Learn a little bit more about us...

FAQs

We primarily invest in software and internet-type businesses but have made exceptions. We focus mainly on the quality of our partnership and if we are able to be helpful to you and your startup. Sometimes there are better partners for your business, and we aren’t afraid to tell you that.

How much do you invest?

We typically invest between $250,000 – $500,000 on the first cheque. We reserve additional investment as your company progresses to Seed and sometimes Series A. This means our investment in your company has the potential to grow over time.

Do you lead rounds?

Yes, we lead rounds. We’re fine to join syndicates and collectively invest, as well.

How long does the process typically take?

We aim to go from kick-off meeting to term-sheet within 30 days. You can see our whole process at the bottom of this page.

What is the best way to get in touch?

You don’t need warm introductions to talk with us. If you think that your business might be a fit then fill out our form here.

What value do you add?

We know as a founder your time is valuable. We believe our job is to help support you in many domains. We do this in many different ways by helping you find your next hire, introducing you to your next investor, negotiating discounts and better rates at many service providers and so much more. We definitely suggest checking out our main page for more information and please pick up the phone and call any of our portfolio founders to see what value we provide.

Where are you in your fund cycle?

We will cease making new investments out of Concrete Ventures Fund I by the end of 2024.

Investment Criteria

What stage do you invest at, and what do you look for?

We are pre-seed investors at our core. Here is what we look for:

You have an initial team covering both the business and technical side of the company or a line of sight of achieving this post-investment (i.e. hires identified).
You have either an MVP, prototype, or some form or product that is demoable. We are not afraid to invest at the idea stage, but the stars have to align.
You have a 12-18 month plan that demonstrates the company’s ability to reach the next round of funding.

What exactly is pre-seed?

Venture capital has evolved over the years and continues to evolve. In our view, pre-seed is anywhere from a pitch deck to an MVP with less than $100k in revenue. We are mainly investing in the founding team and their conviction about the market opportunity they are chasing.

When is the right time to reach out?

It’s never too early to have a conversation with us.

Do you invest in Seed+ stage companies?

We really try to stay in our lane and invest in pre-seed companies, however, we have made some investments in what we’d describe as early seed companies. We do not invest in companies that are Series A+.

Do you invest in companies outside of Atlantic Canada?

Unfortunately, not with our current fund. We are excited to have such a geographic focus because we fundamentally believe that there are great startups and founders in this part of the world.

Our Process

Kick-off meeting

An opportunity to get to know each other, for you to introduce your business, and for us to introduce Concrete Ventures.

Qualifying

An internal stage where we determine if we are the right partner for your business.

Second Meeting

Usually 1-1.5 hours in length, this is the time for us to go deep on any areas of interest. And for you to ask us the tough questions as well.

Researching

An internal stage where we extensively research & validate the many aspects of the investment opportunity.

Decision

The final stage where a decision is made and communicated back to you.