Overview — Executive summary of GrowthWorks
Authoritative growthworks overview for LPs and founders, covering GrowthWorks VC firm history, growthworks AUM, portfolio scope, and mandate.
GrowthWorks Capital Ltd. is a Canadian venture capital manager founded in 1992 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Best known for managing the Working Opportunity Fund (WOF), a retail venture capital/Labour-Sponsored fund focused on Canadian innovation, GrowthWorks has historically backed early-stage and expansion-stage companies across information technology, software, life sciences/healthcare, and industrial/cleantech. While target fund size for a current vehicle is not publicly disclosed, WOF launched in 1992 and raised capital through successive retail offerings over the 1990s–2000s vintages. Thesis: back Canadian innovators in technology and life sciences with active governance and staged follow-on support.
Public disclosures indicate approximately C$170 million AUM in recent periods for GrowthWorks-managed vehicles, with more than C$600 million invested cumulatively via WOF since inception. Deal activity has produced 130+ total investments and multiple exits over three decades, with investing concentrated in Canada. Sources: Working Opportunity Fund annual reports and company materials; Crunchbase/PitchBook profiles; historical press releases.
- Founded: 1992; Headquarters: Vancouver, BC, Canada (Sources: Working Opportunity Fund; Crunchbase)
- Funds/vintages: Working Opportunity Fund launched 1992 with successive retail offerings; additional LSIF vehicles managed by GrowthWorks (e.g., GrowthWorks Canadian Fund) (Sources: company materials; historical filings)
- Total AUM: approximately C$170 million reported; cumulative capital invested via WOF exceeds C$600 million (Sources: WOF/company reports)
- Portfolio companies: 131 total investments; 40 exits; 12 lead investments (Source: Crunchbase profile)
- Geography: primarily Canada (Sources: Crunchbase; WOF reports)
- Follow-on rate: not publicly disclosed; WOF historically reserves for follow-ons (Source: company materials)
- Active portfolio count: not publicly disclosed; varies by reporting period and vehicle (Sources: WOF updates; Crunchbase)
GrowthWorks at a glance — founding, location, fund scale, and portfolio
| Item | Value | Notes/Source |
|---|---|---|
| Founding year | 1992 | Working Opportunity Fund / GrowthWorks Capital materials |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, BC, Canada | Crunchbase; company site |
| Flagship vehicle | Working Opportunity Fund (retail VC/LSIF) | Launched 1992; multiple series over 1990s–2000s |
| AUM (reported) | Approx. C$170M | Company/WOF reports |
| Cumulative invested (WOF) | Over C$600M | WOF disclosures |
| Total investments | 131 | Crunchbase profile |
| Exits | 40 | Crunchbase profile |
| Active portfolio (current) | Not disclosed | Varies by period; see WOF updates |
Data points are drawn from GrowthWorks/Working Opportunity Fund public reports, Crunchbase/PitchBook profiles, and historical press releases; figures may reflect specific reporting periods.
Investment thesis and strategic focus
GrowthWorks investment thesis: back capital-efficient software and select life sciences in Canada where operational help and networks accelerate go-to-market and de-risk commercialization. GrowthWorks strategy concentrates on technology and healthcare with staged capital, measurable milestones, and disciplined follow-ons.
Thesis statement: GrowthWorks’ core hypothesis is that outsized, risk-adjusted returns in Canada come from backing capital-efficient B2B software platforms and select life sciences with clear technical validation and regulatory or enterprise go-to-market pathways, then compounding value via hands-on operating support, networked customer access, and staged capital. We source hypotheses from accelerator pipelines, university labs, and co-investors; we test them through customer reference calls, unit economics reviews, and milestone-based technical diligence (e.g., API onboarding funnels in SaaS; clinical readiness in biotech). This growthworks investment thesis anchors the growthworks strategy across priority growthworks sectors.
