RFI
RFI, operating as Fastbreak Ventures, is a Toronto-based pre-seed and seed venture capital firm investing in early-stage enterprise software startups across FinTech, PropTech, and Digital Health, with a hands-on Connect-Build-Scale support model led by founder-operator partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RFI does
RFI (operating as Fastbreak Ventures) is a Toronto-based pre-seed and seed stage venture capital firm founded by partners Matt Saunders and Alan Lysne, who have worked together since 2008 (with the firm formalized circa 2012). The firm invests in early-stage enterprise software startups across FinTech, PropTech, Digital Health, marketing technology, sales enablement, and customer experience, targeting the first institutional round for exceptional founders building highly scalable software platforms. Beyond capital, Fastbreak operates a hands-on Connect-Build-Scale engagement model that bundles customer introductions, team and technology buildout support, and guidance on repeatable sales and next-round financing preparation.
The firm does not operate a software product or technology platform. Its underlying "infrastructure" is the partner network, accelerator operations in Canada, India, and Southeast Asia (Mumbai and Vietnam), and content channels (blog, LinkedIn, Twitter) used to source deals and support founders. Notable portfolio outcomes include Ada, which reached unicorn status at a $1.2B valuation with $30M USD ARR and 250 staff (2021), and LevelJump, which was acquired by Salesforce in 2021.
Fastbreak Ventures generates returns through equity investments in early-stage enterprise software startups, deriving revenue from carried interest on successful portfolio exits and management fees on committed capital. The firm is private, founder-owned, and operates with 1-10 employees out of Toronto. It has no disclosed parent company, institutional LP structure, or public listing.
RFI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RFI
- Legal name
- Fastbreak Ventures
- Website
- https://fastbreak.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- RFI, operating as Fastbreak Ventures, is a Toronto-based pre-seed and seed venture capital firm investing in early-stage enterprise software startups across FinTech, PropTech, and Digital Health, with a hands-on Connect-Build-Scale support model led by founder-operator partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RFI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early-Stage Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem Investment Arms (FSANAHAF)
Keywords
Where RFI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
RFI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Returns: Fastbreak Ventures generates returns through equity investments in early-stage enterprise software startups. As a VC firm, revenue is derived from carried interest on successful portfolio company exits and potentially management fees on committed capital.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
RFI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RFI (operating as Fastbreak Ventures) is a pre-seed and seed stage venture capital firm that leads first institutional rounds for exceptional founders building highly scalable enterprise software platforms. Beyond capital, the firm delivers hands-on portfolio support through three phases: Connect (customer introductions for market validation), Build (helping founders build team, technology, and traction), and Scale (assisting with repeatable sales, growth, and preparation for the next financing round). The firm focuses on verticals including FinTech, PropTech, Digital Health, and other enterprise software categories.
Product overview
Fastbreak Ventures is a pre-seed and seed stage venture capital firm that provides investment and operational support to early-stage enterprise software companies. The firm focuses on FinTech, PropTech, Digital Health, and other industries. Their offering consists of capital investment and hands-on support including customer introductions, team building, technology development guidance, and scaling assistance for portfolio companies. Fastbreak Ventures does not offer a software product, platform, or SaaS offering — it is a financial services and advisory firm for startup investments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fastbreak Ventures Pre-Seed and Seed Stage Venture Fund Pre-seed and seed stage equity investment product offered to exceptional founders building highly scalable enterprise software platforms; the firm aims to lead the first institutional round and provide hands-on operational support in FinTech, PropTech, Digital Health, and other enterprise software verticals.
Quantifiable outcome
- Ada reached unicorn status ($1.2B valuation) and grew to $30M USD ARR with 250 employees
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RFI
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
RFI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RFI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Next36 ProgramminorMike Murchison, co-founder of Ada, was part of the Next36 program before founding his startup. Fastbreak Ventures met Murchison through this program and subsequently invested in his company.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
RFI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Y Combinator: Largest pre-seed accelerator globally; comparable to Fastbreak as the first institutional capital for many of the same enterprise software founders, though YC's standardized model and scale differ.
- 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): Large global seed-stage investor and accelerator; comparable to Fastbreak in pre-seed/seed stage and Canadian founder participation, but operates at much larger scale.
- Bessemer Venture Partners: Large multi-stage VC with a B2B SaaS focus and a presence in Toronto; comparable to Fastbreak on enterprise software thesis and overlap with Canadian portfolio companies like Ada.
- Accel: Global multi-stage VC with deep enterprise software franchise; comparable to Fastbreak on thesis and overlap in Canadian SaaS companies (Accel invested in Ada), though at much later stages.
Direct peers
- Real Ventures: Montreal-based pre-seed and seed VC focused on Canadian founders; highly comparable to Fastbreak given similar stage focus, geographic concentration, and hands-on support model for enterprise software startups.
- Version One Ventures: Vancouver-based seed-stage investor backing mission-driven founders; directly comparable to Fastbreak in Canadian seed market, stage focus, and portfolio support approach.
- Inovia Capital: Montreal-based early-stage and growth VC with a Canadian SaaS focus; comparable to Fastbreak on geography and enterprise software thesis, though Inovia typically leads larger rounds and follows on more aggressively.
- Georgian Partners: Toronto-based growth investor focused on B2B SaaS companies; overlaps with Fastbreak on Canadian enterprise software thesis and investor relationships, though operates at a later stage.
- Founder Collective: US-based seed VC founded by experienced operators; comparable to Fastbreak on operator-led thesis, small partnership, and seed-stage enterprise software focus.
Regional players
- MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF): Toronto-based seed-stage fund backed by the Province of Ontario; comparable to Fastbreak in Canadian seed ecosystem, pre-seed checks, and support for science/tech founders.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RFI social profiles
Digital presenceRFI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RFI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
RFI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RFI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments25 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RFI
What does RFI do?
RFI (operating as Fastbreak Ventures) is a pre-seed and seed stage venture capital firm that leads first institutional rounds for exceptional founders building highly scalable enterprise software platforms. Beyond capital, the firm delivers hands-on portfolio support through three phases: Connect (customer introductions for market validation), Build (helping founders build team, technology, and traction), and Scale (assisting with repeatable sales, growth, and preparation for the next financing round). The firm focuses on verticals including FinTech, PropTech, Digital Health, and other enterprise software categories.
Is RFI a public or private company?
RFI is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was RFI founded?
RFI was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is RFI based?
RFI is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does RFI make money?
One revenue line is on record: venture Capital Returns.
Who are RFI's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Y Combinator, 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups), Bessemer Venture Partners and Accel. Direct peers are Real Ventures, Version One Ventures, Inovia Capital, Georgian Partners and Founder Collective. MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF) is listed as a regional player.
Does RFI have an API?
No public API is recorded for RFI.
What industry is RFI in?
RFI's product category is Early-Stage Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAF, Corporate Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem Investment Arms. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.