Ripple Ventures

🚀 Big News from Ripple Ventures 🚀 Today marks a major milestone in our journey at Ripple Ventures as we announce not just one, but two significant achievements. We’re thrilled to officially introduce Ripple Ventures Fund III, and celebrate the well-deserved promotions of two key team members (Nazuk Thakkar and Katie Ko) who have been instrumental to our success. Ripple Ventures Fund III has been in full swing since late 2022, anchored by RBCx and the Government of Canada’s renewed Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI) through BDC Capital. With 20 companies already backed, we remain laser-focused on investing at the “true pre-seed stage,” from inception to first revenue, supporting founders with $250K to $750K checks. Our focus is on software companies transforming legacy industries through building new-age systems of record, workflow automation tools, or platforms that enable the transition to frontier technology. We’re also doubling down on our commitment to underrepresented student and recent grad founders through the RippleX Fellowship and our Fellow Fund, writing $50K to $100K investments. And we’re just getting started—expect another 10-15 new investments in this fund alone. We're excited to announce two big promotions at the firm - Nazuk Thakkar to Senior Associate and Katie Ko to Associate. Naz has been a driving force in our growth, from handling deal flow full-stack to building out our co-investor and corporate development engine. Katie, the glue of our fund and deal operations, has been pivotal in scaling our sourcing engine and RippleX Fellowship. Both started with us through the RippleX Fellowship, and their passion and dedication have made them integral to Ripple Ventures. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together and even more excited for what’s ahead. Want to join us on this journey? Get in touch here: https://lnkd.in/ezNfDYsy Learn more about the fund and reach out: Matt Cohen: matt@rippleventures.com Dominic Lau: dom@rippleventures.com Nazuk Thakkar: naz@rippleventures.com Katie Ko: katie@rippleventures.com Full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/emasZd68

Retail investing in the private markets is the next big frontier. Matt Cohen sits down with Rebecca Kacaba, Co-Founder and CEO of DealMaker, a groundbreaking platform transforming how companies raise capital. Rebecca shares her journey from her entrepreneurial family background and legal expertise to spearhead innovation in the fundraising space. The conversation covers how DealMaker democratizes capital access, enabling individuals to invest in brands they love. The discussion also touches on the impact of regulations like the JOBS Act, the role of community and marketing in successful capital campaigns, and the future of AI in streamlining complex fundraising processes. Rebecca also opens up about her experiences as a female CEO in a male-dominated industry, scaling a fintech startup, and her vision for how retail capital will reshape ownership in the coming years. Listen to the whole episode at https://lnkd.in/eiHtEzmc

Congratulations to the Scalestack team, led by Elio Narciso and Alessandro Prioni, on closing their $3M seed round! 🎉 It’s been incredible to be a part Scalestack’s journey as they empower GTM enterprise teams to scale faster and automate operations with their sales orchestration software. Their ability to execute has led to partnerships with impressive companies like MongoDB, Remote, Typeform, and Harness. We’re proud to have supported this team early on and are excited to see what’s ahead as you continue building the future of sales automation. Shoutout to the investors joining this round, including Sentiero Ventures, Criteria Venture Tech, Exor Ventures, Geek Ventures, Founders Network, Red Bridge Ventures, Launch Factory, Team Ignite Ventures and BackFuture, and follow-ons from Flyer One Ventures, and Forum Ventures. Welcome to the Scalestack journey! 🚀

Another fabulous holiday party in the books! Last week, we had the privilege of co-hosting a memorable holiday dinner in Toronto, in partnership with RBCx, Fasken, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Humi. The evening brought together founders, startup operators, and ecosystem builders for a two-part celebration. Over cocktails, the energy was electric as ideas sparked and stories of early-stage building and growth were shared—a testament to the grit and creativity that define our community. The intimate dinner that followed offered a space for deeper reflections, where challenges, opportunities, and bold visions for the future were explored. It was a fitting end to a year of ambition and innovation, celebrating the builders shaping what’s next. ✨ A heartfelt thank you to our co-hosts and everyone who joined us to make this evening so extraordinary. Together, we are fostering an ecosystem where ideas flourish and bold ventures thrive. As we look ahead, we are brimming with optimism for opportunities and breakthroughs on the horizon. 🌊 Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season, let's make a splash in 2025! cc: Matt Cohen Dominic Lau Nazuk Thakkar Katie Ko Kate Grant Marc Shewchun Will Shaw Arron Lin Filip Stoj David Eboh Andry Tanusdjaja, CPA, CFA Aishu Raval Sarah Lesperance Richard Force Kevin Kliman

