Toronto – November 20, 2014 – Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund (NVCF) today announced that it has made a $15 million commitment to Golden Venture Partners Fund II (GVP II), a mobile focused seed and early-stage venture capital fund based in Toronto.
“We are very pleased to be the lead institutional investor in one of Canada’s top venture capital funds,” said Ian Carew, Director of Northleaf Capital Partners, the manager of NVCF. “The commitment to GVP II represents NVCF’s fifth fund commitment since its launch in January, and furthers NVCF’s strategy of investing in best-in-class Canada-based venture capital and growth equity funds, which in turn support the country’s most promising companies.”
NVCF’s commitment to Golden Venture Partners Fund II is an extension of a partnership that began in 2012, when the Ontario Venture Capital Fund, also managed by Northleaf, made a commitment to Golden Venture Partners Fund I. The partnership was further strengthened through NVCF’s direct co-investment alongside Golden Venture Partners in Toronto-based Wattpad, the world’s largest online community of readers and writers.
“We are delighted to once again have the support of Northleaf, as we begin investing our second fund, and look forward to continuing our successful partnership,” said Matt Golden, Founding Partner of Golden Venture Partners. “NVCF’s commitment will support our mission of investing in the next generation of mobile-focused entrepreneurs who are building some of Canada’s most innovative technology companies.”
By investing in promising venture capital and growth equity funds and co-investing alongside them to support innovative, high growth companies, NVCF is actively promoting the development of a long-term, world-class venture capital ecosystem in Canada. NVCF’s primary objective is to generate attractive, long term returns for its investors and, by so doing, clearly demonstrate the significant opportunities available through investment in Canadian venture capital and growth equity funds and companies.
About Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund
Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund is a joint initiative between major Canadian institutional investors and the Governments of Canada and Ontario to invest primarily in Canada-based venture capital and growth equity funds and direct co-investments that support innovative, high growth companies. NVCF is structured as a fund of funds with the primary objective of generating attractive returns for its investors. The Fund is managed by Northleaf Capital Partners. For more information on Northleaf, visit www.northleafcapital.com.
About Golden Venture Partners
Golden Venture Partners is a mobile focused seed and early-stage venture capital fund with investments across North America. They provide early stage funding and mentorship to extraordinary entrepreneurs that leverage the massive potential of mobile products and services. Golden Venture Partners was created as a response to the unparalleled growth in the mobile marketplace and the dramatic changes in how companies are created, financed and acquired. With the costs of creating valuable technology declining significantly, there is a tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurs to rapidly launch, test and scale new products and services. Golden Venture Partners is focused on funding these early stage companies to work together to launch the next generation of breakthrough mobile products and services. For more information on Golden Venture Partners, visit www.goldenvp.com.
For further information, please contact:
Jeff Pentland
Managing Director
Northleaf Capital Partners
+1-416-477-6165
jeff.pentland@northleafcapital.com