Startups with Montréal Office
Toronto-based Amplify Capital has secured the final close for its second impact investment fund, raising a total $30.7 million CAD—exceeding its initial $30 million goal.
Founded in 2016 as the MaRS Catalyst Fund with a $5.8 million Fund I, Amplify rebranded and spun out of the MaRS Discovery District in 2019. Led by private equity veteran and Managing Partner Kathryn Wortsman, Amplify backs early-stage Canadian healthtech, edtech, and cleantech startups at the seed and Series A stages.
“We want to support traditional investors thinking about [that] double bottom line.”
-Kathryn Wortsman, Amplify