ANTLER CANADA
WE SPARK STARTUPS TO LIFE
Antler backs startups at inception: We invest in credible founders with compelling ideas.
$250,000+ Invested at inception.
We move fast. We invest pre-revenue. We invest pre-product.
Inception Stage Investing
Get Funded Now
No VC invests earlier than Antler.
Support
Get Help Now
From workshops and resources to one-on-one support from our partners. Direct, no-nonsense mentorship and coaching.
Cloud and Compute
Spend Credits, not Cash
We unlock $350,000+ in cloud and compute credits you can leverage immediately.
Network
Find the Right People to Build With
Join a shared workspace where world changing companies are born.
MEET OUR TEAM
ASSOCIATE PARTNER
Shambhavi has been venture investing for more than a decade with a focus on consumer tech, enterprise saas, gaming and climate-tech. She has backed companies in North America, India and the EU.
At Antler, she is hands-on with founders as they move from early PMF to seed and series A. Founders benefit from her deep knowledge of venture and her global VC network.
EXPERTISE
- Positioning startups for fundraising success
- Growth strategies for early stage startups
- Industrial and enterprise business processes
GENERAL PARTNER
Bernie co-founded Pure Energies, a leading customer acquisition platform for residential solar players, in 2010. It was acquired in 2014 by NRG Energy and was venture backed by New Enterprise Associates. Previously, he was a venture capitalist with a leading Canadian VC fund and a US based VC fund.
Bernie helps founders think through long-term value creation and strategic positioning within their industry categories and within the capital markets.
EXPERTISE
- Acting as a thought partner for founders
- Creating a narrative around value quantification
- Strategic positioning and identification of key drivers
GENERAL PARTNER
Tammer was the co-founder and CEO of Toronto-based Quandl, a financial data platform which was acquired by Nasdaq in 2018. Previously he was a software engineer and quantitative analyst in the financial industry.
Tammer works hands-on with Antler founders leveraging three decades of business and technology experience. He is an expert on SaaS, AI, digital marketplaces and fintech.
EXPERTISE
- AI-first SaaS, financial markets, data-science
- Inception stage startups, Zero-to-One, early growth
- Data science, software engineering, AI
Alex is a relationship-driven finance professional with expertise in financial controls and project management. He is a Chartered Accountant trained through Ernst & Young as an Assurance Manager where he oversaw multinational public company audits. Recently, he gained senior leadership experience at a not-for-profit focused on founder education. Alex’s passion for entrepreneurship began at Queen’s University where he was an Ambassador for the Centre for Social Impact - a student group dedicated to social innovation and entrepreneurship.
EXPAND BIO
Naman has founded and exited 3 travel technology businesses. He has built original small teams from inception and growing them to over 700 people. His companies were able to grow with great people building great products using technology. Developing people, products and technology to rapidly scale business and leading to successful financial exits for investors are the skills and experience Naman brings to Antler Canada.
EXPAND BIO
Luna is a dynamic ecosystem builder at the intersection of venture capital, lending, and tech. With experience in strategic partnerships and business development, she excels at connecting diverse communities of founders and investors within Canada and beyond. Luna leads a global network of angel investors fostering cross-border capital flows between the MENA region and North America. Previously, she worked at the Canadian Lenders Association and BankTech Ventures. Luna holds a BA in Business Management from the US and a post-graduate degree in Financial Technology. Passionate about building communities and supporting revolutionary ideas, she is driven by the belief that innovation thrives when global perspectives meet opportunity.
EXPAND BIO
Portfolio Spotlight
Chexy, funded by Antler Canada in 2022, is revolutionizing how people use credit cards. Liza, CEO and co-founder, shares the Chexy origin story.
Empowering Builders with $4M in Credits and Discounts
We have partnerships with hundreds of organizations to enable low cost access to the tools our portfolio companies need. This includes over $350,000 in compute and cloud credits.
Antler portfolio companies raise capital from other leading VCs
Antler has sparked hundreds of companies to life
There are no shortage of exceptional founders in Canada. But there is a shortage of investors willing to back them. We exist to fill that gap.
1,300+
Portfolio companies
$4.8B
Total portfolio value
12,000+
Antler founders
24+
Locations worldwide
Natalia Bakaeva
Co-founder
Arki
Steven Gans
Co-founder
Databiomes
Mike Kim
Co-founder
Mycroft
“Antler changes your definition of fast. A company can form, validate, and get funded in a fraction of the time you thought possible.”
"Antler supercharged my journey as a founder in Canada by introducing me to an incredible cohort of founders I continue to build alongside, and by investing in my business from day zero."
"Antler gives you a founder community you simply don't find elsewhere. Everyone is building from zero, together."
The Antler Experience
Antler in the news
ConnectWise to Acquire zofiQ - Bringing AI-Powered Automation to IT Solution Providers
zofiQ AI agents embedded in ConnectWise PSA help IT Solution Providers resolve more tickets with the same team, deliver more consistent service, and unlock capacity for higher-value customer work
Mycroft raises $3.5 million USD to deliver “Goldilocks” security for startups
With Mycroft, Kim and former colleagues from partner relationship management platform PartnerStack have teamed up to build what he described as “the Goldilocks tool” for companies looking to stay secure and compliant easier and more cost-effectively.
TechCrunch: Sweden’s Lovable, an app-building AI platform, rakes in $15M after spectacular growth
Lovable, a Swedish AI startup, reached the front page of both Product Hunt and Hacker News last year after allowing anyone to create apps very easily, just using prompting. It has now raised $15 million in a pre-Series A round led by Creandum.
Singapore’s Airalo Becomes Unicorn After Raising $220 Million In CVC-Led Round
Singapore-based Airalo, a provider of embedded SIM cards known as eSIMs to travellers, has become a unicorn after raising $220 million in a funding round led by Luxembourg-based private equity firm CVC.
How the Residency works
Antler backs ambitious individuals who are ready to build now. In the Residency, you'll be surrounded by a community of 65 driven peers, with the resources, mentorship, and capital to help you go from concept to company.
Two Cohorts Each Year
We run two Antler residencies annually, starting in late March and September. Each cohort brings together 65 founders on the same timeline, creating a focused environment where progress is fast, expectations are high, and momentum builds from day one.
An Intensive Founder Experience
During the residency, founders get direct, no-nonsense feedback, hands-on support from an experienced Antler team, and access to a strong extended network of speakers, operators, and advisors. You’ll be surrounded by driven entrepreneurs working through the same challenges, pushing each other forward.
For Founders at Every Stage
You can enter the residency without an idea, co-founder, or product, and leave with all of the above plus investment. If you’re already building, we don’t wait for the residency to begin. We start working with you immediately to help accelerate your progress.
Our Investment Model
We invest $250,000 for 9% of your company. As you scale, we will provide follow-on funding and up to $25M of growth funding from our global fund.
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Get in Touch with Antler Canada
Have questions about the residency, investing with Antler, or whether it’s the right fit for you? Get in touch with Antler Canada and our team will point you in the right direction. Whether you’re exploring an idea or already building, we’re happy to chat and help you take the next step.
Our Toronto office
Have questions about the residency, investing with Antler, or whether it’s the right fit for you? Get in touch with Antler Canada and our team will point you in the right direction. Whether you’re exploring an idea or already building, we’re happy to chat and help you take the next step.
