Tech-active · Calgary, AB
Combine Ventures
We are builders of generative AI startups that modernize antiquated industries.
- Cheque
- Not disclosed
- Role
- Can lead a round
- Pace
- Actively deploying
- Kind
- Tech-active
- Based in
- Calgary, AB
- Founded
- 2020
- Works in
- EN
Their thesis, in full
Combine is a Calgary-based venture studio and fund (a company builder). It co-founds startups in-house through its Combine Labs program, validating a pre-vetted idea, matching it with a capable co-founder, then providing initial capital, a paying first customer, and hands-on product, engineering, design, operations and fundraising support. For founders this means a deep co-founder-style partnership from day one rather than a passive equity cheque, with the studio taking founding equity in exchange for building alongside you. Its current focus is generative-AI vertical SaaS that modernizes antiquated industries such as allied healthcare, residential services and logistics. Founders get involved either as a Problem Solver or by bringing an internal corporate idea to spin out; a Founders-in-Residence program is announced as coming soon.
What they bring past the cheque
- Co-founds and builds companies in-house rather than writing passive cheques
- Pairs a validated, pre-researched idea with a hand-selected co-founder
- Provides a paying flagship first customer to de-risk go-to-market from day one
- Supplies in-house product, engineering, design, recruiting, legal and finance
- Led by serial Calgary operators (Jeremy Barber, ex-Harvest Builders
- Hanif Joshaghani, co-founder of Symend), with a track record including Amplifier Health, Sabi Mind, Brightspot and Agora Labs
Questions they usually ask
Have an answer ready for each one before the first call.
- Does your idea target an antiquated, high-friction vertical (healthcare, housing, logistics) where generative AI creates clear white-space?
- Can we validate genuine customer demand and secure a flagship first customer before building?
- Are you (or the matched founder) willing to operate as a hands-on co-founder inside the studio model and share founding equity with Combine?
Follow-on
Combine plays a co-builder role across the full lifecycle: idea validation (customer demand, technical feasibility, unit economics, investor interest), product creation, then launch with capital, governance and people in place. After launch it handles recruiting, legal, finance, engineering and design so the founder can focus on building the business and reaching pre-seed, seed and Series A funding through Combine's investor network.
Who to talk to
- Jeremy BarberCo-Founder & CEO
- Hanif JoshaghaniCo-Founder
- Patrick ElliottCo-Founder
Portfolio
Names they back, most notable first.
- Amplifier HealthPre-seed · 2023
- Sabi MindPre-seed · 2021
- BrightspotPre-seed · 2021
- Agora LabsPre-seed · 2020
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