A list of 14 active New Brunswick investors backing tech, cleantech, and ICT startups in 2026. Covers VCs, government funds, angel networks, and accelerators in Fredericton and Moncton - with recent deals, check sizes, sector focus, and contact details for each.
New Brunswick's startup ecosystem punches above its weight for a province of 800,000 people.
NBIF has backed 136 companies since 2003 and made 16 investments worth $3.2M in the fiscal year ending March 2025 - the 16 companies collectively raised $11.3M total. Fredericton's Knowledge Park is one of Atlantic Canada's most concentrated clusters of tech companies, and the province's bilingual workforce gives founders access to both English and French markets without relocating.
The funding stack here is layered differently than in Toronto or Vancouver. Government programs - NBIF, ACOA, Opportunities NB - sit at the base and de-risk early bets for private investors. Build Ventures and East Valley Ventures are the main institutional players with specific Atlantic Canada mandates. National and international funds like Brightspark, Panache, and Real Ventures write occasional checks when the deal fits their thesis.
Fredericton accounts for 66% of new companies and 74% of all NB startup funding. Moncton is the commercial hub, with Venn Innovation running the province's main incubator there. Both cities are small enough that your reputation - good or bad - travels fast. Have your pitch deck ready and your story straight before you start reaching out.
NB investors at a glance
| Stage | Check | Sectors | Contact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBIF | Pre-seed, Seed | $100K-$500K | ICT, cleantech, digital health | nbif.ca |
| Build Ventures | Seed, Series A | $500K-$3M | ICT, cleantech, life sciences | buildventures.ca |
| East Valley Ventures | Seed, Series A | $120K-$3M | Tech, media, cybersecurity | eastvalleyventures.com |
| Opportunities NB | Seed, Growth | Varies | Diversified NB sectors | onbcanada.ca |
| Venn Innovation | Pre-seed | $25K-$100K | Tech, SaaS | venninnovation.com |
| Planet Hatch | Pre-seed | Up to $25K | IT, biotech, engineering | planethatch.com |
| ACOA | Seed, Growth | $100K-$3M | Diversified Atlantic sectors | canada.ca/acoa |
| BDC Capital | Seed to Growth | $500K-$10M+ | Cleantech, SaaS, industrials | bdc.ca |
| Brightspark Ventures | Seed, Series A | $500K-$3M | SaaS, deep tech, AI | brightspark.com |
| Invest Nova Scotia | Pre-seed, Seed | $250K-$1M | ICT, cleantech, ocean tech | investnovascotia.ca |
| Rho Canada Ventures | Seed, Series A | $500K-$5M | Software, mobile, wireless | rho.com |
| Panache Ventures | Pre-seed, Seed | $250K-$750K | SaaS, Canadian tech | panache.vc |
| Real Ventures | Seed, Series A | $500K-$3M | AI, deep tech, B2B SaaS | realventures.com |
| Ignite Fredericton | Pre-seed | Grants, soft support | Tech, innovation | myignite.ca |
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Start 14-day trialHow to find New Brunswick investors
New Brunswick's investor community is layered: government programs at the bottom, regional VCs in the middle, national funds at the top. Work the stack in that order.
Start with NBIF's Startup Investment Fund - up to $200K pre-seed equity with no application fee, and the Breakthru competition is the fastest way to get in front of the province's VC community. The 2026 Breakthru finale saw Urai AI win a seed investment and two runners-up each receive $50K. Breakthru applications typically open in fall - deadline for the 2026 competition was November 28, 2025.
ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) is the federal engine - they provide non-dilutive grants and loans for tech companies in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland. A stack of NBIF equity plus ACOA non-dilutive funding is the standard early-round structure here. It signals you've passed two separate vetting processes before you approach Build Ventures or East Valley.