“From the moment we met the Theo Ai team, it was clear they truly understand customer workflows and pain points, backed by their deep legal expertise. Their vision for transforming the legal industry with AI, paired with their proven track record as repeat founders, gave us strong confidence in their ability to deliver.” – Dominic Lau Huge congrats to the Theo AI team on their $2.2M pre-seed round! 🎉 They’re building the first AI engine that helps clients identify and predict high-success cases, discover missed opportunities, and access critical case summaries and financial insights – all in one platform. Excited to back this powerhouse team on their mission to revolutionize the legal industry with data and predictive modelling! Cc: Matt Cohen Dominic Lau Nazuk Thakkar Katie Ko

🚀 Congratulations to Lula Commerce, a proud portfolio company of Ripple Ventures, on their partnership with Circle K to enhance e-commerce capabilities across over 800 franchised locations in the U.S.! This strategic collaboration marks a significant step forward in the convenience store sector, enabling seamless integration of e-commerce tools that will empower stores to streamline operations and elevate the customer experience. 🎉 With nearly 200 stores already on board and a full rollout expected by Q1 2025, Lula is paving the way for a more unified digital experience. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eebPWBsf Kudos to Adit Gupta and the entire Lula team for driving innovation in the industry and helping convenience retailers meet the rising demand for delivery solutions! 🛒 Looking forward to seeing how this partnership transforms the retail landscape! CC: RippleX Fellowship Matt Cohen Dominic Lau Nazuk Thakkar Katie Ko

As Nazuk and I always joke, there’s something truly special about the water in Waterloo! It’s always an honour to be on campus, immersed in the infectious energy of aspiring founders. Our team recently spent a day at the University of Waterloo, connecting with student builders and early-stage entrepreneurs. We hosted office hours to kick off the day, where we had the privilege of meeting startups and discussing their progress. From students building advancements in 3D modelling to innovations in medical AI, we were genuinely inspired by the remarkable ideas emerging from this community. The day’s highlight was an intimate fireside chat with Ben Cox, CEO of Page, moderated by our Managing Partner, Matt Cohen. Ben shared reflections from his early career at Ipsos conducting political research, where he saw the inefficiencies within government relation workflows. He also dived into his journey joining Shopify a decade ago starting as a Technical Support Engineer all the way to becoming their Director of Product Engineering. My favourite part was hearing Ben's emotional motivation and conviction behind his ultimate decision to go start his own thing. His openness about his experiences navigating customer validation offered valuable insights to all in attendance. We closed the day by gathering in the atrium, enjoying thoughtful conversations and the chance to connect further. A heartfelt thank you to the University of Waterloo, the University of Waterloo Student Venture Fund, and the University of Waterloo - School of Accounting and Finance for their warm hospitality and support in making this event possible. We’re already looking forward to our next visit and are grateful for the chance to continue supporting this incredible ecosystem. CC: Ripple Ventures Matt Cohen Dominic Lau Nazuk Thakkar

Through my 20-year journey building and running Lightspeed Commerce, there’s one lesson that stands out to me and that I’d share with any entrepreneur: you have to embrace change as a leader. I had such an amazing time at the recent Elevate conference in Toronto, Canada’s most influential tech and innovation event for global startups and investors. One of the highlights was a live interview I did with Matt Cohen, Founder & Managing Partner at Ripple Ventures. We discussed the early challenges of bootstrapping Lightspeed, valuable life lessons I learned along the way, how my passion for environmentalism led to the creation of Age of Union, and so much more. Thank you to Matt for having me on Tank Talks! If you’re an entrepreneur, I highly recommend this podcast. You can check it out here: https://lnkd.in/e8XBQPfe

