Island Capital Partners is an early stage venture capital fund that is in the business of investing in high potential Prince Edward Island entrepreneurs and startups.

AutoCanada is a prominent multi-location automobile dealership group in Canada, operating 53 franchised dealerships with a total of 60 franchises across eight provinces. The company employs over 3,700 individuals and specializes in the sale of both new and used vehicles. AutoCanada offers a diverse range of brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Infiniti, Nissan, Hyundai, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, and MINI. In addition to vehicle sales, the company provides spare parts, maintenance services, and customer financing. The majority of its revenue is generated from the sale of used vehicles, with a significant portion of its operations and revenue derived from the Canadian market.

Incline Equity Partners is a private investment firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 2011. The firm specializes in investing in lower middle-market growth companies, particularly those with enterprise values ranging from $25 million to $100 million. Incline Equity Partners focuses on sectors such as specialized light manufacturing, business services, healthcare services, consumer durables, value-added distribution, retail, transportation, and software. The firm aims to make controlling investments, typically between $10 million and $30 million, through various transaction types, including leveraged buyouts and corporate divestitures. With a commitment to fostering growth in its portfolio companies, Incline Equity Partners seeks to create value by leveraging its industry expertise and strategic insights.

Founded in 1892, iA Financial Group offers a comprehensive range of life and health insurance products, savings and retirement plans (RRSP, TFSA, etc.), mutual and segregated funds, securities, auto and home insurance, mortgages and car loans as well as a host of other financial products and services. Responsible for the administration and management of over $126.2 billion in assets, our publicly-listed company ranks among Canada’s largest and most prominent insurance companies. Thanks to our conservative investment policy, wise capital management practices and solid risk management culture, iA Financial Group enjoys financial stability and flexibility, which allows it to grow and withstand any potential economic shocks.

Sverica Capital Management LP is a private equity firm established in 2001, with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts and an additional office in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in making investments in lower middle-market, owner-operated businesses primarily through buyouts and growth equity, focusing on sectors such as technology, business services, healthcare, and advanced industrial markets. Sverica typically targets companies with revenues up to $100 million, enterprise values under $150 million, and EBITDA less than $20 million, investing between $15 million and $50 million, with the potential for larger investments through co-investors. The firm emphasizes control buyouts, seeking majority ownership and board representation in its portfolio companies, while occasionally considering minority investments. Sverica Capital aims to align with management teams to drive sustainable growth and improve operational performance, ultimately benefiting all stakeholders involved.

PetSmart Charities They envision a world in which every pet has a lifelong, loving home. PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities of Canada® are nonprofit animal welfare organizations that save the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through Their adoption program in all PetSmart® stores and Their sponsored adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter services that help communities solve the problem of pet overpopulation.

Northern Private Capital (NPC) focuses on full and partial control equity investments of $10 to $50 million in North America and the UK. They invest in growth companies with great management and proven, proprietary technology across a range of industries. NPC is currently investing out of Northern Private Capital Inc. Partnership Fund I and is an investment vehicle of CFFI Ventures.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 and based in Alexandria, Virginia. It is dedicated to supporting research and education in science and engineering across a wide range of disciplines. The NSF provides significant non-dilutive funding, up to $1.5 million, to startups and small businesses through its America's Seed Fund initiative, which is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program mandated by Congress. With an operating budget of approximately $7.8 billion, the NSF is committed to advancing fundamental research and education, thus fostering innovation and technological development in the United States.

Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board is a privately owned pension fund based in Toronto, Canada, established in 1917 to manage the pensions of active and retired teachers in Ontario. It administers the pensions of approximately 284,000 members, including 173,000 active teachers and 111,000 pensioners. The plan, recognized as one of Canada's largest pension funds, employs a diverse investment strategy that encompasses public equity, fixed income, and alternative investments. The firm utilizes a bottom-up approach for selecting large-cap value stocks and benchmarks its equity performance against major indices. In addition, it invests in fixed income through various securities and employs absolute return strategies. The alternative investment portfolio includes real estate, infrastructure assets, hedge funds, and private businesses. With a commitment to providing retirement, disability, and death benefits, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board plays a significant role in securing financial stability for educators in the province.

Build Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Halifax, Canada, founded in May 2013. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in technology companies primarily located in Atlantic Canada, focusing on sectors such as information technology, clean technology, and life sciences. Build Ventures typically invests between CAD 1 million and CAD 5 million, with initial contributions ranging from CAD 0.5 million to CAD 2 million, preferring to engage with companies after their seed round. The firm is dedicated to supporting founders in building impactful businesses and leverages its team’s extensive operational and investment experience to guide startups through their growth journey.