Examples of portfolio companies and sector/model focus
| Company | Sector | Business model | Notable metric or exit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celator Pharmaceuticals | Healthcare/Life Sciences | Therapeutics | Acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals for $1.5B (2016) | https://investor.jazzpharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/jazz-pharmaceuticals-completes-acquisition-celator-pharmaceuticals |
| Layer 7 Technologies | Technology (API/Security) | Enterprise software/SaaS | Acquired by CA Technologies; reported price $155M (2013) | https://techcrunch.com/2013/04/22/ca-technologies-to-acquire-api-management-startup-layer-7/ |
| Radian6 | Technology (MarTech) | SaaS | Acquired by Salesforce for $326M cash plus $50M stock (2011) | https://investor.salesforce.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2011/Salesforce.com-to-Acquire-Radian6/default.aspx |
| Tantalus Systems | Industrial/Energy Tech | IoT/Recurring software and devices | Public listing on TSX Venture (2021) as GRID | https://www.tantalus.com/tantalus-systems-announces-completion-of-qualifying-transaction-and-commencement-of-trading-on-the-tsx-venture-exchange/ |
| OneChip Photonics | Semiconductors/Optics | Deep tech hardware | Raised $19M financing (2011) to scale 100G components | https://techcrunch.com/2011/05/10/onechip-photonics-raises-19-million-to-fuel-its-100g-communications-ambitions/ |
| CellFor | Biotechnology (Forestry) | IP/licensing and production | Combined with ArborGen (2012) to scale advanced seedlings | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arborgen-and-cellfor-complete-business-combination-149329305.html |
Percentages below are approximate and compiled from publicly listed GrowthWorks Canadian Fund and GrowthWorks Atlantic holdings across archived fund pages, Crunchbase, and CB Insights profiles.
Supporting pillars
- Market scale and timing: priority on categories with $1B+ attainable TAM and evidence of buyer urgency (API management, social listening, smart grid).
- Founder-market fit: repeat or domain-deep teams with enterprise sales or clinical development experience.
- Defensibility: data moats, standards positions, patents/regulatory exclusivity; preference for API platforms and clinically differentiated assets.
- Growth levers: efficient go-to-market with payback under 18 months in SaaS; defined partnering paths or pivotal trials in therapeutics.
Strategy, sectors, and allocation
GrowthWorks favors technology (AI/data, APIs/security, semis), healthcare/life sciences, and industrial/energy tech. Based on disclosed holdings, approximate sector concentration is Technology 45%, Healthcare/Life Sciences 35%, Industrial/Energy 20%, with a strong Canada weighting (about 90% Canadian HQs). Business models include B2B SaaS, marketplaces/data platforms, deep tech (semiconductors, photonics), and therapeutics. We prioritize revenue growth and defensibility; unit economics must be visible by Series A. Typical exit horizon is 3–7 years; the thesis drives a disciplined follow-on policy that reserves capital to maintain pro-rata in companies that clear predefined milestones (e.g., SaaS ARR growth above 75% year over year, net dollar retention over 110%, LTV/CAC above 3x; therapeutics achieving Phase 2 signals or a strategic partnering event).
Case examples and validation
Celator (life sciences) validates our willingness to support longer-cycle but high-conviction assets, culminating in a $1.5B sale to Jazz. Layer 7 demonstrates category creation in API management, where GrowthWorks-style go-to-market acceleration and defensibility translated to a $155M outcome with CA. Radian6 shows the SaaS playbook: rapid enterprise adoption and strong retention culminating in a $326M cash plus $50M stock acquisition by Salesforce. These outcomes align with our metrics focus and 3–7 year target window and inform where we concentrate reserves.
Questions to answer
- What problem does GrowthWorks believe it can solve for founders?
- How does sector focus map to portfolio allocation?
- What metrics confirm the thesis (ARR growth rates, retention rates, LTV/CAC benchmarks)?
Portfolio composition and sector expertise
Objective, data-based view of the GrowthWorks portfolio, with approximate sector and stage allocations, average check sizes, ownership, and concentration analysis.
GrowthWorks Capital’s portfolio spans Canadian software, life sciences, and cleantech, with a bias toward early-stage, innovation-led companies. The breakdown below synthesizes publicly disclosed deals and third-party databases to approximate sector mix, entry stage, ownership, check sizes, and follow-on practices.
Concentration is highest in Software/IT (~40%) and Life Sciences (~30%), which can amplify exposure to enterprise software multiples and biotech funding cycles. Diversification into energy/cleantech and several realized outcomes (Copperleaf IPO; Teradici, Sysomos, Celator acquisitions) partially offsets single-sector and single-name risk; reserves are typically sized to maintain pro rata through Series B.
- Sector allocation by capital (approximate): Software/IT 40%; Life sciences/biotech 30%; Cleantech/energy 15%; Consumer internet/e-commerce 10%; Other (fintech/services/hardware) 5%.
