Invest Nova Scotia is committed to empowering entrepreneurs, teams and technologies to reach their full potential. We can help turn your venture into something extraordinary. Our portfolio includes high-growth technology companies that have attracted institutional, private sector and angel investors from Canada and beyond. Alongside financial backing, we bring business expertise, guidance, mentorship and a network of advisors to help companies navigate challenges and scale successfully.
Our target sectors include information and communication technology, clean technology, life sciences, health technology, ocean technology, agrifood technology and natural resources. We’re especially interested in deep technology opportunities, which we define as technology based on a scientific discovery or a new engineering innovation.
Investment process
Invest Nova Scotia reviews investment opportunities on an ongoing basis. We maintain a rigorous evaluation and due diligence process and a decision not to invest may occur at any stage. The process varies according to investment size, but will generally follow the steps below:
- Qualification: Meet with the investment team to determine eligibility
- Early-stage due diligence and pitch presentation: The investment team requests and reviews due diligence materials and the company is invited to pitch to the Invest Nova Scotia investment team
- Late-stage due diligence: Due diligence is an iterative process, and as such, the company may be asked to provide additional details on various aspects of their business, and external experts may be utilized to conduct technology or intellectual property evaluations
- Approvals: The investment opportunity is presented to Invest Nova Scotia’s investment committee and final approvals are obtained
- Legal due diligence and closing: If successful, Invest Nova Scotia will work with the start-up, co-investors, and legal experts to close the investment
Eligibility
We invest in innovative start-ups with high-growth potential. Start-ups need to meet the following minimum criteria to be eligible for investment:
- Stage: Early-stage start-ups (angel, pre-seed, seed, Series A)
- People: World-class teams, ideally with industry knowledge and management experience
- Market: Solving big problems in large, growing international markets
- Competitive advantage: High barrier to competitive entry (e.g., protectable intellectual property)
- Execution: Credible plan to reach key milestones
- Location: Nova Scotia-based companies
FAQs
What is the typical size of an investment?
The size of an investment depends on several factors including the stage of the company and the size of the financing round, with a typical investment size of $100K to $1.5M - up to a maximum of $3M per company.
How long does the investment process take?
The average timeline for investment is around 3-4 months, with factors like preparation, due diligence required, and whether the financing round is fully subscribed influencing timing. Preparedness and responsiveness are key for success.
What types of investment instruments does Invest Nova Scotia use?
Invest Nova Scotia invests with SAFE notes, convertible debentures and equity for preferred shares. The type of instrument used depends on several factors including the size and stage of the investment.
How is a Nova Scotia-based start-up defined?
A Nova Scotia-based start-up is defined as having the majority of senior team members and the majority of employees based in Nova Scotia, as well as the company headquarters. The company must also be a registered business in good standing with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
What terms are involved?
Invest Nova Scotia invests alongside private and public investors and as such we follow best practices in governance and invest on standard industry terms.