A new $50 million Québec venture capital fund
Accelia Capital to invest in innovative businesses and female-led technology start-ups

Montreal, Monday, December 13, 2021 - Accelia Capital today announced the launch of a new $50 million venture capital fund that will support innovative, Québec technology companies, particularly high-impact, high-performing, women-owned and women-led businesses, which in turn will foster increased diversity in the sector.

Accelia Capital was co-founded by Christine Beaubien and Annick Charbonneau, two technology entrepreneurs who will lead investments in companies that develop or integrate new technologies. These businesses will be backed by Accelia Capital's financial prowess, its team of experienced entrepreneurs and investors, and a vast network of partners who have a stake in their success.

Accelia Capital’s goal is to help increase gender diversity among technology start-ups by finding top women entrepreneurs who will build the world of tomorrow, while at the same time creating wealth here in Québec.

Women entrepreneurs remain underfunded compared to their male counterparts. According to an internal survey of Québec incubators and accelerators, 30 % of new technology companies in Québec are owned or managed by women. Accelia Capital’s objective is to invest 70 % of its funds in innovative Québec businesses owned or managed by women. This will help to close the gender gap in venture capital investments, while adding value in partnerships to accelerate female leadership in technology.

Accelia Capital will be able to count on the strong support of the Québec business community including twenty influential businesswomen who are investing in the fund and contributing to the success of the businesses in its portfolio. The fund will be supported by a broader range of institutional investors, including major players and leading business partners without whom the project would not have seen the light of day*.

Institutional partners

• Government of Québec (Through Investissement Québec)
• Fond de solidarité FTQ
• National Bank of Canada
• Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (Through Teralys Capital)
• Fondaction

Private partners

• Beneva
• Cossette
• Stingray
• Fiera Capital
• Claridge
• Groupe 3MEI

Québec businesswomen are mobilizing:

• Monique F. Leroux, Corporate Director
• Suzanne Blanchet, Corporate Director
• Marie-Josée Lamothe, Corporate Director
• Louise St-Pierre, Corporate Director
• Isabelle Bettez, Technology Entrepreneur, Administrator and Investor
• Mélanie Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, Cossette
• Claudine Blondin Co-Chair, Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Family Foundation
• Karinne Bouchard, Chief Executive Officer, Gestion Karinne Bouchard
• Isabelle Gendreau, Director of Finance and Investments, Groupe 3MEI Inc.
• Anna Martini, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Groupe CH and Evenko
• Dany Paradis, Senior Vice-President, Alythia
• Sylvie LaPerrière, Global Internet Expert
• Johanne Lépine, Corporate Director
• Marinella Ermacora, Corporate Director
• Dominique Décarie, President, Décarie Executive Search
• Danielle Charest, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jalon
• Manon Boisclair, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, InnovID B2
• Kathleen Ngassam, Angel Investor
• Lucie Pellerin, President and Founder, TALINKO
• Johanne Devin, IT Entrepreneur
• Marie Élaine Farley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chambre de la sécurité financière

Quotes

“Numerous studies demonstrate that women receive less venture capital funding than their male counterparts, despite the fact that they are increasingly active in launching technology companies. It is now generally recognized that increased diversity promotes better decisions in companies and often leads to better performance. Accelia Capital was created to leverage this unique opportunity to generate good returns for our investors while creating sustainable impact in Québec by supporting and accelerating female leadership in technology."
Christine Beaubien, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Accelia Capital.

“The words “Québec talent” bring to mind the creativity, inventiveness and resilience of local entrepreneurs. We are convinced that by mobilizing the business community and supporting businesses owned or managed by women, Accelia Capital will be a catalyst for their development and for helping to create diversified wealth in the Québec economy. "
Annick Charbonneau, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Accelia Capital.

“An investment in Accelia Capital is also an investment in female entrepreneurship. This helps to enhance the role of women throughout society and encourages a fund that is focused on new technologies. We are proud to support innovative female-led businesses that are participating in Quebec’s digital transformation."
Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of the Economy and Innovation and Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development.

“Accelia will improve access to venture capital for women entrepreneurs in the Quebec technology sector who seek to realize their dreams and ambitions. The Fonds de solidarité FTQ's investment, which leverages the savings of its Quebec clients, aims to build a more inclusive, innovative and therefor stronger economy. I congratulate Christine Beaubien and Annick Charbonneau for this unique initiative which, we hope, will serve as a model! "
Geneviève Guertin, Vice-President of Investments, Life Sciences, and Interim Vice-President of Investments, Fund Management, Fonds de solidarité FTQ.

“Innovation, valuing talent and diversified leadership are all essential to a dynamic economy and society. The fund will be leveraging these qualities to increase the influence of women in innovative and technology-focused entrepreneurship. We are therefore particularly proud to announce our support of Accelia Capital and to become one of its partners. "
Stéphane Achard, Executive Vice-President, Commercial Banking and Insurance at National Bank

“Teralys Capital, as the largest investor specializing in innovation in Canada, is fully committed to supporting and increasing the number of Québec businesses founded and managed by women. We have thus prioritised gender diversity, which is now one of our foundational investment pillars, and will follow-up on these issues with our partner funds. We are proud to contribute our expertise as ecosystem builders to the creation of a new active player in a crucial investment stage, while continuing to promote greater female representativeness in Québec’s venture capital industry."
Jacques Bernier, Managing Partner, Teralys Capital.

“Fondaction is pleased to participate in the Accelia Capital fund, which is a catalyst for change in terms of both innovation and diversity; both of which are needed to make our economy more equitable, inclusive and efficient. This fund corrects inequalities related to access to technological financing by adopting a collective approach that we believe is particularly promising. "
Geneviève Morin, President and CEO, Fondaction.

 

* The investments of the financial partners are subject to usual conditions of closing.

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Source: Accelia Capital Inc. | accelia.vc

Media contact:
My-Le Nguyen | Fernandez public relations |
my-le@fernandezcom.ca
Cell. 438 830-5452