Event category: Fundraising & Exits

You might get the opportunity once in your career to build what can truly be a VC-backed company.   What metrics suggest that you have a venture-scalable company? Why do some early-stage ventures fail to grow beyond seed-stage? 

In this session you’ll hear learnings from very fast-growing companies that have successfully moved from bootstrapped to VC-backed. 

2021 has been a banner year for public market recognition of SaaS in Canada.  The recent rush of IPOs is frothy by any standard.  Mark Shulgan, Head of OMERS Growth Equity (OGE), shares his unique insights on scaling businesses from growth to IPO-readiness. An IPO holds companies to a higher standard — for finances, disclosures and delivering to plan, therefore setting it up for a stronger future. It would seem that many of the next generation of SaaS Founders may exit via IPO. 

Canadian companies are raising growth rounds left and right, and it’s so exciting to see Fellow’s $24 million Series A round added to that list. While COVID-19 tailwinds helped the company close a round in just two weeks, Aydin, CEO and co-founder (and 6x SAAS NORTH emcee) credits the company’s intense 30-day preparation process as a huge factor in their success. Take a look inside how Fellow prepared for its Series A fundraise and learn the steps that you can follow too. 

It is a challenge for bootstrapped entrepreneurs to know WHEN the best time is to raise capital and to evaluate the different capital options available to determine what is best to drive growth.  The Canadian tech ecosystem is flush with liquidity at present and lenders, VCs and other investors alike are competing for the best businesses. Hear from lenders and entrepreneurs about their practical experiences navigating these challenging waters and exploring different sources of debt and equity financing opportunities.

Finding the best way to fund your SaaS company is not easy, and there are more options to consider than ever as fundraising continues to change with the post-COVID19 economic rebound.   

Our panel will provide tips on how to navigate the world of virtual fundraising, prospecting, referrals, pitching and due diligence when you can’t meet investors face-to-face. They will share new investment processes and alternative fundraising opportunities such as the deregulation of angel capital, crowdfunding, friends and family rounds, , new funds for underrepresented groups and other seed money opportunities. 

Hear from two CEOs + Founders who have recently exited and one Founder & CEO that bought a Saas. These Founder/CEOs will reflect on the process in the rear-view mirror. Let them help you build and broaden your frame of reference by sharing their own tales from the trenches.

You’ll hear, what goes into selling and buying a company, how and why founders decided to do it, what they wish they had known, their key learnings and what they would change, if you join another team, what it’s like to go from being in charge to being an employee? The emotional side of selling and what it’s like to walk away from something you put so much time and energy into building and what each founder learned from that experience of selling the company, how it helped them grow, and what you can learn looking at your own company’s journey.