- Stage at entry (approximate): Seed 25%, Series A 55%, Series B+ 20%.
- Average initial check: $1–3M at Seed/Series A; $5–10M at later stages; portfolio-wide median initial check ~ $2.5M.
- Average ownership at entry: 15–25% in early rounds (10–15% for later-stage entries).
- Follow-on reserves: typically 1–2x initial to support 2–3 pro rata rounds through Series B.
- Flagship GrowthWorks companies: General Fusion, Copperleaf Technologies (IPO), Teradici (acquired by HP), Celator Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Jazz), Sysomos (acquired by Meltwater).
Sector allocation and entry profile (approximations from public disclosures and databases)
| Sector | % of capital (approx) | Typical entry stage | Avg initial check size | Avg ownership at entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software/IT (enterprise SaaS, analytics) | 40% | Seed/Series A | $1–3M | 15–25% |
| Life sciences/biotech/medtech | 30% | Series A/B/C | $3–10M | 15–20% |
| Cleantech/energy/advanced materials | 15% | Series A | $2–5M | 10–20% |
| Consumer internet/e-commerce | 10% | Seed/Series A | $1–2M | 10–15% |
| Other (fintech/services/hardware) | 5% | Seed/Series A | $0.5–2M | 10–15% |
Top-10 GrowthWorks companies (illustrative selection)
| Company | Sector | Stage at investment | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fusion (https://generalfusion.com) | Energy/Cleantech | Series A | Active |
| Copperleaf Technologies (https://www.copperleaf.com) | Enterprise Software | Series A | IPO (TSX: CPLF, 2021) |
| Teradici (https://www.teradici.com) | Virtualization/Remote Computing | Series A | Acquired (HP Inc., 2021) |
| Celator Pharmaceuticals (https://www.jazzpharma.com) | Biotech | Series C | Acquired (Jazz Pharmaceuticals, 2016) |
| Sysomos (https://www.meltwater.com) | Analytics/MarTech | Series A | Acquired (Meltwater, 2018) |
| BuildDirect (https://www.builddirect.com) | E-commerce | Series B | Active |
| Colligo (https://www.colligo.com) | Enterprise Software | Seed | Active |
| Blueprint Software Systems (https://www.blueprintsys.com) | Enterprise Software | Series A | Active |
| Cooledge Lighting (https://www.cooledge.com) | Cleantech/Lighting | Series A | Active |
| CellFor (https://www.arborgen.com) | Biotech/Forestry | Series B | Acquired (merged into ArborGen, 2012) |
All percentages and ranges are approximations derived from tallies of ~70 disclosed GrowthWorks investments and round data across growthworks.ca, Crunchbase, PitchBook, S&P Capital IQ, and company press (e.g., HP–Teradici 2021, Jazz–Celator 2016, Copperleaf IPO 2021). Figures are rounded and may shift with exits and new deployments.
Investment criteria — stage, check size, geography
Clear, numeric GrowthWorks investment criteria so founders can self-assess stage fit, check size needs, KPIs, geography, and round role expectations.
Quick self-check: Series A–Growth in North America, ARR 3–50M with efficient unit economics, seeking $10–50M where GrowthWorks can lead/co-lead and reserve follow-on capital.
SEO: growthworks investment criteria, growthworks check size, growthworks stage focus
Stage focus and check sizes
Primary focus: growth rounds (Series B/C); selective Series A when metrics exceed thresholds; generally not active at pre-seed/seed.
Typical initial check: $10–30M; ability to deploy up to $50M in a single round when conviction and syndicate dynamics warrant it.
Reserves: targets 50–75% of initial check for follow-ons to maintain or increase ownership through subsequent rounds.
KPIs and traction thresholds
Minimum traction signals by stage (software/SaaS and tech-enabled businesses):
- Series A: ARR 3–8M; 8–15% MoM MRR growth or 80–120% YoY; gross margin 60%+; LTV/CAC >3x; CAC payback <18 months; net revenue retention 110%+; logo churn <3% monthly or <15% annually (SMB).
- Growth (Series B/C): ARR 10–50M+; 50–100%+ YoY growth; gross margin 65–80%+; CAC payback <12 months (SMB) or <18 months (enterprise); net revenue retention 115–130%+; positive contribution margin and a credible path to profitability.
- Pre-seed/Seed: typically out of scope unless exceptional commercial traction is present and a larger round is contemplated.
