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NEXT Canada

www.nextcanada.com

VCMatch tracks NEXT Canada as an investor focused on AI/ML, Enterprise SaaS, and Vertical SaaS companies, Pre-Seed and Seed rounds, and Canada, Toronto, and Montreal markets. Upload your deck to compare your startup against the full private matching profile.

Check Size

Not specified

Geography

Canada, Toronto, and Montreal

Investment Thesis

NEXT Canada is a non-profit accelerator focused on identifying and cultivating Canada’s next generation of high-impact entrepreneurs. Their philosophy centers on making it ‘hard for entrepreneurs to fail’ by providing access to education, mentorship, and funding at minimal or no cost. They believe in keeping entrepreneurial talent in Canada to build more Canadian headquarters, jobs, and equity, thereby creating a more ambitious and competitive nation.

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Investment Focus

Who should take a closer look

NEXT Canada is most relevant for founders raising Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A rounds in AI/ML, Enterprise SaaS, Vertical SaaS, and Fintech, especially across Canada, Toronto, and Montreal.

Focus statement

NEXT Canada uncovers Canada's next generation of entrepreneurs and supercharges their ambition through three stage-specific programs: NEXT 36 for students/recent grads, NEXT Founders for growth-stage companies, and NEXT AI for AI-enabled ventures solving global challenges.

Value Add

  • Non-profit model with no equity taken from participating ventures (except historically for NEXT 36, which was removed in 2025)
  • Comprehensive network of 500+ top Canadian academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and founders providing mentorship and guidance
  • World-class international faculty including renowned AI researchers like Yoshua Bengio and Graham Taylor
  • Stage-specific programming tailored to founder needs rather than one-size-fits-all approach
  • Focus on keeping Canadian entrepreneurial talent domestic with emphasis on building Canadian HQs
  • Free or minimal-cost access to programs supported by major donors and corporate partners

Stage And Sector Fit

Portfolio Highlights

Tia Health

Healthtech

CleanSlate UV

Sanitization

Sampler

Marketing

Partake Brewing

Food Beverage

Kira Talent

Hr Software

Flybits

Enterprise Software

Validere

Oil Gas Intelligence

Ada

Ai Chatbot

+ 34 more companies in their portfolio

Investment Team

8 Partners at NEXT Canada

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