SVX launches new platform with new issuers in Québec

Connecting investors to impact funds and ventures, new SVX 2.0 platform makes impact investing easier.

Montreal, April 12, 2018 – Today, Social Venture Connexion (SVX) launched its new investment platform and announced new issuers at Espace CDPQ in Montreal. The new platform makes it easier for ventures and funds to raise capital, and for investors to learn about and make investments that align with their values. SVX continues to host in-person programming and learning opportunities for both impact investors as well as impact ventures and funds.

“This initiative showcases the potential of impact investing and makes it even easier for inspired innovators to make a difference in our province”, said Alain-Olivier Desbois, Senior Director at SVX Québec – Esplanade.

“I’d like to congratulate the Social Venture Connexion on the launch of their 2.0 platform. After the launch of the Anges Québec Network Impact cluster last week, it shows that more and more tangible options are now available not only to support our changemakers to grow their business but also to allow investors to do good while making money”, added Guy Gervais, serial entrepreneur, angel investor and coach.

SVX is the only platform in Canada focused on offering impact investment opportunities for all Canadians. Highlights of the new platform include:

  • Multiple investment offering types including accredited investor (AI), offering memorandum (OM), and retail crowdfunding opportunities;
  • National access to all investors and issuers;
  • Financial transactions and payments allowing Canadians to make their investments online; and
  • Online issuer and investor tools paired with offline education programs and supports to build investment readiness and investor readiness for impact investing.

“We are thrilled to launch the new SVX platform in Québec, enabling all Canadians to invest in impact ventures and funds. Investment opportunities range from renewable energy initiatives to enterprises empowering First Nations and new Canadians. All investors can use their money to support social or environmental change alongside financial return”, said Adam Spence, Director, SVX.

QUICK FACTS

  • 150+ ventures have participated in SVX investment readiness programs and on the SVX platform since 2013;
  • Esplanade, our local partner in Québec, has supported 42 social impact ventures since 2015;
  • SVX ventures and funds have raised over $100 million since 2013;
  • SVX is registered to operate in Ontario, Québec, Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

From sustainable agriculture to health to work and learning, the new community of ventures and funds spans various sectors, geographies, and corporate structures. Four new issuers are joining the platform including Québec-based ventures Ecotierra and Nectar, alongside Brighter Investment and National Observer from British Columbia. Further announcements regarding new campaigns are expected over the course of 2018.

“The commitment of Mirova and Fondaction, two leading institutional impact investors, in the development and creation of this fund demonstrate the recognition of our team’s expertise and the credibility of our unique business model. Today, I am even more proud to involve new investors across Canada, via SVX, allowing us, to finance more projects in Latin America in partnership with small producers. These sustainable agriculture and value chain strengthening projects will have major socio-economic impacts for them and their communities, while also having a major environmental impact,” said Étienne Desmarais, President and Co-founder, Ecotierra.

SVX is also pleased to strengthen its partnership with Esplanade, offering new financing tools for social entrepreneurs and innovators in Québec.

“Nectar’s activities will contribute to the survival of bees and help secure our food bank. Esplanade and SVX has helped us navigate the investor process, refine our pitch, and provided opportunities to widen our network. We are delighted to be working with them”, said Marc-André Roberge, CEO, Nectar.

“Today’s event marks a significant milestone for our strategic partnership with MaRS and SVX. We strongly believe that SVX represents a logical continuity to our Impact8 coaching program and will help members of our community develop their projects, their organization and ultimately, increase their impact”, added Pascal Grenier, Director, Esplanade Montreal.

ISSUERS

New issuers from Québec joining the SVX include:
ECOTIERRA is an operator of community-based sustainable agroforestry projects and a specialized impact fund manager delivering private equity market-type return alongside significant positive social and environmental impacts by addressing climate change and land degradation caused by deforestation.

Nectar offers a data-driven apiary management platform which translates the hives’ health status into actionable insights to help beekeepers apply the right care at the right time and keep their honey bees thriving.