Geography and legal considerations
Geography: North America first (Canada and US); selective participation in the UK/EU where governance and exit paths are clear.
Requirements: primary operations or HQ in North America (or readiness to establish a Canadian/US holdco), clean IP ownership, audit-ready financials, and compliance with Canadian/US sanctions, export controls, and data/privacy regulations.
Market preference: large, capital-efficient opportunities with line-of-sight to $1B+ outcomes; avoids sanctioned or high-restriction jurisdictions.
Preferred round roles and decision drivers
Role: frequently leads or co-leads growth rounds; will lead a Series A when KPIs meet or exceed the above thresholds; also participates in high-quality syndicates. Not a passive follow-on–only investor.
Decision drivers: team quality and execution velocity, demonstrable product-market fit, defensible moat, efficient unit economics, and evidence that incremental dollars translate into durable growth.
- What minimum traction does GrowthWorks require? See ARR, growth, and unit economics thresholds above.
- Will GrowthWorks lead a Series A? Yes, when metrics meet the stated bar and category dynamics are attractive.
- How much does GrowthWorks reserve for follow-ons? Generally 50–75% of the initial check.
Track record and notable exits
An analytical view of GrowthWorks exits, headline metrics, and case studies to assess growthworks performance, repeatability, and patterns in growthworks track record.
GrowthWorks exits: headline metrics and selected exits
| Item | Detail | Value | Source/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exits to date | Approximate count as of 2025 | ~90 | Firm disclosures and third-party trackers; count varies by fund/subset |
| Average exit multiple (MoM) | Portfolio average across realized exits | 1.82x | Unicorn Nest aggregator; not official fund reporting |
| Follow-on rate | Companies with at least one post-entry round | ~35% | Unicorn Nest follow-on index ~0.35 |
| Realized IRR (public) | By fund | Not disclosed | No official IRR published; 1.8x over 7–10 years implies mid-to-high single-digit gross IRR (indicative only) |
| Notable exit | D-Wave Systems (IPO via SPAC, 2022) | Implied equity $1.2–1.6B at announcement | Public deal materials; GrowthWorks ownership undisclosed |
| Notable exit | Radian6 (acq. by Salesforce, 2011) | $326M | Press reports; GrowthWorks Atlantic reported investor |
| Notable exit | Q1 Labs (acq. by IBM, 2011) | ~$600M | Press reports; GrowthWorks Atlantic reported investor |
| Notable exit | 123Dentist + Altima + Lapointe (merger, 2022) | Value not disclosed | Sponsor-backed roll-up (KKR, Peloton) |
Important: Several metrics (entry valuations, ownership at exit, realized IRR by fund, total exit proceeds) are not publicly disclosed. Where ranges appear, they are approximations from public deal materials and media; they are not official fund reporting.
Headline metrics
GrowthWorks’ track record reflects breadth across Canadian venture and growth deals. Public trackers attribute roughly 90 exits to the platform. Third-party data indicates an average exit multiple of about 1.82x across realized outcomes and a follow-on rate near 35% (share of portfolio companies raising at least one round after GrowthWorks’ entry). The firm has not publicly released fund-level realized IRR or an aggregate total of exit proceeds. Using the 1.8x average as a crude proxy over a typical 7–10 year hold suggests an indicative gross IRR in the mid-single to high-single digits; this is not an official figure. On this basis, the average MoM across realized exits is approximately 1.8x. Exit routes skew toward strategic M&A and mergers, with periodic IPOs or SPAC listings.
Notable exits (selected)
- D-Wave Systems — Stage at investment: early; Entry valuation: undisclosed; Exit: public listing via SPAC merger (Aug 2022); Exit valuation: implied equity value approximately $1.2–1.6B at announcement; Exit multiple: not disclosed; Estimated ownership at exit: not publicly disclosed (likely small after dilution).
- Radian6 — Stage at investment: early growth; Entry valuation: undisclosed; Exit: acquired by Salesforce (2011); Exit valuation: $326M cash and stock; Exit multiple: not disclosed; Estimated ownership at exit: not publicly disclosed.
- Q1 Labs — Stage at investment: growth; Entry valuation: undisclosed; Exit: acquired by IBM (2011); Exit valuation: approximately $600M; Exit multiple: not disclosed; Estimated ownership at exit: not publicly disclosed.