The province is bilingual by default. If your product serves French-speaking markets, lead with that - it's a genuine differentiator when approaching Opportunities NB and ACOA for regional development grants.
| Method | Best for | Timeline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBIF Breakthru competition | Community validation + equity | Pre-seed, first-time raise | Annual cycle, Nov deadline |
| NBIF Startup Investment Fund | Pre-seed equity up to $200K | Very early stage, NB-based | 2-4 months |
| ACOA non-dilutive grants | Non-dilutive capital | Any stage, Atlantic region | 3-6 months |
| Build Ventures direct pitch | Institutional seed round | Seed, post-traction | 3-6 months |
| Venn Garage / Planet Hatch | Network access and early capital | Pre-seed, MVP stage | Cohort-based |
New Brunswick is small enough that one good reference from an NBIF-backed founder gets you a meeting with Build Ventures. The ecosystem is tight - your reputation travels ahead of your pitch.
14 top New Brunswick investors
1. New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF)
The province's anchor VC - they've made 136 investments since 2003, and in FY2025 they deployed $3.2M into 16 companies that collectively raised $11.3M in total rounds. The Breakthru competition is how most NB founders get their first institutional check.
- Recent deals: Urai AI seed investment (March 2026, Breakthru winner); Eigen Innovations investment (September 2025); 16 total investments in FY2025 worth $3.2M
- LinkedIn: New Brunswick Innovation Foundation
- Sector focus: ICT, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, energy innovation, digital health, agritech
- Stage focus: Pre-seed, Seed (up to $500K per round)
- Location: Fredericton, NB
- Website: nbif.ca
2. Build Ventures
Halifax-based but with a deep New Brunswick portfolio - they backed Introhive, Smart Skin Technologies, and Potential Motors. Fund II ($65M) closed in 2019 and they've backed 5+ NB companies creating 169+ jobs in the province.
- Recent deals: 3DBioFibR (June 2025, biotechnology); co-invested in Potential Motors alongside Brightspark and NBIF (2024); 2 investments in 2025
- LinkedIn: Build Ventures
- Sector focus: ICT, cleantech, life sciences, SaaS
- Stage focus: Seed, Series A (post-product, post-revenue)
- Location: Halifax, NS (invests throughout Atlantic Canada)
- Website: buildventures.ca
3. East Valley Ventures
Saint John-based angel fund founded by Gerry Pond (2011 Canadian Angel of the Year) - $9M under management across 62 portfolio companies, focused specifically on Atlantic Canadian tech founders. They've backed Circles, Forestry.io, Hygge Power, and Passiv.
- Recent deals: Retellio and QuickFacts investments (most recent); 62 portfolio companies as of Dec 2024; investments ranging from $120K to $3M
- LinkedIn: East Valley Ventures
- Sector focus: IT, media, information services, cybersecurity, robotics
- Stage focus: Seed, Series A
- Location: Saint John, NB
- Website: eastvalleyventures.com
4. Opportunities NB (ONB)
New Brunswick's provincial economic development crown corporation - they offer the Strategic Assistance Fund for major growth projects, wage subsidies, and direct financing tools for companies that can demonstrate substantial economic impact in the province.
- Recent deals: Partnership with BDC to support NB business growth (February 2025); Strategic Assistance Fund deployments to manufacturing and tech companies across NB
- LinkedIn: Opportunities NB
- Sector focus: Diversified NB sectors - tech, manufacturing, bilingual services, export-ready companies
- Stage focus: Seed through Growth (project-dependent)
- Location: Fredericton, NB
- Website: onbcanada.ca
5. Venn Innovation
Moncton's main tech incubator and innovation hub - the Venn Garage program helps early-stage NB startups validate their tech strategy, acquire first customers, and access initial funding. Backed by ACOA, the Government of NB, and the City of Moncton.
- Recent deals: Received $475K from federal government for ecosystem expansion (BetaKit); Venn Garage program ongoing with multiple NB cohorts annually
- LinkedIn: Venn Innovation
- Sector focus: Tech, SaaS, digital innovation
- Stage focus: Pre-seed (idea validation and first customer stage)
- Location: Moncton, NB
- Website: venninnovation.com
6. Planet Hatch
Fredericton's co-working and accelerator hub - over 319 startups and 728 jobs since 2013. The MERGE Program connects startups with Capital Region municipalities to validate products and provides up to $25K in funding. Impact Atlantic Fund offers low-interest loans up to $25K for accelerator participants.
