To catalyze industrial decarbonization, we must move away from energy-intensive manufacturing to more energy-efficient, low carbon footprint alternatives, such as bio-fermentation. Quebec-based BioIntelligence Technologies (BIT) provides solutions for reducing the carbon footprint in large-scale bio-manufacturing industries like chemical production, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and certain food applications. BIT's analytics can alleviate challenges in biomanufacturing by reducing production losses and increasing yields by 5-10% per batch. This improvement fosters the adoption of more sustainable manufacturing processes.
Venture capitalists have traditionally focused on high returns and calculated risks. However, in today’s evolving market landscape, there’s a significant shift towards a more purpose-driven approach. Relying solely on financial gains is no longer sufficient. The demand from consumers, governments, and communities for investments that also yield environmental and social returns is growing. This is particularly crucial given the current state of our planet and the challenges faced by health and education systems. Impact investing emerges as a paradigm shift, redefining the fundamental principles of investment for double bottom-line returns.
Kathryn Wortsman, managing partner at Amplify Capital, told BetaKit that she and Ella Seitz, a partner at Esplanade Ventures, also saw a gap in awareness of healthcare technology focused on women’s health when collaborating on deals in early 2023.
“As women ourselves, and in our respective positions as investment decision makers at our funds, we wanted to help amplify the startups in the space and lead the conversation on the financial and health impact opportunity that can come from investing in this segment,” Wortsman said.
Joining Amplify Capital was a life-changing decision for me, and I'm often asked why I made the move. The answer is simple: purpose and passion.
Amplify's mission to make a positive impact on climate, education, and healthcare struck a deep chord within me. I believe that business can be a powerful force for good, and I am thrilled to collaborate with mission-driven founders to create meaningful change in the world.
Future Fields optimizes the biomanufacturing process, enabling more opportunities for cost-effective alternative proteins. As a result, Future Fields will support the decarbonization industries while offering a scalable solution to meet food, pharmaceutical, and other urgent and necessary needs globally.
It has been almost five years since our first investment from our Fund I. Since then, we have doubled the team size, achieved great social and environmental impact, invested in 16 companies, of which one exited, and reviewed over 1,200 investment opportunities. Building on the success from our Fund I, we have even bigger ambitions for our Fund II. It’s an exciting time for Amplify Capital.
A week ago, Canadians, border to border, celebrated or reflected on Canada Day. We hope your day was filled with maple syrup, Tim Hortons, and passionate discussions about the National Hockey League series. We wanted to highlight why Canada is not only a wonderful place to live, but also a wonderful place to invest.