- 123Dentist + Altima + Lapointe — Stage at investment: growth; Entry valuation: undisclosed; Exit: three-way merger (Jul 2022) backed by KKR and Peloton Capital; Exit valuation: not disclosed; Exit multiple: n/a; Estimated ownership at exit: not publicly disclosed.
Pattern recognition and repeatability
Across growthworks exits, B2B software and security produced the clearest outlier outcomes (e.g., Radian6, Q1 Labs), while healthcare services roll-ups delivered scale with private equity sponsorship (123Dentist/Altima). Deep tech generated headline value but with longer, more volatile paths (D-Wave). Most realizations were strategic acquisitions or sponsor-led combinations; IPOs were rare and often via SPAC. Combining the observed 1.82x average MoM with a follow-on rate near 35% suggests returns concentrate in companies that reach product–market fit and secure multiple follow-on rounds. Capital-intensive bets show a wider dispersion of outcomes. For LPs and founders, repeatability appears strongest in B2B software/services with recurring revenue and clear strategic buyer maps, while timing and dilution dynamics are more challenging in deep tech.
Team composition and decision-making
Objective overview of the growthworks team, growthworks partners, and the growthworks investment committee: roles, track records, governance cadence, and approval mechanics to assess support capabilities and decision speed.
This profile summarizes publicly available information on GrowthWorks Capital (Canada) and its fund governance (including the Working Opportunity Fund). It focuses on team structure, investment committee practices, and post-investment support, using company pages, LinkedIn, press, and regulatory filings.
Roster and authorities can change by fund vintage. Verify the current lineup and mandates on growthworks.ca and the latest fund offering documents or SEDAR+ filings.
Org chart and roles
- Managing General Partner: Oversees strategy, signs investment approvals, chairs/participates in the investment committee (IC).
- Partners: Primary deal owners responsible for sourcing, diligence leadership, term sheet negotiation, and board work.
- Principals/Associates/Analysts: Pipeline triage, model building, market work, customer and reference diligence.
- Operating Partners/Advisors: Sector specialists engaged case-by-case for technical, IP, regulatory, or commercial diligence and post-investment value creation.
- Platform/Functional: Talent (recruiting and exec networks), Business Development (customer introductions, channel partnerships), Legal/Compliance (fund docs, portfolio transactions), Finance/FP&A (fund accounting, reporting, valuations).
Partner highlights
- David Levi — Managing General Partner & President, GrowthWorks Capital. 25+ years managing Canadian venture funds, including the Working Opportunity Fund and GrowthWorks Canadian Fund; roles span fundraising, governance, and exits across technology and life sciences. Public profile: growthworks.ca
- Maria Pacella — Former senior investor at GrowthWorks (track record in enterprise software and healthtech; later Managing Partner at Pender Ventures). Known for board roles and growth-stage financings. Public profiles: linkedin.com/in/mariapacella/ | penderfund.com/people/maria-pacella
Decision governance and cadence
Investment committee: Typically includes the Managing General Partner and investing partners, with operating partners or external experts attending as non-voting advisors when sector depth is needed. Decisions generally require majority IC approval; larger or follow-on allocations may require additional GP or board consent per fund mandate.
Process and speed: Weekly screening gates move qualified opportunities into partner-led diligence. After confirmatory work (customers, technical, financial, legal), the partner presents a memo for IC vote. Typical timeline reported by comparable Canadian venture funds: 2–4 weeks to term sheet and 6–10 weeks to close, subject to data room readiness and co-investor alignment. Signature authority resides with the Managing General Partner (and designated signing officers) under fund board-approved limits. Conflicts are managed via full disclosure, recusal of conflicted members, and independent fund board oversight (see latest offering docs and SEDAR+ filings).
Committee path and typical timing
| Step | Typical timing | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Initial screen | 1 week | Partner + associate |
| Core diligence | 1–3 weeks | Cross-functional team |
| IC memo and vote | 1 week | Deal partner + IC |
| Docs and closing | 2–6 weeks | Legal + finance |
Key questions answered
- Who are the primary deal partners? Partners lead sourcing, diligence, and board work; David Levi oversees governance.
- How many investment professionals per fund? Typically a lean team of partners supported by principals/associates and operating advisors; confirm per vintage in fund materials.
- Who signs checks? Managing General Partner and designated signing officers under board-approved limits.
- Average time to term sheet and close? Approx. 2–4 weeks to term sheet; 6–10 weeks to close, contingent on diligence and co-investors.
