Empowering Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Canada’s Innovation Economy
Canada has taken a bold step toward equity in entrepreneurship with the creation of its first immigrant-focused venture fund. Maple Bridge Ventures, a new institutional-grade venture capital firm, has raised $10.2 million CAD in its first funding round to back immigrant founders who are building impactful companies across Canada. The fund is already halfway toward its $20 million goal.
Founded and led by Ghanaian-born investor Eric Agyemang, Maple Bridge Ventures invests in immigrant entrepreneurs developing innovations in agriculture, health, food, and enterprise technology. The firm’s mission is to remove the funding barriers that many immigrant founders face when launching businesses in Canada.
“Immigrants are critical to Canada’s population and innovation economy,” said Agyemang, Managing Partner at Maple Bridge Ventures. “We want to leverage the immense potential within this community to tackle some of the country’s biggest challenges.”
Closing Canada’s Funding Gap for Immigrant Founders
Despite immigrants contributing nearly 100% of Canada’s labor force growth and accounting for one-third of all entrepreneurs, access to early-stage funding remains a persistent challenge. Maple Bridge Ventures aims to close that gap by combining capital, mentorship, and community support.
The firm plans to invest between $250,000 and $1 million in early-stage companies, reserving additional funds for follow-up rounds. Its latest round attracted support from key backers, including Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Realize Capital Partners, along with several Canadian foundations and innovation leaders.
“FCC is proud to invest in Maple Bridge Ventures because it backs an underserved population that is a vital source of innovation,” said Adam Smalley, Managing Director of FCC Capital. “By supporting this fund, we’re unlocking new ideas and opportunities that strengthen producers’ ability to succeed.”
Creating Inclusive Growth and Lasting Impact
Agyemang’s vision for Maple Bridge Ventures extends beyond financial investment. The firm seeks to build an ecosystem that nurtures immigrant founders through mentorship and access to networks often unavailable to underrepresented entrepreneurs.
“Immigrant founders bring global perspectives, resilience, and creativity,” Agyemang said on the company’s website. “We want to help them turn that ambition into measurable impact.”
The firm’s growing leadership team includes industry veterans like Billy Lai, former Principal at iGan Partners, now CFO and Venture Partner, and Shelley Li, formerly of CIBC Innovation Banking and Silicon Valley Bank, who joins as Principal. Together, they’re shaping a model of inclusive investing that empowers founders to thrive.
A Mission Rooted in Experience and Purpose
Agyemang’s journey to this moment reflects the very story Maple Bridge Ventures seeks to support. Born in Ghana, his first visit to Canada came through a youth volunteer exchange program, where he fell in love with the country’s spirit of opportunity and collaboration. After years of experience in global finance and innovation, he founded Maple Bridge Ventures to give back to the same ecosystem that welcomed him.
Before launching the firm, Agyemang spent nearly a decade at Export Development Canada (EDC), supporting Canadian businesses in expanding globally and driving cross-border financing deals. His background as a trade finance executive, ecosystem builder, and early-stage investor uniquely positioned him to understand both the business and cultural challenges immigrant entrepreneurs face.
Over the next decade, Maple Bridge Ventures aims to invest in 100 immigrant-led companies across Canada. By doing so, Agyemang hopes to help reshape the face of innovation and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
Redefining the Future of Entrepreneurship in Canada
As the world continues to grapple with economic inequality and barriers to capital, Maple Bridge Ventures represents a new model for growth — one rooted in inclusion, representation, and shared prosperity.
“Canada’s strength lies in its diversity,” said Lars Boggild, Portfolio Manager at Realize Fund. “Investing in immigrant entrepreneurs is not just the right thing to do — it’s smart business.”
With $10 million raised and a mission to double that number, Maple Bridge Ventures is proving that empowering immigrant founders is both a moral and economic victory. For Agyemang, it’s a full-circle journey — from Ghana to Canada, from immigrant dreamer to investor of dreams.