Unlock Your Startup Potential with Ripple Ventures at the RippleX Fellowship Roadshow – UBC Edition! 🚀 Aspiring founders, student entrepreneurs, and recent grads—this is your moment to gain exclusive insights into the startup world from industry experts. In partnership with UBC Startups and Innovation UBC, Ripple Ventures is thrilled to bring the RippleX Fellowship Roadshow to UBC! Why Attend? 💼 The RippleX Founder Fellowship – Designed for underrepresented founders across Canada and the U.S., this highly selective program is tailored for early-stage B2B software startups. Whether you're refining your product or pursuing initial revenue, the Fellowship provides unparalleled access to customers, esteemed operators, and the hands-on expertise of the Ripple team. Plus, participants may receive early funding through the Fellow Fund—a pivotal boost for promising startups. 🌟 Meet Leaders Who Shape the Industry – Engage directly with Dominic Lau (Partner at Ripple Ventures & RippleX Founder) and Katie Ko (Associate at Ripple Ventures & RippleX Alum). Gain valuable insights, ask questions, and explore the pathway from ideation to scale with those who’ve been in your shoes. 🍕 Connect Over Pizza & Networking – Forge meaningful connections with like-minded students and recent grads as you explore what it takes to launch a successful venture. Complimentary pizza and refreshments provided. Event Details: 📅 Date: October 10, 2024 🕓 Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM 📍 Location: UBC Alumni Centre This is your chance to connect with Ripple Ventures, gain real-world knowledge, and explore whether the RippleX Fellowship could be the catalyst your venture needs. Join us to start building a network and insights that can fuel your startup ambitions. 🚀 RSVP now—take the first step toward transforming your startup dreams into reality with UBC Startups, Innovation UBC, and Ripple Ventures. This is where opportunity meets preparation—don’t miss it. Secure your spot now - https://lnkd.in/gEe5xsNM #UBCStartups #InnovationUBC #RippleX #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #FounderFellowship #B2B

An absolute thrill hosting a Founder Get-Together to end of the summer! Over 50+ young builders across the city gathered under one roof to learn from each other and contribute to the vibrant startup community in Toronto. 🍁 We kicked off with pitches from RippleX Fellowship's current batch & alumni, where our founders shared how they're fearlessly tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges. From deploying voice agents, improving medical charting, to decarbonizing built environments, the innovation and progress on display were nothing short of inspiring. I then had the pleasure of sitting down with Braden Ream to learn about his journey starting and scaling Voiceflow, as well as his take on the State of AI today. Read on for key takeaways + some of my personal reflections below: On Navigating the -1 to 0: 🚀 Speed Beats Strategy: Fast iteration is more valuable than having a perfect strategy. Testing ideas quickly by writing code and talking to users daily accelerates learning/ product refinement, and ability to move fast can open up unexpected opportunities. 💡 Optimise for problems and not solutions: Customers often articulate their needs as specific solutions, but the key to unlocking unique insight is by first understanding the underlying problems driving those requests. Building exactly what they ask for can lead you down the wrong path. On Scaling 0 to 1: 🌱 Start Small, Scale Smart: Early-stage startups should avoid the trap of chasing big enterprise deals too soon. Instead, focus on smaller, faster-moving customers who provide rapid feedback and iteration cycles. Build a strong base of smaller clients, refine your product, and then scale up to larger enterprise contracts when you’re ready. Big logos don’t guarantee big paydays—depth of value matters more than company size. 🦾 Never Settle: When you allow mediocrity to creep in, especially in a comfortable country like Canada—you set yourself up to fail. Entrepreneurship is about tail outcomes. Mid-tier startups fail because the average startup fails, so hire only the best and never settle for anything less. On the State of AI: 📈 Tech Hype vs. Business Adoption: There’s always a disconnect between what’s technologically possible today and what’s actually being adopted by businesses. Real innovation is happening in the mid-market, where companies are flexible enough to implement AI but large enough to make a difference in revenue. ✨ AI Isn’t Enough—Focus on Delivering Value: Many companies are using "AI" as a marketing buzzword, but that’s not enough. It’s not about having AI—it’s about solving real problems more efficiently. Long run, AI will become as standard as cloud services are today, and the companies that win will be those that can improve efficiency and outcomes, not those that slap AI onto their offering. Join our future events: https://lnkd.in/g7BR4k7b CC: Ripple Ventures Matt Cohen Nazuk Thakkar Dominic Lau