Investors more than doubled the previous funding record for Canadian startups and scale-ups in 2021, even as dealmaking slowed in the latter half of the year, according to a new report from the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA). Here are the key numbers you need to know:
$2.4B: The amount of venture capital invested over 183 deals in the last three months of 2021. That’s down from $3.5 billion in the third quarter and $5.6 billion in the second. Even with the substantial drop, the period set a fourth-quarter record for amount invested and number of deals.
$14.2B: The total amount invested in 2021 across 751 deals, up from $6.2 billion over 560 deals in 2019, the previous record year. Megadeals worth at least $50 million drove activity, attracting 72 per cent of the total dollars invested.
73: The number of venture-backed exits in 2021, a 92 per cent increase over 2020. That included eight IPOs and 52 merger and acquisition deals. Despite the exit volume, the value of exits ($8.4 billion) declined by 15 per cent compared to 2020, which holds the record for exit value. Private equity deals mirrored the trend of more exits at lower valuations. The sector recorded 88 exits (the highest number on record) totalling $6.4 billion (the second-lowest value on record).
92%: The percentage of venture capital dollars that went to three provinces: Ontario, B.C. and Quebec. Toronto alone attracted $5.9 billion, more than 40 per cent of all funding. B.C.-based companies raised $2.9 billion. Nearly all regions reported record investment. Saskatchewan stood out with 1,255 per cent growth over last year, with $210 million invested over 17 deals.
136: The number of VC deals backed by foreign investors. Investors from outside Canada participated in rounds worth a total of almost $6.6 billion, nearly half of all venture capital invested in the country. U.S. investors invested the most by far, contributing $4.5 billion, followed by Germany then the U.K. and Switzerland.