Startup investors in Halifax
The funds, tax credit and programs available to founders in Halifax and across Atlantic Canada, what each publishes about itself, and how to reach it.
Who invests in startups in Halifax?
Halifax founders can approach Invest Nova Scotia, the province's venture investor, and Sandpiper Ventures, which backs Canadian companies with a woman in a C-level role. Nova Scotia's Innovation Equity Tax Credit gives local angels 35% back on investments in approved companies. Volta and Creative Destruction Lab's Atlantic site prepare founders to raise.
Two names founders often hear are no longer options for new deals: Concrete Ventures says on its site that it is not making new investments and is focused on its portfolio. Build Ventures, a Halifax early-stage fund, publishes no pitch route, so approach it through a warm introduction.
How does the Nova Scotia Innovation Equity Tax Credit work?
Individuals who invest in an approved Nova Scotia company engaged in innovative activities get a 35% provincial tax credit, or 45% for oceans technology and life sciences companies. Individuals can invest up to $250,000 a year under the credit; corporations get 15% and can invest up to $500,000 a year.
The company must get a Certificate of Registration before it accepts the investments, and must apply for its investors' tax credit certificates after the share issue. Plan this before you pitch Nova Scotia angels. The Government of Nova Scotia's Innovation Equity Tax Credit page has the forms and guidelines.
Funds that invest in Halifax startups
| Fund | Stage | Published terms | Focus and eligibility | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invest Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia First Fund) | Early stage | Not published | Early-stage, high-growth Nova Scotia technology companies | "Get Started" eligibility questionnaire and contact page on its site |
| Sandpiper Ventures | Seed to Series A | Not published | Canadian, tech-enabled companies with a woman in a C-level role who holds meaningful equity; health, energy and infrastructure, and the future of work | Founder application at sandpiper.vc/intake |
| BDC Capital Seed Venture Fund | Seed | Not published; a $100 million fund | Leads seed rounds across Canada, with a focus on underserved regions | Contact form on its page |
Programs that prepare founders to raise
- CDL-Atlantic. Creative Destruction Lab's Halifax site, for science- and technology-based ventures. CDL charges no fees and takes no equity; mentors may invest separately.
- Volta AI Residency. For AI startups with at least one founder based in Atlantic Canada, working at least 20 hours a week; not for mainly hardware or regulated life-sciences products. Volta does not fund founders directly. Applications are open year-round through its founder portal.
Which route fits your company?
| If your situation is… | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| An early-stage Nova Scotia tech company | Invest Nova Scotia | Its stated mandate |
| A Canadian company with a woman in a C-level role, at seed to Series A | Sandpiper Ventures | Its published criteria |
| Raising from Nova Scotia angels | Register for the Innovation Equity Tax Credit | Investors get 35% back (45% in oceans tech and life sciences) |
| An AI startup with an Atlantic Canadian founder | Volta AI Residency | Its eligibility |
| A science- or technology-based venture | CDL-Atlantic | No fees, no equity |
Meeting an organization's criteria means you can apply, not that it will invest.
Register for the tax credit before you raise.
Nova Scotia requires the company's Certificate of Registration before it accepts investments, so registration can't be added after the round closes.
What should you have ready before you apply?
- A Certificate of Registration for the Innovation Equity Tax Credit, if you're raising from Nova Scotia angels.
- A deck for the fund applications.
- A warm introduction for funds that publish no pitch route.
For how to run the raise itself, see how to raise a seed round. For the wider Atlantic startup scene, see the Atlantic Canada startup guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nova Scotia Innovation Equity Tax Credit?
A provincial tax credit of 35% for individuals investing in approved innovative Nova Scotia companies, or 45% in oceans technology and life sciences. Corporate investors get 15%.
Is Concrete Ventures investing?
Its site says it is not making new investments and is focused on its existing companies.
Does Volta fund startups?
No. Volta says it does not provide funding directly to founders.
Does Invest Nova Scotia invest in startups?
Yes. Through the Nova Scotia First Fund it invests in early-stage, high-growth Nova Scotia technology companies.