Participated · Seed · May 2025

Verdi raised CAD$6.5M in seed funding to expand its irrigation automation offerings. The company, led by CEO Arthur Chen and based in Vancouver, provides modern automation tools and patented retrofit devices that automate irrigation and maintenance on existing farm infrastructure. Verdi says its technology helps farmers save labor, reduce inputs and increase yields and is used by the largest food producers. The company plans to use the funds to expand into new regions, advance its AI-powered platform and deepen relationships with major agribusinesses. Management frames these initiatives as driving automation at scale and building infrastructure for a more climate-resilient food system. The seed brings Verdi's total funding to CAD$9.5M. Verdi builds a scalable platform for farm automation and personalized plant healthcare, using intelligent devices that transform existing irrigation equipment into AI-powered systems. Its technology enables automated operations that boost crop and workforce productivity while reducing technology adoption costs. Verdi counts customers among the world’s largest food brands and in 2023 saved its customers over 30 million liters of water. Founded in 2020 by Canadian entrepreneurs Arthur Chen and Roman Kozak, the company is focused on scaling internationally. Verdi plans to enhance its AI capabilities and expand geographic reach through a strategic collaboration with NEC X and integration with NEC’s CropScope initiative. Entry into NEC X’s Elev X! Boost program is intended to provide capital, strategic partnerships and integrations with NEC’s tech ecosystem to accelerate growth.

Participated · Seed · Feb 2025

Presto was founded by former Uber employees Ashwin Dias and J.J. Raynor to address fragmented public EV charging and poor charger reliability. The company offers a driver-facing app and an API that fleets and charging networks can integrate with; it can also handle payments. Presto’s platform uses machine learning to recommend chargers to drivers, steer time- or price-sensitive users, and surface faulted stalls to networks for maintenance. Early customers include rental car companies Hertz, Avis, and ZipCar, and the app is used by Uber drivers and delivery fleets. The team is focusing on fleets first rather than consumers and has been approached by major automakers, though it remains fleet-focused for now. Presto recently raised funding to support product and integration efforts.

Participated · Seed · Feb 2024

Planette develops AI-boosted climate prediction technology designed to help businesses plan for weather and climate risks that could impact resources and operations. The company focuses on near-term forecasts — producing quarterly or seasonal reports — rather than week-to-week or long-term climate projections. Its forecasts offer year-to-year granularity at 25-km resolution globally and are delivered via a data API intended for integration into operational workflows. Planette has gained early traction in the energy and utilities sector, holding three letters of intent, running a pilot with the largest public municipal utility in the U.S., and negotiating a partnership with the United Nations. The startup is led by co-founders Dr. Hansi Singh (CEO) and Dr. Kalai Ramea (CTO), both with advanced climate, atmospheric sciences, AI, and quantitative modeling backgrounds. The company recently graduated from Techstars Seattle’s accelerator program.

Participated · Seed · Feb 2024

Pathways develops an underlying data layer to measure embodied carbon and lifecycle emissions of building materials. The company's product focuses on lifecycle assessment data for material manufacturers and construction stakeholders to quantify and reduce emissions. Founders and early team members mentioned in the announcement include Leise Sandeman, Ethan, Dorian, and Jack. Pathways has closed a $2.5M Pre-Seed round to advance its data platform. The company plans to use the funds to expand the team and make key hires, including a founding front-end engineer. Investors backing the company include Zacua Ventures and Pi Labs, alongside Blue Lion Global, Positive Ventures, Jetstream, Great Wave Ventures, REFASHIOND Ventures and others.

Participated · Seed · Jul 2023

Metafold builds a cloud- and API-based Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) software platform that helps manufacturers imagine, design, and produce optimized 3D parts faster. Its platform includes a geometric engine, a large lattice library, and direct-to-print capabilities to speed part production and reduce material use. The SaaS offering is accessible via a web application on any device and via the Metafold Engine API for custom tools and integrations. Sustainability is a core focus: the company says its geometry support enables manufacturers to use less raw material and produce lighter, more efficient parts. Metafold offers a free tier for single users and paid subscriptions for teams and enterprises. The company is led by CEO Dr. Elissa Ross and is based in Toronto, Canada.