Helping founders
fundraise, launch
and scale in Canada
Your pathway to capital and expansion in North America
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia
SparkNorth Ventures helps experienced founders expand into North America, supporting market entry, execution, and access to the right capital at the right stage.
What we do
We work with experienced founders and growth stage companies preparing to raise capital and expand into North America. We partner with a limited number of teams at a time to ensure real focus, speed, and depth.
Our work is hands on, founder level, and deliberately selective. We tailor strategy and execution support to each company’s exact stage and ambition across Canada and the United States. We assess where you stand, define the right pathway whether that involves capital, expansion, structural setup, or accelerated growth and guide your team through disciplined execution at every step.
Our core activities
Our work is built around three core areas. Each has a clear objective and measurable outcome:
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Outcome: clarity, positioning, and the right strategic direction
Senior level assessment of whether capital is the right lever for your stage and ambition
Clear determination of whether we can support you through investor access and North American expansion
A structured pathway into Canada, including corporate setup, IP positioning, and regulatory alignment
A tailored North American market entry roadmap aligned with your business model
Investor ready materials and positioning adapted for Canadian and United States capital markets
Curated investor introductions and targeted presentation opportunities through our network
You leave with a defined expansion pathway, investor level positioning, and a clear decision on what comes next.
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Outcome: structured progress and measurable market movement
Concrete execution plan translated into priorities, sequencing, and milestones
Coordinated market entry support across Canada and the United States
Guidance on entity formation, structural alignment, and operational setup
IP positioning and transfer strategy
Investor engagement and capital coordination when funding is part of the path
Strategic introductions to partners, advisors, and operators to accelerate traction
Execution is led by your team. We provide structure, sequencing, and senior guidance to ensure each step builds toward measurable progress.
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Outcome: traction, credibility, and sustainable scale
Growth strategy aligned with measurable North American traction
Investor alignment with commercial milestones and performance
Partner and customer development support
Operational scaling guidance to strengthen local presence
Capital structured around timing, credibility, and long term enterprise value when required
Our objective is simple: ensure your North American expansion results in durable traction, strategic credibility, and long term enterprise value.
Who it’s for?
We work with experienced founders and companies preparing for serious expansion into North America.
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We work with founders and companies who:
Have real operating history and founder level experience
Are beyond the idea stage, with a tested MVP or early revenue
Are serious about market entry and growth in Canada and the United States
Want senior level, strategic conversations rather than generic advice
Value clarity, trust, and long term execution over short term acceleration
We most often work with technology driven companies where European innovation aligns well with Canadian and North American market needs, including areas such as smart buildings, urban infrastructure, climate and sustainability solutions, and applied AI. Strong teams outside these areas are also welcome when the fundamentals and ambition are right.
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Sparknorth Ventures is not a fit for:
Idea stage startups
First time founders still learning the basics of company building
Teams without a validated product or early market traction
Companies looking for funding without execution readiness
This selectivity is intentional. We work with fewer companies so we can go deeper, move faster, and deliver meaningful value to every founder we partner with.
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We support founders through two distinct pathways, depending on where the company is on its North American journey.
MVP Stream
Early stage companies with a tested MVP, led by experienced founders, preparing for their first structured market entry into Canada.Scale Stream
Companies with traction or revenue, ready to scale operations, partnerships, and growth across Canada and North America.
CleanTech
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PropTech
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Smart City
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High-Tech
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AI
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CleanTech * PropTech * Smart City * High-Tech * AI *
Every startup receives a tailored, hands-on expansion plan designed around its technology, stage, and growth goals.
Canada offers a unique combination of stability, talent, and access for companies entering North America.
Strong innovation and funding ecosystem
Clear and predictable regulatory frameworks
Strong alignment with European technology and sustainability priorities
Direct access to North American markets
A pragmatic and credible entry point to the United States
Why Canada?
Canada also backs innovation with meaningful, non-dilutive support.
Public funding and incentives include:
More than CAD$12B annually dedicated to innovation, R&D, and commercialization
IRAP support covering a significant portion of eligible R&D salaries and subcontractor costs
SR&ED refundable tax credits that can materially improve early stage cash flow.
For many companies, Canada is the most practical and capital efficient starting point for building a North American presence.
In practice, this means:
Canadian ecosystems are increasingly open to European innovation.
Market demand is strong across multiple technology domains.
Talent, IP, and operational pathways are more accessible than ever.
Timing is critical over speed in market entry.
The Team
Peter Szarvas
Peter is a serial tech founder with 25+ years of experience scaling companies across Europe and North America. Based in Vancouver, he connects European innovation with the Canadian and North American ecosystem.
Founder
Matt has 20+ years of experience in Canada’s startup and innovation ecosystem, with strong connections across government programs, investors, and operators, and deep knowledge of navigating the Canadian market.
Co-Founder
Matt Heiydt
Ghazaleh Vaziri
Ghazaleh supports founders entering the North American market by coordinating startups, investors, and advisors across the SparkNorth Ventures ecosystem.
Venture Operations Manager
Let’s talk
Every relationship starts with a simple hello