Maple Bridge Ventures Closes $10.2M to Back Immigrant Founders Building Canada’s Next Generation of Innovation

Eric Agyemang (Founder & Managing Partner), Shelley Li (Principal) and Billy Lai (CFO & Venture Partner), Maple Bridge Ventures. Business Wire

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OTTAWA, Ontario — Maple Bridge Ventures today announced the first close of its debut $20 million CAD venture fund at $10.2 million CAD, backed by anchor investors Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Realize Capital Partners. Founded and led by Eric Agyemang, Maple Bridge Ventures invests in immigrant founders building high-growth technology companies across AgriFoodTech, HealthTech, and Enterprise Solutions.

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Launched in late 2023, Maple Bridge Ventures is Canada’s first institutional-grade venture fund purpose-built to unlock the potential of immigrant founders. Support from two institutional limited partners at first close reflects deep confidence in the fund’s strategy, team, and governance — and in the role immigrant-led innovation will play in Canada’s future productivity and economic growth.

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“FCC is proud to invest in Maple Bridge Ventures because it backs an underserved population that is a vital source of innovation and entrepreneurship in Canadian agriculture and food,” said Adam Smalley, Managing Director, FCC Capital. “By supporting this fund, we’re unlocking new ideas and opportunities that strengthen producers’ ability to succeed and help ensure a secure, sustainable food supply for Canadian families—now and for generations to come.”

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That commitment is shared by Realize Capital Partners. “At Realize Capital Partners, we are focused on building a robust portfolio while accelerating social equity. Aligned to our fund goals, we decided to invest in Maple Bridge Ventures as a way to drive targeted support for immigrant entrepreneurs leading impactful businesses, reflecting our commitment to help grow and diversify the impact investing market. We celebrate Maple Bridge’s first close and look forward to its success,” said Lars Boggild, Portfolio Manager, Realize Fund.

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Founder and Managing Partner Eric Agyemang, originally from Ghana, built Maple Bridge Ventures as a founder-led platform to expand access to venture capital for exceptional but often overlooked immigrant entrepreneurs. Prior to founding Maple Bridge Ventures, Agyemang spent nearly a decade at Export Development Canada (EDC), leading cross-border finance deals and partnerships with Canada’s leading innovation hubs and startup accelerators.

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“This first close represents more than capital — it’s a validation of our belief that immigrant founders are Canada’s untapped engine for innovation and growth,” said Agyemang. “It signals that leading institutions share our conviction that the next generation of globally competitive companies will be built by founders who blend global perspective, resilience, and ambition with unmistakable Canadian grit.”

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Immigrant founders already power a significant share of entrepreneurship in Canada, representing nearly one-third of all founders today, with that number expected to rise to 42 percent by 2034. Their track record is global: more than half of U.S. billion-dollar startups have been founded by immigrants.

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Maple Bridge Ventures will make initial investments ranging from $250,000 to $1 million, with additional capital reserved for follow-on rounds. The fund backs founders building defensible technology with global scale potential and supports them through a pan-Canadian platform that connects immigrant entrepreneurs to capital, mentorship, and strategic networks.

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The fund is also backed by mission-aligned Canadian foundations, including Vancouver Foundation and Fairmount Foundation, along with strategic investors and industry leaders such as Mark Zekulin (former CEO of Canopy Growth).

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To support its expansion, Maple Bridge Ventures announced two key additions to its leadership team. Billy Lai joins as CFO and Venture Partner, bringing more than a decade of venture finance experience at iGan Partners and Deloitte. Shelley Li also joins as Principal, coming from CIBC Innovation Banking and Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) with deep expertise in startup financing and ecosystem partnerships.

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Together, Agyemang, Lai, and Li bring complementary strengths, combining institutional finance, venture investment, and ecosystem development to advance Maple Bridge Ventures’ mission nationwide.

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About Maple Bridge Ventures

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Maple Bridge Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in immigrant-led technology companies across AgriFoodTech, HealthTech, and Enterprise Solutions. Based in Ottawa and Toronto, the firm backs globally ambitious founders who bring new perspectives, resilience, and economic impact to Canada’s innovation economy, with a mission to expand access to venture capital and strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem.

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Eric Agyemang, Managing Partner

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Maple Bridge Ventures

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