Craig Smith

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For Ottawa-based tech founders looking to raise capital, these are challenging days. The "valley of death," that precarious gap between initial startup and sustainable growth, appears to be widening. While early funding often comes from family and friends, angel investors play a critical role in bridging this gap. In Ottawa, the Capital Angel Network (CAN) has anchored the local angel investor ecosystem since 2010. Despite a downturn in venture capital nationally, CAN bucked the trend in 2025, recording its second-biggest year in history. With a membership that includes individual angels, venture capital firms, family offices, and accelerators, CAN invested approximately $8 million in 2025 alone. In this episode of Techopia Live, OBJ publisher Michael Curran speaks with Suzanne Grant, the executive director of the Capital Angel Network. They discuss: -- Deal Flow in 2025: Why CAN ranked as the number one angel group in Canada for the number of deals invested last year. -- The Impact of AI: How investors are looking for a "moat" in an increasingly crowded AI sector. -- Diversity: How CAN is leading the country with 37% women investors, helping to diversify the local deal flow. -- Noteworthy Investments: Recent support for local and regional innovators like Marlowe, Plantaform, and Hyalodex. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:15 Introducing Suzanne Grant 14:02 Sponsor Segment 20:50 Capital MASHUP and NACO Summit 2026 22:25 Closing and What’s Ahead at OBJ For more on Ottawa’s tech and innovation scene, visit https://obj.ca/techopia. Subscribe to Techopia’s weekly newsletter here: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/
Techopia Live: Local angels defy VC downturn | Episode 296

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