Generalist · Halifax, NS
Invest Nova Scotia (ex-Innovacorp)
Nova Scotia knowledge startups, public capital.
- Cheque
- $100k to $1.5M
- Role
- Can lead a round
- Pace
- Actively deploying
- Kind
- Generalist
- Based in
- Halifax, NS
- Founded
- 1995
- Works in
- EN
- Last deal seen
- February 2026
Their thesis, in full
Innovacorp (established 1995) was consolidated into Invest Nova Scotia in 2023. Its VC arm runs the Nova Scotia First Fund (NSFF), backing angel, pre-seed, seed and Series A knowledge-based Nova Scotia startups. Its most recent disclosed deal was $500K into pHathom Technologies (coastal carbon capture) in February 2026, part of a $4M seed round led by Propeller Ventures.
What they bring past the cheque
- Maritime ecosystem anchor
- Public capital patience
- Knowledge-based focus
- Nova Scotia network
- First institutional check
Questions they usually ask
Have an answer ready for each one before the first call.
- How does your IP or research advantage translate to commercial revenue?
- What is your plan to attract follow-on private capital after the public round?
- How will you build national or international customer pipeline from Atlantic Canada?
Follow-on
The Nova Scotia First Fund typically writes cheques of $100K to $1.5M, up to a maximum of $3M per company, and follows portfolio companies through subsequent seed and Series A rounds, investing alongside private and public investors.
Portfolio
Names they back, most notable first.
- pHathom TechnologiesSeed · 2026
- 3DBioFibRSeed · 2025
- Blue Charm AdherenceSeed · 2025
- Sensor GlobeSeed · 2025
- RFINE Biomass SolutionsPre-seed · 2025
- Elle MD BiotechnologiesPre-seed · 2025
Often in the same rounds
Investors seen alongside them in past rounds.
- Propeller Ventures
- NBIF
- Carmeuse Ventures
Similar investors
Overlapping sectors and stages. Useful to build a list of 10 to 20 names for one round.
See how they fit your round
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