- Recent deals: MERGE Program cohort launched February 2025; Startup Accelerator, Sales Accelerator, and Export Igniter programs running in 2025-2026
- LinkedIn: Planet Hatch
- Sector focus: IT, biotech, engineering, food and beverage
- Stage focus: Pre-seed (idea to early revenue)
- Location: Fredericton, NB
- Website: planethatch.com
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Start 14-day trial7. ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
The federal agency that funds tech and innovation across all four Atlantic provinces - in 2025, they announced major support packages for NB business growth, and their Regional Development program is one of the primary non-dilutive capital sources for NB founders at every stage.
- Recent deals: Multiple Atlantic Canada innovation funding announcements in February 2025; Venn Innovation support for ecosystem expansion; ongoing REGI and AIF programs for NB companies
- LinkedIn: ACOA
- Sector focus: Diversified - tech, ocean tech, agritech, clean energy, bilingual services
- Stage focus: Any stage (non-dilutive grants and repayable contributions)
- Location: Moncton, NB (head office)
- Website: canada.ca/acoa
8. BDC Capital
Canada's largest active VC arm - they made their first NB equity investment in PMC Energy Limited (Moncton, September 2025) and run dedicated business centres in both Fredericton and Moncton with financing and advisory services for entrepreneurs.
- Recent deals: PMC Energy Limited minority equity investment (Moncton, September 2025 - BDC Capital's first NB equity deal); Smart Skin Technologies backing via Build Ventures co-investment; $200M new commitment to legacy-industry tech builders
- LinkedIn: BDC Capital
- Sector focus: Cleantech, SaaS, industrials, AI, life sciences
- Stage focus: Seed through Growth
- Location: National (Fredericton + Moncton offices serve NB)
- Website: bdc.ca
9. Brightspark Ventures
Montreal-based national VC that led Potential Motors' C$2M seed round in May 2024 alongside Build Ventures and NBIF - clear signal they're watching NB dealflow. Closed a $100M fund in 2024 and NBIF itself invested in Brightspark's Canadian Opportunities Fund II.
- Recent deals: Led Potential Motors seed round ($2M, alongside Build Ventures and NBIF, May 2024); 3 investments in 2025; NBIF is an LP in Brightspark's BCOF II fund
- LinkedIn: Brightspark Ventures
- Sector focus: SaaS, deep tech, AI, marketplaces
- Stage focus: Seed, Series A
- Location: Montreal, QC (invests nationally)
- Website: brightspark.com
10. Invest Nova Scotia (formerly Innovacorp)
Nova Scotia's provincial VC agency, now operating as Invest Nova Scotia after merging with the Invest Nova Scotia Fund in 2022 - they have an active co-investment partnership with NBIF, together committing $1M to companies in Propel's Incite accelerator. If your NB company goes through Propel's Atlantic program, both funds may invest.
- Recent deals: 9 company investments in FY2024-25 for $5M total; active NBIF co-investment partnership for Propel Incite graduates; 97-company portfolio
- LinkedIn: Invest Nova Scotia
- Sector focus: ICT, cleantech, life sciences, ocean technology
- Stage focus: Pre-seed, Seed
- Location: Halifax, NS (co-invests in Atlantic Canada including NB)
- Website: investnovascotia.ca
11. Rho Canada Ventures
Montreal-based early-stage fund backed by BDC Capital that has a history of investing in Atlantic Canadian companies - they co-backed Smart Skin Technologies alongside Build Ventures. If you're in software, mobile, or wireless infrastructure, they're worth approaching.
- Recent deals: Co-invested in Smart Skin Technologies (Fredericton) alongside Build Ventures and GrowthWorks; BDC Capital is an LP in Rho Canada Ventures II
- LinkedIn: Rho Canada Ventures
- Sector focus: Software, mobile, wireless infrastructure, semiconductors
- Stage focus: Seed, Series A
- Location: Montreal, QC (invests nationally including Atlantic Canada)
- Website: rho.com
12. Panache Ventures
A national pre-seed and seed fund with a reputation for fast decisions - they back Canadian founders coast to coast and have written checks into Atlantic Canadian deals. Worth approaching if you have early product-market fit and a clear Canadian market thesis.
