Sudbury Catalyst Fund
Investing in Sudbury’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
The Sudbury Catalyst Fund (SCF) is a unique $5 million venture capital fund administered by the Nickel Basin Federal Development Corporation in collaboration with the City of Greater Sudbury, FedNor, and NORCAT.
Established with the goal to accelerate the growth of scalable tech start-ups, the SCF brings together a variety of partners and angel investors eager to build Northern Ontario’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by investing in and supporting a diversified portfolio of high-growth companies.
Investment Criteria
Sectors
The Sudbury Catalyst Fund will co-invest in early-stage tech companies across multiple sectors including, but not limited to, mining, construction, forestry, medtech, software, and advanced manufacturing.
Funding
To qualify for consideration by the SCF Investment Committee, interested companies must have qualified investment interest from angel investors. The Sudbury Catalyst Fund will invest in two to three ventures per year, co-investing up to a maximum of $250,000 on a 1:1 matching basis.
Geography
Candidates must have a commitment to operate the majority of the company’s operations in the City of Greater Sudbury.
Stage
The primary focus will be investing in high potential ventures that have both cumulative revenues and capital raised equating to less than $1M since company inception.
NORCAT Innovation Mentors
The NORCAT Innovation Mentors are the front line of the Sudbury Catalyst Fund process and put the NORCAT “stamp of approval” on eligible investment candidates. As part of the existing process with NORCAT Innovation, mentors work hands-on with each investment candidate to ensure they meet the required eligibility and are worthy of consideration for investment.
Investment Committee
The Sudbury Catalyst Fund Investment Committee is comprised of angel investors, venture capitalists, community business leaders and/or entrepreneurs from diverse sectors and backgrounds who have the experiences, credentials and/or insights to invest in early stage technology companies.
The Sudbury Catalyst Fund is co-managed by NORCAT CEO Don Duval and Nickel Basin Federal Development Corporation Executive Director Rainer Paull. The Investment Committee is chaired by Don Duval.
Apply
To begin the process of applying for the Sudbury Catalyst Fund, potential fund investment candidates must first:
- Be involved with and participating in the NORCAT Innovation sponsored mentorship program – Submit your Discovery Document
- Be supported and/or endorsed through that mentorship to make an application to the fund
- Successfully acquire a written commitment of investment from one or more angel investors