Investments

Carmanah supports local high-tech start-ups by providing investments at the early stage of company development. Carmanah’s investments to date are:

Aluula Composites

ALUULA is using novel chemistry and innovative manufacturing techniques to develop a next generation of composite materials that are extremely light, strong, durable, and recycle-ready.

CASCADIA SEAWEED

Cascadia Seaweed produces seaweed-derived products for crop and cattle farmers that offer nature-based solutions to both food security and climate change.

GlassPoint Solar helps industry leaders reduce their carbon emissions at the lowest possible cost, using enclosed trough technology specifically to address the needs of industrial users operating in remote and harsh environments.

CARBONCURE

CarbonCure develops and manufactures equipment to inject carbon dioxide into concrete at ready-mix and masonry plants. The process strengthens the concrete while reducing its carbon footprint.

FIRST LIGHT TECHNOLOGIES

First Light develops and manufactures commercial grade solar-LED lighting products for outdoor illumination.

UPLIFY CLIMBING

Uplify Climbing owns a majority interest in ten climbing gyms across Canada, including Boulderhouse.

SendtoNews

Victoria-based SendtoNews has developed a turnkey digital sports video platform that is used by publishers across North America.

Checkwell

Vancouver-based Checkwell Decision Corporation gathers, assembles and delivers information that assists customers in making well-informed decisions regarding their workforce.

Protox

Vancouver-based Protox Therapeutics developed a drug for the treatment of prostate cancer and other diseases of the prostate.

ViDA Therapeutics

Vancouver-based ViDA Therapeutics develops drugs based on inhibitors of the extracellular serine protease, Granzyme B, to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases.

Redlen

Victoria-based Redlen Technologies has developed radiation detection and imaging technology built on its cadmium zinc telluride semiconductor sensor manufacturing capability.

Vitrisa

San Fransisco-based Vitrisa Therapeutics (founder is from Victoria) had a proprietary suite of technologies with the potential to address the underlying mechanisms of vision loss in a wide range of ocular diseases.

iDUS Controls

Victoria-based iDUS makes sensors for agriculture that provide cost-effective data to inform farm management decisions.

ICC

Victoria-based International Composting Corporation (ICC Group) develops waste-to-energy technologies. ICC has developed patented technologies that convert organic waste into compost, heat and electricity.

BRIGHTSIDE

Vancouver-based BrightSide Technologies developed a high brightness display technology called HDR, as well as technology for capturing, processing and storing HDR images. Purchased by Dolby in 2007.

BC Advantage Funds

A fund that operated under the BC venture capital program that invested in emerging life science, technology and clean technology companies located in British Columbia.

BC Discovery Fund

Another fund that operated under the BC venture capital program and currently holds seven portfolio companies operating in the areas of mobile, information and clean technology.

Pender Growth Fund (VCC)

A third fund operated under the BC venture capital program that invested in BC technology companies.

University Technologies VCC

A Victoria-based fund under the BC venture capital program that invested in technologies developed in local universities.

Epic Biosonics

Victoria-based Epic Biosonics focussed on a totally implantable cochlear prosthesis for curing deafness.

Accuzone

Kelowna-based Accuzone developed sensing and control systems for irrigation.

TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

Carmanah owns a building for the purposes of meeting the needs of technology companies. The building is a 23,000 square foot combination of office and manufacturing space and has housed a variety of technology companies over the years.