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by karamdeep 5656 days ago
That's horrible if true (and I have no reason to doubt that). However, methinks you've been talking to the wrong Canadian VCs...we're doing our best @iNovia to change those perceptions. I think the reality is VCs who act like jerks are going feel it in their pocketbooks when their deal flow and returns dry up. That being said, congrats on the round - great syndicate, great team and a great product.

Between Well.ca, Shopify and Beyond the Rack, Canadian E-Commerce companies seem to be on the cusp of big things...exciting times indeed.
2 comments
cal5k 5656 days ago
Karamdeep,

I notice you're an Ivey grad - very cool, so am I. Next time you're in Toronto I'd love to chat - I write quite a bit on Canadian entrepreneurship. A notable example:

http://www.myplanetdigital.com/digital_strategy/blog/why-can...

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karamdeep 5656 days ago
enjoyed the article...i'll be back in town late next week, drop me a line: knijjar@inoviacapital.com
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xal 5656 days ago
That's great and I have indeed heard good things about iNovia.

Granted I mostly dealt with Ottawa VCs who have all made their bank during the heyday of the tech bubble in telecommunication industry. We were speaking completely different languages and had completely different ideas about each others roles.

Between iNovia, Real ventures and seeds such as Year One Labs things are looking to get much better here quickly. I'm excited.

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karamdeep 5656 days ago
i think part of the process is opening a dialogue with entrepreneurs such as yourself on what we can do to create the type of environment that is more conducive to the birth and growth of companies like shopify...i think that's been talked about for a long time - but the truth of the matter is that people have been afraid to really speak their mind in case they jeopardize future funding relationships. it's going to take a lot of hard work, but i can tell you that guys like my boss chris, mark over @ real, and ben @ yearone are working their asses off 24/7 to make that happen. i'd love to just sit down and pick your brain on what the last few years have been like for you, and what could've been done to make those a bit easier. let me know if you're interested.
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