- Recent deals: 30+ active portfolio companies across Canada; multiple pre-seed investments in 2024-2025; known for quick pre-seed decisions
- LinkedIn: Panache Ventures
- Sector focus: SaaS, marketplace, consumer tech, Canadian-founded
- Stage focus: Pre-seed, Seed
- Location: Toronto / Montreal (invests nationally)
- Website: panache.vc
13. Real Ventures
One of Canada's most active early-stage funds - they follow strong deals wherever they are, and NB's growing AI and cybersecurity sectors fit their thesis well. Montreal-based but national in scope.
- Recent deals: Multiple Canadian AI and deep tech investments in 2024-2025; manages $200M+ across multiple funds; invested in Atlantic Canadian companies
- LinkedIn: Real Ventures
- Sector focus: AI, deep tech, B2B SaaS, developer tools
- Stage focus: Seed, Series A
- Location: Montreal, QC (invests nationally)
- Website: realventures.com
14. Ignite Fredericton
The City of Fredericton's innovation and entrepreneurship agency - they provide workspace, mentorship, programming, and connections to the broader Fredericton Knowledge Park ecosystem. In partnership with Planet Hatch, they averaged 8,000+ hours of mentoring per year and helped launch 40 new startups in 2021 alone.
- Recent deals: Ongoing programming at Knowledge Park; partnership with Planet Hatch and UNB for startup ecosystem support; MERGE Program co-delivery
- LinkedIn: Ignite Fredericton
- Sector focus: Tech, knowledge-based industries, innovation
- Stage focus: Pre-seed (idea and MVP stage)
- Location: Fredericton, NB
- Website: myignite.ca
Getting in front of NB investors
New Brunswick investor outreach works best in person. The Breakthru finale, Propel's Incite demo days, and TechImpact events are where NBIF partners, East Valley angels, and Build Ventures partners show up. Cold LinkedIn outreach works less well here than in Toronto.
Before you send anything, get your materials organized. Upload your deck to Ellty and send a trackable link to each investor individually - NBIF and Build Ventures both review a lot of decks and you want to know who actually engaged before you follow up. In a community this size, a well-timed follow-up the day after they open your materials signals the kind of discipline investors want to see.
ACOA and NBIF funding rounds are often prerequisites for Build Ventures and national funds. If you're approaching Build Ventures without any government co-investment in your round, you're starting the conversation at a disadvantage. Non-dilutive capital from ACOA signals you've already passed a federal vetting process.
Set up an Ellty data room before your first institutional meeting. Include your financial model, cap table, ACOA and NBIF funding history, and any government grant documentation. New Brunswick investors - particularly NBIF partners - expect clean, organized due diligence documents and treat disorganization as a leading indicator of how you'll run the company post-investment.
If you're targeting both English and French markets, make that explicit in your pitch. ONB and ACOA have specific programs for bilingual Atlantic Canadian companies, and it's a genuine competitive advantage that NB founders underuse when pitching regional investors.
| Step | Action | Why it matters |
| 1 | Apply for NBIF Startup Investment Fund | First institutional check, signals ecosystem validation |
| 2 | Stack ACOA non-dilutive grants | Reduces burn, de-risks deal for private investors |
| 3 | Apply to Venn Garage or Planet Hatch | Network access and first customer support |
| 4 | Enter NBIF Breakthru competition | Fastest path to NB VC community exposure |
| 5 | Apply to Propel Incite accelerator | NBIF + Invest Nova Scotia co-investment pipeline |
| 6 | Approach East Valley Ventures | Main NB-based angel fund for seed rounds |
| 7 | Pitch Build Ventures directly | Main Atlantic-focused institutional seed fund |
| 8 | Organize data room on Ellty | Required for NBIF and Build Ventures diligence |
How to pitch a New Brunswick investor
What actually works when approaching VCs, government funds, and angel networks in Fredericton and Moncton.
- 1.Stack government funding before you approach private VCsApply for NBIF's Startup Investment Fund and ACOA grants before you pitch Build Ventures or East Valley Ventures. Having non-dilutive government capital in your round signals you've already passed two separate vetting processes - NBIF's investment committee and ACOA's federal review. Both are real signals in NB's tight investor community.
