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Pender Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2018 and headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The firm is part of the PenderFund Capital Management group and operates additional offices in Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary. Pender Ventures focuses on investing in health tech and B2B technology companies that are at the inflection point between commercialization and scale. The firm has established a strong presence in the Canadian startup ecosystem, with a commitment to supporting local entrepreneurs while remaining open to opportunities across North America.
As of 2023, Pender Ventures has raised over CAD $100 million for its second fund, the Pender Technology Inflection Fund II (PTIF II), which aims to build a concentrated portfolio of 12-14 companies. The firm emphasizes strong unit economics and significant market opportunities in its investment strategy. Pender Ventures has a diverse team of professionals, including managing partners and analysts, who bring extensive experience in operational and investment roles.
Notable milestones for Pender Ventures include their active engagement in the health tech community through events and insights sharing, as well as their strategic relationships with Canadian institutional investors and banks. These relationships provide portfolio companies with access to distribution channels and customer introductions, enhancing their growth potential.
Pender Ventures primarily invests in B2B software and health tech startups, with a particular emphasis on companies at the Series A stage. Their investment strategy is thesis-driven, concentrating on businesses that demonstrate strong unit economics, value creation potential, and large market opportunities. The firm prefers to lead priced rounds, ensuring they have a significant influence on the direction of their portfolio companies.
While Pender Ventures primarily targets Canadian startups, they are open to investments across North America. Their focus sectors include healthcare, SaaS, and biotech, with a keen interest in companies that are poised for growth and have proven commercialization. The firm seeks to partner with founders who exhibit strong leadership qualities and a clear vision for scaling their businesses.
In addition to their financial support, Pender Ventures adds value through strategic relationships with institutional investors and banks, facilitating access to essential resources and networks. Their investment approach is designed to foster long-term growth and resilience in their portfolio companies, aligning with their commitment to impactful health tech solutions.
Pender Ventures has a diverse portfolio of companies, primarily focused on health tech and B2B software. Notable portfolio companies include:
This portfolio reflects Pender Ventures' commitment to investing in companies that are not only innovative but also have the potential to make a significant impact in their respective industries.
Maria Pacella - Managing Partner: Maria has over 22 years of operational and investment experience, leading Pender Ventures' strategic direction and investment decisions.
Meryeme Lahmami - Principal: Meryeme focuses on sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, leveraging her expertise in B2B software and health tech.
Lynn Frazer - Head of People Strategy: Lynn oversees talent acquisition and organizational development, ensuring the firm attracts and retains top talent.
Cheri Corbett - Partner: Cheri brings extensive experience in venture capital and operational roles, contributing to the firm's investment strategy.
Jacob Grainger - Associate: Jacob supports the investment team in due diligence and portfolio management, focusing on health tech startups.
Everett Juurlink - Analyst: Everett conducts market research and analysis to identify emerging trends in the health tech and B2B sectors.
Tony Rautava - Manager of Fund Operations: Tony manages the operational aspects of the fund, ensuring efficient processes and compliance.
Toufic Boubez - Venture Partner: Toufic provides strategic insights and guidance to portfolio companies, leveraging his extensive industry experience.
Lexi Kaplin - Venture Partner: Lexi focuses on supporting portfolio companies in scaling their operations and market presence.
Judi Hess - Venture Partner: Judi brings a wealth of experience in health tech, providing valuable mentorship to founders in the portfolio.
Pender Ventures prefers to receive pitches via email at info@penderventures.com. Founders should include a concise pitch deck that outlines their business model, market opportunity, and team. The firm typically responds within a few weeks, but response times may vary based on the volume of inquiries.
Warm introductions are encouraged, as they can enhance the likelihood of a favorable response. Pender Ventures values clear communication and a well-structured presentation of the startup's vision and growth potential.
Pender Ventures hosts the HealthTech Ignite Conference, a one-day event aimed at connecting healthcare innovators and investors. The first edition is scheduled for November 14, 2023, in Montréal. This conference serves as a platform for startups to showcase their innovations and network with potential investors.
Furthermore, Pender Ventures produces the Health Tech Ignite Fireside Chat, a podcast series discussing health tech innovations and featuring insights from industry leaders. This initiative aims to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration within the health tech community.
In early 2026, Pender Ventures announced a significant investment of $10 million in Science&Humans, a company focused on hormone health through at-home diagnostics and virtual clinical consults. This investment underscores Pender's commitment to impactful health tech solutions.
Additionally, Pender Ventures has been active in sharing insights through their blog, with multiple posts published in early 2026 covering health tech trends and investment reflections. Their engagement with the health tech community highlights their ongoing commitment to supporting innovative startups.
What are Pender Ventures' investment criteria?
Pender Ventures focuses on B2B software and health tech startups, primarily at the Series A stage. They look for companies with strong unit economics, proven commercialization, and significant market opportunities.
How can I apply or pitch to Pender Ventures?
Founders can reach out to Pender Ventures via their website or email at info@penderventures.com. A well-prepared pitch deck that outlines the business model, market opportunity, and team is recommended.
What makes Pender Ventures different from other VC firms?
Pender Ventures emphasizes a thesis-driven investment strategy, focusing on companies at the inflection point between commercialization and scale. They also leverage strategic relationships with Canadian institutional investors to provide additional value to their portfolio companies.
What is the geographic scope of Pender Ventures?
While Pender Ventures primarily invests in Canadian startups, they are open to opportunities across North America, particularly in the health tech and B2B software sectors.
What is the typical check size for investments?
Pender Ventures typically invests between CAD $2 million and CAD $5 million in their portfolio companies, focusing on leading priced rounds.
What kind of post-investment support does Pender Ventures provide?
Pender Ventures actively engages with their portfolio companies, offering strategic guidance, access to networks, and resources to help them scale effectively.
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