Six Canadian tech companies have recently made acquisitions or have been acquired. Here are the latest details on Canada’s movers and shakers.
Semios to acquire fellow AgTech software company Agworld
Vancouver-based precision farming platform Semios announced that it is set to acquire fellow AgTech company Agworld. According to The Globe and Mail, the purchase price is over $100 million.
Semios, founded in 2010, offers real-time crop data and pest management tools for growers of tree fruit, nuts, and other permanent crops. Using a network of sensors, Semios applies data analytics and machine learning to reduce and mitigate crop risks for growers. In February 2020, Semios raised $100 million CAD in private equity funding led by Boston’s Morningside Group, and $25 million in growth capital funding from CIBC Innovation Banking the following month.
Headquartered in Australia, Agword provides a data-driven farm management platform that allows growers to track and share relevant field data with farmers, advisors, and other parties. Combined, the two companies serve growers, agronomists, and ag retailers in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and South Africa. Together, Semios said the two companies will form “one of the largest independent AgTech solutions providers in the world.”
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According to Semios CEO Michael Gilbert, “the true impact of our combined forces in the global agricultural industry will soon be realized through the increased velocity of our R&D efforts and getting new products to market, benefitting growers who are being tested by Mother Nature like never before.”
The deal represents Semios’ third acquisition in recent months, after the firm acquired Altrac and Centricity in June. The trio of acquisitions are part of Semios’ strategy to consolidate independent crop management solutions and applications into one dashboard with a single login.
Lone Wolf acquires fellow real estate software firm Propertybase
Cambridge, Ontario’s Lone Wolf Technologies has acquired Massachusetts-based Propertybase for an undisclosed amount.
Founded in 1989, Lone Wolf describes itself as “the North American leader in residential real estate software.” The company, which has nearly 650 employees, provides its real estate software to over 1.5 million agents, 15,000 brokerages, 1,000 MLSs and associations across Canada and the United States. Lone Wolf aims to build a unified digital platform for real estate agents and brokers.
Propertybase offers real estate websites, customer relationship management (CRM), and lead generation software, serving 4,500 businesses and 250,000 users in over 80 countries. Lone Wolf said the acquisition of Propertybase helps strengthen its tech offering and fuel the company’s international expansion efforts.
In addition to Propertybase, Lone Wolf has acquired four other tech companies over the past nine months: W+R Studios, LionDesk, HomeSpotter, and Terradatum. With these additions, Lone Wolf is now able to offer solutions for marketing, CRM, comparative market analysis, transaction management, eSignature, brokerage operations, insights and analytics, talent management, and more.
Pluribus acquires Pathways in latest software acquisition
Pluribus Technologies has acquired fellow Toronto-based firm Pathways Training & eLearning. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Pluribus, founded in 2018, focuses on acquiring and consolidating small, profitable business-to-business software companies. In June, Pluribus acquired Calgary’s ICOM Productions, as well as San Francisco-based POWR last month.
Founded in 2006, Pathways is an agency that designs and programs learning technologies, including live action video, eLearning, mLearning, gaming, animation and simulation, along with traditional instructional design, corporate training and change management.
“Pathways represents our fifth acquisition in the eLearning vertical and brings an impressive client base of Fortune 500 companies,” said Richard Adair, Pluribus’ CEO.. “As one of Canada’s leaders in the provision of gamified mobile learning and virtual reality enabled 360° video, we are excited to introduce these leading-edge offerings to the Pluribus customer base.”
Graph Blockchain acquires Optimum Coin Analyser for $5 million
Toronto-based Graph Blockchain has acquired Optimum Coin Analyser, an artificial intelligence-based cryptocurrency coin analytics company.
Graph has paid $5 million in a share exchange agreement, issuing an aggregate of nearly 71.5 million units in the capital of Graph, at a price of $0.07 per unit. These units consist of one common share and one common share purchase warrant in Graph’s stock.
Founded in 1982, Graph provides its shareholders with exposure to various areas of decentralized finance. The company focuses on altcoins through its wholly owned subsidiaries Babbage Mining, a proof-of-stake miner, and Beyond the Moon. Graph currently trades on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘GBLC.’
Optimum offers a cloud-based discovery search engine subscription model. The company’s AI analytics engine collects and analyzes data from social media related to cryptocurrency investment risks and opportunities.
“Our stated objective with Optimum is [to] add data analysis for Graph to collect, cleanse and analyze unstructured data that can help manage our altcoin portfolio to make better decisions by pinpointing specific trends, risks and opportunities,” said CEO Paul Haber.
Frenter acquires Rentbridge to fuel expansion efforts
Halifax-based online rental marketplace Frenter has acquired Calgary’s Rentbridge, which, like Frenter, allows users to rent items like tools, equipment, and electronics. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
According to Entrevestor, which was first to report the news, Frenter acquired Rentbridge to grow its user base and support its push into new verticals and markets. Frenter’s 15-year-old founder and CEO Zach Laberge told Entrevestor the startup thought it would be strategic to acquire Rentbridge’s users, item listings, and team, given its experience expanding into new cities. According to Entrevestor, combined, the two companies serve seven cities.
“The reason we bought Rentbridge is because we’re currently mostly based on the East Coast of Canada,” Laberge told Entrevestor. “We want to be able to expand into other cities across Canada and the US.”
According to Crunchbase, Frenter raised $80,000 CAD in angel funding last October. Laberge told Entrevestor the company is currently raising a $450,000 pre-seed funding round.
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NestReady acquired by Homebot in real estate tech deal
Denver real estate software company Homebot has acquired Montréal’s NestReady for an undisclosed amount. According to Homebot, the deal will enhance its real estate buyer experience.
NestReady, founded in 2017, offers an AI-powered digital home-buying platform for mortgage lenders. The company’s platform allows financial institutions to provide a complete white-labeled home-buying experience on their website. Founded in 2015, Homebot is a mortgage lending and real estate software company that private equity firm ASG acquired in 2020.
“Combining our home search platform, NestFinder, with Homebot’s best-in-class client engagement platform will offer consumers a personalized home search experience while keeping them connected with their lender throughout their home-buying journey,” said Mauro Repacci, co-founder and CEO of NestReady.
Feature image from Semios