Kirk Falconer

BlockCerts Blockchain, a Victoria, British Columbia-based blockchain smart contracts and transactions platform, has raised $25 million in financing. The money came from Canadian private investment firms Hillcore Group and Robson Financial Group. BlockCerts was founded in 2016 by Tim Vasko, who is also CEO of the company's parent organization Finaeos. It provides a smart contracts streaming solution, a suite of software-as-a-service solutions, and distributed ledger technology to help businesses access blockchain and secure transactions. The funds raised will support global expansion and adoption of BlockCerts' platform.

Canada's Weston family has hired Jim Orlando, managing partner of OMERS Ventures (OV), to run its new venture capital fund, the Globe and Mail reported. The $100 million fund will be an arm of the Westons' holding company Wittington Investments, the report said, and invest in areas of strategic interest to the family's businesses, including Weston Foods and Loblaw Cos Ltd. Orlando joined OV in 2013 and was responsible for leading its investment in Shopify. Before then, he was a managing director of OMERS Private Equity. Wittington is a cornerstone investor in the US$350 million debut fund of Radical Ventures, a Canadian artificial intelligence venture capital firm, launched in May.

CIX has named Lightspeed POS (TSX: LSPD) its 2019 “Innovator of the Year”. Founded in 2005 by CEO Dax Dasilva, Lightspeed is a Montréal-based retail and restaurant POS and e-commerce solution. It went public this year in Canada, raising $276 million at a valuation of $1.5 billion. Lightspeed raised more than $400 million from venture capital firms. Going into the public launch, it was backed by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Inovia Capital and others. Dasilva will accept the award and tell his story as the opening keynote speaker with Inovia's Chris Arsenault at CIX on October 16 in Toronto.

Canopy Rivers has invested US$10 million in ZeaKal, a San Diego, California-based plant science company. The deal gives Canopy, the venture capital arm of Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth Corp, 8.7 percent of ZeaKal and an observer seat on its board. Founded in 2010, ZeaKal develops technology for sustainably increasing photosynthesis, improving plant yield and enhancing nutritional profiles for a variety of agricultural crops. Following Canopy's investment, the company will expand its commercial program, previously focused on row crops, to include cannabis and hemp.

Calgary-based environmental technology company Recover Energy Services Inc has raised undisclosed financing from BDC Capital. BDC invested through its $700 million clean technology practice. Founded in 2008, Recover provides technology that recovers and refines base oil from contaminated drilling waste, resulting in avoidance of landfills and reduced CO2 emissions. Led by President and CEO Stan Ross, the company will use the financing's proceeds to expand, in part by opening an office in Houston, and complete modifications on its first commercial-scale facility in Lodgepole, Alberta.

Animikii, a Victoria, British Columbia-based Indigenous digital agency and social enterprise, has raised $1 million in financing. The round's backers were Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, a Canadian Indigenous venture capital firm, and Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). A representative of Raven will join the board. Founded in 2003 by Jeff Ward, Animikii provides website design, custom software, digital communications strategies and other technology-related solutions to Indigenous-focused organizations. Animikii will use the funds raised to further build its team and develop its Indigenous data sovereignty product.

Fredericton-based connected care provider eChart Healthcare has raised $800,000 in a seed-stage financing. New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) invested $200,000 in the round. The other investors were not disclosed. Founded in 2016 by CEO Amanda Betts, eChart Healthcare has created a digital patient charting system that helps long-term care homes simplify the charting process and provide staff and families with real-time data on a senior’s condition. The round's proceeds will support additional product development as well as sales and marketing activity.

San Francisco-based health technology provider Collective Health has raised US$205 million in its latest financing. The round was led by SoftBank Vision Fund, with participation from several investors, including Canadian pension fund Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) and Canadian insurer Sun Life Financial. Founded in 2013, Collective Health provides a software platform that helps U.S. employers manage their health insurance programs. The company will use the funds raised to accelerate adoption of its platform and increase technology capabilities.

Toronto-based financial technology company Borrowell has raised $20 million in a Series B financing. The round, which consists of equity and venture debt, was led by Canadian venture capital firms White Star Capital and Portag3 Ventures, according to a report by the Globe and Mail. Other investors included Clocktower Ventures, Argo Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank and Gaingels, a U.S. LGBT investment group. Founded in 2014 by CEO Andrew Graham and COO Eva Wong, Borrowell provides customers in Canada with a online platform for personal loans, financial recommendations and free credit monitoring services. The round's proceeds will be used for developing new products.

Dialogue, a Montréal-based virtual healthcare platform, has secured $40 million in its latest financing. The round was led by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Holtzbrinck Ventures. They were joined by First Ascent Ventures, Portag3 Ventures, White Star Capital, Walter Capital Partners and National Bank of Canada, most of which invested in last year's $12 million Series A financing. Founded in 2016 by CEO Cherif Habib, COO Anna Chif and CTO Alexis Smirnov, Dialogue provides employers with direct access to front-line health-care professionals for their employees and families. The company will use the funds raised to consolidate its growth in Canada and continue expanding in Europe.