- 2.Enter Breakthru to get in front of the whole ecosystem at onceNBIF's Breakthru competition is the fastest way to meet the NB investor community. Applications open each fall, the finale is in March, and the winner gets a seed investment from NBIF. Even runner-up status (each receives $50K) and the eight-week preparation process significantly sharpen your pitch and your story.
- 3.Lead with bilingual or Atlantic market differentiationNew Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province. If your product serves French-speaking markets, lead with that explicitly. ONB and ACOA run specific programs for bilingual Atlantic companies. It's a genuine differentiation that most founders presenting to national VCs completely ignore.
- 4.Use Propel's Incite accelerator for an NBIF + Invest Nova Scotia doublePropel runs the main Atlantic Canadian tech accelerator and NBIF has committed co-investment funds specifically for Propel Incite graduates. Getting into Propel gives you structured access to both NBIF equity (NB) and Invest Nova Scotia equity (NS) in one cohort - the cleanest dual-fund entry point in Atlantic Canada.
- 5.Follow up based on actual engagement, not a fixed scheduleUse Ellty to send your deck with individual trackable links. Follow up within 24 hours of an NB investor opening your materials - not on a fixed weekly cadence. In a community where everyone knows everyone, well-timed follow-up signals discipline. Blanket follow-ups with no read of engagement signals the opposite.
How Ellty helps you land a New Brunswick investor
Now that you know who's actively investing in New Brunswick, here's how to prepare your materials properly. NBIF runs formal investment committee processes. Build Ventures and East Valley are fast but thorough. In a tight community like Fredericton, first impressions about your operational discipline stick.
- 1.Build your data room with financials and government grantsCreate an Ellty data room and upload your pitch deck, financial model, cap table, and government funding documentation - NBIF investments, ACOA grants, ONB strategic assistance. NB investors expect to see your government co-investment history. Organize files so an NBIF partner finds the key documents in two clicks.
- 2.Set up unique trackable links for each NB investorCreate a separate trackable link for every fund - NBIF, Build Ventures, East Valley, BDC. Require email verification before viewing so you know exactly who opened your deck. Enable screenshot protection on your cap table and financial model. Know the moment an investor forwards your link to a partner at another Atlantic fund.
- 3.Get notified the moment they open your materialsGet a real-time notification when an investor opens your link. See which pages they spent the most time on and which they skipped. If a Build Ventures partner spent four minutes on your ICT market size and barely touched the team slide, you know exactly what to lead with on the follow-up call.
New Brunswick investor questions founders actually ask
- For pre-seed and seed up to $500K, yes - NBIF's Startup Investment Fund and East Valley Ventures can anchor a round, and ACOA non-dilutive grants are widely available. For anything above $1M, you'll need Build Ventures, Brightspark, or national funds. Most NB investors actively help with those introductions.
- Apply for NBIF's Breakthru competition. Applications open each fall and the finale in March puts you in front of NBIF's investment committee, East Valley angels, and visiting national VCs all at once. Runner-ups each received $50K at the 2026 finale. The process also forces you to sharpen your pitch before you approach anyone else.
- NBIF first. Their Startup Investment Fund is non-competitive equity with straightforward eligibility for NB-based tech companies. Having NBIF in your round before you approach Build Ventures or East Valley signals you've passed the province's primary investment committee vetting process.
- Not as a hard requirement for most programs, but if your company serves French-speaking markets, you unlock additional ONB and ACOA programs and differentiate yourself significantly. NB is Canada's only officially bilingual province - investors and government agencies here actively look for companies that take advantage of that.
- Before your first formal meeting with NBIF or Build Ventures. Government-backed investors run structured diligence processes and will ask for organized materials. Having a clean Ellty data room ready with your financials, cap table, and grant documentation signals operational discipline.
- No - Build Ventures specifically invests in Atlantic Canadian companies. That regional mandate is actually useful: their network is deep in NB, NS, PEI, and NL, and their portfolio companies help each other. If your company is headquartered in NB, you're squarely in their mandate.
