National Angel Capital Organization Launches Roundtable on Early-Stage Funding
The National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) has announced the launch of a comprehensive national roundtable aimed at addressing critical gaps in Canada's early-stage capital landscape. This strategic initiative comes at a pivotal moment as the federal government has committed $750 million in Budget 2025 to support Canadian companies facing early growth-stage funding challenges.
Building on Extensive Consultation Process
The upcoming roundtable represents the culmination of an intensive nine-month, industry-led consultation process that engaged over 250 senior leaders across Canada's innovation economy. Scheduled for February 19 at 11:00 AM ET, this online event will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and key stakeholders to develop solutions for mobilizing private investment at scale.
"This $750 million announcement is a timely and strategic investment in Canada's angel infrastructure," emphasized Claudio Rojas, NACO's Chief Executive Officer. "It recognizes that when we support the networks and investors behind early-stage companies, we strengthen the entire innovation economy and create the conditions for Canadian companies to scale globally from Canada."
Examining Critical Funding Challenges
The roundtable will focus on several pressing issues affecting Canada's innovation ecosystem:
- Funding gaps that hinder the formation of high-growth companies in Canada, with insights from a forthcoming evidence-based report by Startup Genome
- The concerning trend of founders leaving Canada, with only 32% of Canadian-founded startups now being established within the country
- How early-stage capital determines hyperscale outcomes and whether countries can consistently produce global technology champions
According to recent research, the United States produces forty-five times more high-potential startups than Canada, highlighting the urgent need for improved early-stage capital infrastructure.
Addressing Geographic Disparities in Funding Access
Mary Long-Irwin, NACO Board Chair, stressed the importance of geographic accessibility in early-stage funding: "We need to ensure early-stage capital reaches founders where they are. A founder in Atlantic Canada, rural Alberta, or Northern Ontario shouldn't need to relocate to access early-stage funding."
"When an increasing number of Canadian-founded startups are being established outside of Canada, it tells us our domestic capital infrastructure isn't reaching founders where they are," Long-Irwin continued. "We need to build robust capital and networks nationally, or we will continue losing founders to jurisdictions with more vibrant sources of risk capital."
Focus on Early-Stage Capital Development
Early-stage capital—specifically pre-seed and seed funding that determines whether promising Canadian companies can progress from concept to commercialization—will be a central topic of discussion. The roundtable aims to create a forum for broader engagement on how Canada can mobilize private capital across the national ecosystem, fostering innovative companies that commercialize technologies and scale globally from local communities throughout the country.
Registration for the February 19 roundtable is now open through NACO's official website, providing an opportunity for stakeholders across Canada's innovation landscape to participate in this critical dialogue about the future of early-stage funding in the country.
