Amplify Capital
Amplify Capital is a Toronto-based Canadian impact venture capital firm investing pre-seed to Series A in climate, health, and education startups, managing approximately $37M CAD across two funds with B Corp and IA 50 credentials.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Amplify Capital does
Amplify Capital is an early-stage Canadian impact venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed to Series A startups across three thematic verticals: climate solutions, health innovation, and education and the future of work. The firm originated as the MaRS Catalyst Fund in 2016 and spun out from MaRS Discovery District in 2019 to operate as an independent fund manager. It provides equity capital alongside strategic support and impact measurement to founders building companies with measurable social or environmental outcomes.
The firm manages approximately $37M CAD across two vehicles: Fund I at roughly $5.8M and Fund II at approximately $30.7M CAD (final close February 2022). The business model is conventional venture fund economics, earning management fees on committed/invested capital and carried interest on realized gains above a hurdle. Limited partners include RBC, Fondaction, Vancity, and several Canadian foundations, alongside the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI). The firm is B Corp certified and has been recognized as an IA 50 fund manager, signals used to underwrite LP commitments and portfolio trust.
Amplify operates from Toronto with a Montreal office opened in March 2022, and is led by Managing Partner Kathryn Wortsman with Partner Craig Hunter and a broader advisor bench of more than 20 industry and technical advisors. The portfolio spans 29+ companies and includes 8+ reported exits. The firm is currently raising Fund III with target cheque sizes roughly double those of prior funds and may deploy up to 30% of Fund III capital outside Canada, primarily in the United States.
Amplify Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Amplify Capital
- Legal name
- Amplify Capital
- Website
- https://amplifycapital.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Amplify Capital is a Toronto-based Canadian impact venture capital firm investing pre-seed to Series A in climate, health, and education startups, managing approximately $37M CAD across two funds with B Corp and IA 50 credentials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Amplify Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Impact Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
Keywords
Where Amplify Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Amplify Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equity Investment Returns: Amplify Capital generates returns through equity stakes in portfolio companies. The firm invests in pre-seed to Series A companies and realizes returns upon exit events such as acquisitions or additional funding rounds. Fund I generated 'really good returns' on par with top VC performance according to Preqin data.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Amplify Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Amplify Capital is an impact venture capital firm that invests equity capital from institutional limited partners into pre-seed to Series A startups working in climate, health, and education. It manages Fund I ($5.8M CAD) and Fund II ($30.7M CAD), is raising Fund III, and pairs capital with board-level impact KPIs, B Corp certification support, and access to a 20+ member Investment Council of sector experts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fund II Second impact investment fund that backs early-stage Canadian healthtech, edtech, and cleantech startups at seed and Series A stages, writing initial cheques of $500,000 to $1 million with reserves for follow-on investments.
- Fund III Third impact-focused fund currently being raised, targeting pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds across North America in climate, health, and education, with cheques ranging from $1 million to $3 million.
- Impact Investment Platform Amplify Capital's overall investment platform that delivers equity capital, strategic support, and impact measurement (UN SDG / IMP framework) to mission-driven founders across climate, health, and education sectors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Since 2016, Amplify has supported over 29 startups and achieved 8+ successful exits
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Amplify Capital
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Amplify Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Amplify Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MaRS Discovery DistrictcoreAmplify Capital was originally founded in 2016 as MaRS Catalyst Fund and spun out of MaRS Discovery District in 2019. Continuing partnership and co-investment relationship.
- ImpactAssetsminorAmplify Capital selected for IA 50 2022 impact fund manager listing, increasing visibility in impact investing community.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Amplify Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Renewal Funds: Vancouver-based impact venture capital firm focused on early-stage companies in food, agriculture, and clean technology. Comparable to Amplify as a Canadian impact VC manager with similar AUM scale and B Corp/IA 50 credentials investing in mission-driven founders.
- Cycle Capital: Montreal-based cleantech venture capital firm with funds across venture and growth stages. Directly comparable given its Canadian base, cleantech sector overlap with Amplify's climate thesis, and presence in both Toronto and Montreal ecosystems.
- Pangaea Ventures: Vancouver-based venture capital firm investing in advanced materials and clean technology. Comparable to Amplify on the climate/cleantech thesis, similar early-stage cheque sizes, and Canadian base with limited US exposure.
- Obvious Ventures: US-based impact venture capital firm backing companies across health, climate, and other impact themes. Comparable to Amplify in mission-driven early-stage investing with measurable impact frameworks, though with larger fund sizes and US focus.
Broad incumbents
- Builders Vision: Impact investment platform with a venture arm focused on climate, health, and education. Comparable to Amplify's sector focus, with a much larger AUM and broader portfolio across stages. Builders Vision led Carbon Upcycling's $18M round, placing it as a co-investor in Amplify's portfolio.
- TPG Rise: The impact investing platform of TPG with $13B+ AUM across climate, health, and education. Comparable to Amplify on thematic focus and 'double-bottom-line' thesis, but operating at vastly larger scale across PE, VC, and growth stages globally.
- Emerson Collective: Impact investment and philanthropic organization backing companies in education, climate, and health. Comparable to Amplify on thematic focus and impact measurement, though operating at a much larger scale across venture, growth, and policy advocacy.
Regional players
- Real Ventures: Montreal-based seed-stage venture capital firm backing Canadian technology companies. Comparable as a Canadian VC peer in the same geography, though Real is broader sector and not exclusively impact-focused. Co-investor alongside Amplify in Uvaro's $12M Series A.
- Whitecap Venture Partners: Toronto-based early-stage venture capital firm investing across Canadian technology sectors. Comparable as a Canadian VC peer in the same geography; co-investor alongside Amplify in Lyteflo's $3M seed round.
Emerging players
- Kapor Capital: Oakland-based impact venture firm focused on early-stage companies addressing inequity. Comparable to Amplify in mission-driven early-stage investing with measurable impact, particularly in education and workforce development, though with a US focus and diversity lens.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Amplify Capital social profiles
Digital presenceAmplify Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Amplify Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Amplify Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Amplify Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments45 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Amplify Capital
What does Amplify Capital do?
Amplify Capital is an impact venture capital firm that invests equity capital from institutional limited partners into pre-seed to Series A startups working in climate, health, and education. It manages Fund I ($5.8M CAD) and Fund II ($30.7M CAD), is raising Fund III, and pairs capital with board-level impact KPIs, B Corp certification support, and access to a 20+ member Investment Council of sector experts.
Is Amplify Capital a public or private company?
Amplify Capital is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Amplify Capital founded?
Amplify Capital was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Amplify Capital based?
Amplify Capital is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Amplify Capital make money?
One revenue line is on record: equity Investment Returns.
Who are Amplify Capital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Renewal Funds, Cycle Capital, Pangaea Ventures and Obvious Ventures. Broad incumbents are Builders Vision, TPG Rise and Emerson Collective. Regional players are Real Ventures and Whitecap Venture Partners. Kapor Capital is listed as an emerging player.
Does Amplify Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Amplify Capital.
What industry is Amplify Capital in?
Amplify Capital's product category is Impact Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAALAG, Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure), with a secondary code of FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists). Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.