Currently active issuers include:
The Active Impact Fund (AIF) supports early stage social ventures with both funding and part-time, interim senior operational support to provide capacity building.

Brighter Investment invests in the education of promising students in emerging market economies who have no other means of accessing post-secondary tuition.

CoPower is an online marketplace for investing in clean energy infrastructure. They make it easy to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy generation projects that offer the potential for return, along with measured social and environmental impact.

EarthShield Biotech produces Earthskin, which is an organic sprayed bio-resin application, developed to help farmers improve productivity, reduce costs and promote a healthier eco-system.

First Nations Bank of Canada (FNBC) is a federally chartered Schedule 1 Canadian bank, established in 1996 with a mandate to serve Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal clients.

Immigrant Access Fund (IAF) provides low-interest micro-loans to skilled immigrants and refugees who cannot afford the costs of Canadian licensing and retraining

Lucky Iron Fish Enterprise (LIFe) produces a small iron cooking tool that infuses your meals with a healthy amount of natural iron to help prevent iron deficiency and anemia.

National Observer is a daily, progressive national news publication that publishes tough investigative reporting, in-depth analysis and daily news coverage on energy, climate, politics and social issues.

Peekapak is an award-winning educational product that helps elementary students learn social-emotional learning skills through a book series, online classroom lessons, and interactive games.

The QoC Health platform is a cloud-based digital spine to connect patients with circles of care and support. They deliver solutions to patients faster with less complexity at a lower cost for health care providers.

Sarona Asset Management is an institutional-quality, independent investment firm, with the objective to deliver capital to entrepreneurs in under-served markets and help them develop their companies and their communities profitably and sustainably.

SolarShare is a non-profit co-operative that allows Ontario residents and businesses to invest in community-based solar energy installations across Ontario.

ThisFish is a world leader of seafood traceability technology that improves business efficiency and increases trust and transparency in seafood products.

About Social Venture Connexion (SVX)
SVX (@theSVX) is an impact investing platform for impact ventures, funds, and investors seeking social and/or environmental impact alongside the potential for financial return. SVX helps ventures raise capital across sectors including cleantech, health, work and learning, food, and social inclusion, providing support to enterprises focused on early cancer detection to community power co-operatives producing renewable energy. SVX works with all investors, from foundations and family offices to everyday investors, to help them identify opportunities and to support their decision-making efforts so they can match their money with meaning. SVX is a not-for-profit corporation, powered by MaRS Discovery District, supported by TMX Group Inc., the Government of Ontario, Torys LLP, and many other partners. SVX is registered as an Exempt Market Dealer (EMD) in Ontario, Québec, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan; however, no securities regulatory authority has approved or expressed an opinion about the securities offered on the platform.

About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) in Toronto is one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs. Our purpose is to help innovators change the world. MaRS supports promising ventures tackling key challenges in the health, energy & environment, finance & commerce, and work & learning sectors as they start, grow and scale. In addition, the MaRS community fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration to drive breakthrough discoveries and new solutions to be adopted in Canada and beyond, growing our economy and delivering societal impact at scale.

About Esplanade Montreal
Esplanade (@esplanadeMTL) is the first accelerator and collaborative space dedicated to social innovation and social entrepreneurship. Our mission is to catalyze and empower a community of changemakers, organizations and citizens to collectively address today’s social, environmental and economic challenges. Through impact8, a unique mentorship program, we support changemakers and organizations throughout your entrepreneurial journey towards the development of a sustainable business model in line with their social impact. Since June 2015, Esplanade has gathered a community of more than 300 entrepreneurs, 12,000 citizens and 30 organizations through different events, partnership programs, and residencies.

MEDIA CONTACTS

SVX Québec / Esplanade
Alain-Olivier Desbois
Director, SVX Québec
514.909 6108
alain@svx.ca

SVX
Adam Spence
Director, SVX
647.242.4644
aspence@marsdd.com

MaRS Discovery District
Lara Torvi
Manager, Media Relations
416.673.8152
media@marsdd.com