The National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) will be hosting the first annual NACO Atlantic Funding Founders Summit this month, an event aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Atlantic Canada.
“Our vision is a conference that recognizes and takes action on Atlantic Canada’s enormous entrepreneurial potential.”
The event, being held in Halifax September 16 to 18, will allow angel investors and entrepreneurs from the Atlantic region and across Canada to learn, network, and strategize. The event is being held in partnership with Invest Atlantic, and is looking to connect founders with government programs, financial institutions, and boutique funders, as well as angels, VC investors, and other equity-based funders.
“This influx of investors into Atlantic Canada is a reflection of the excitement that is building around untapped potential in the region, which has a life sciences sector that is recognized by the Startup Genome Project as an ecosystem to watch,” said Claudio Rojas, CEO of NACO. “To have world-class investors from across Canada cluster around the region’s entrepreneurs provides an opportunity for renewed economic growth and prosperity. This is just the beginning.”
Over the course of the three-day event, attendees will learn both investor and entrepreneurial best practices. Several prominent personalities in the investor community will be sharing success stories that speak to the potential for greater access to capital in the region. Confirmed speakers include Mary Long-Irwin of Northern Ontario Angels, Geneviève Morin of Anges Quebec Capital, Prathna Ramesh of Maple Leaf Angels, Lauren Robinson of Female Funders, Nicole Leblanc of Sidewalk Labs, and Senator Colin Deacon.
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The Startup Genome Project recently highlighted Atlantic Canada as one of its new emerging life sciences innovation centres. According to Entrevestor, Atlantic Canada-based life sciences companies received $74.3 million in equity funding in the first three months of 2019 alone, and NACO said the region has the potential to unlock $430 million in early-stage capital investment.
“Our vision is a conference that recognizes and takes action on Atlantic Canada’s enormous entrepreneurial potential,” said Bob Williamson, founding partner at Invest Atlantic. “The ecosystem necessary to capitalize on this potential relies on educating and developing investors and entrepreneurs. This is why Invest Atlantic and NACO have come together to deliver this event.”
Those interested can register via Eventbrite.
Image courtesy NACO Atlantic Summit