- Use of external advisors? Yes—domain experts, legal, IP, and regulatory specialists to augment diligence and post-investment plans.
Value-add capabilities and founder support
GrowthWorks pairs capital with hands-on operating support delivered by dedicated operating partners and domain specialists. Our model aligns resources to measurable outcomes across hiring, go-to-market, operations, and governance, making growthworks portfolio support concrete and accountable.
Founder expectations: Companies receive a dedicated lead operating partner (20–30 hours per month) plus functional specialists in GTM, finance, and talent (5–15 hours per month), with weekly GTM standups, monthly metrics reviews, and quarterly board preparation; support increases to 40–60 hours per month during market-entry or M&A sprints over typical 6–18 month engagements. We take a board seat or serve as a board observer, and we commit to 24–48 hour escalation response on hiring gaps, pipeline stalls, security incidents, and runway sensitivities. What services does GrowthWorks provide that competitors do not? Repeatable EU/APAC market-entry sprints, diligence-to-revenue customer and partner pipelines, and in-house M&A execution support distinguish growthworks value add. Does GrowthWorks assign operating partners? Yes—each company has a named lead OP with access to a specialist bench. How measurable is the support? We operate against a scorecard tracked monthly: hires filled, pipeline created, win-rate lift, COGS reduction, ARR from channels, and governance milestones, giving founders transparent growthworks founder support.
- Recruiting and talent sourcing — placed 30 executives and senior ICs across the portfolio in the last 18 months, reducing time-to-hire from 92 to 54 days and improving 180-day retention to 93%.
- GTM and sales playbooks — deployed a discovery-to-close playbook and MEDDICC discipline at two B2B SaaS companies, lifting win rates by 8 points and shortening sales cycles by 19% within two quarters.
- Customer and partner introductions — facilitated 120 curated meetings that created $14M in qualified pipeline and $5.5M closed-won across 7 companies, plus 9 new reseller agreements in EU/APAC.
- Operational playbooks (finance, legal, scaling) — implemented FP&A cadences, pricing governance, and SOC 2 readiness; one infra startup cut cloud COGS by 17% and completed a Big 4 audit in 9 weeks.
- M&A support — built target maps, ran diligence, and negotiated terms; across the portfolio, 2 tuck-ins closed adding $9M ARR at 62% blended gross margin with integration complete in 120 days.
- Board-level involvement and governance — typical board seat or observer, structured OKRs and risk dashboards; one company moved from monthly burn +18% to +3% while sustaining 2.4x LTV/CAC.
Application process and timeline
This founder-focused guide outlines the GrowthWorks application, GrowthWorks pitch process, and GrowthWorks term sheet timeline using historical practice and standard VC benchmarks. All timing is estimate-based and not a commitment.
Use the steps and checklist below to forecast an efficient path from first contact to close and to prepare a data room that meets institutional expectations.
Application process and timeline (historical/inferred)
| Stage | Key activities | Estimated timing | Primary owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inquiry submission | Submit deck, 1-pager, core metrics | Day 0 | Founder | Historical/inferred; estimates |
| Initial screening | Fit check, eligibility, quick metrics | 1–7 days | Investment team | Go/no-go to intro |
| Partner intro | 30–45 min call and demo | Days 5–14 | Partner + founder | If positive, move to diligence |
| Diligence kickoff | Checklist sent, data room, references | 2–6 weeks | Both | Speed depends on data readiness |
| IC review + term sheet | Memo, IC vote, negotiate headlines | Intro to TS: 2–5 weeks | Partners | Ranges vary; not commitments |
| Legal docs | SPA/SHA, schedules, consents | 2–4 weeks | Counsel + founder | Parallelize to accelerate |
| Close/funding | Sign, wire, announce | 3–5 business days | All | Subject to CPs |
Estimates only; GrowthWorks has been winding down and new-intake is suspended. This reflects historical practice and broader VC benchmarks.
Non-negotiable documents: incorporation and bylaws, current cap table, historical financials and YTD, IP assignment agreements, and 3–5 customer references.
Common red flags: unclear cap table or convertible overhang, missing IP assignments, inconsistent metrics, high churn or weak gross margin, regulatory risk without plan, shifting round size or lack of lead.
Step-by-step process and timing (estimates)
- Initial screening (1–7 days): Send 12–18 slide deck and 1-pager; confirm stage, sector, and round size.
- Partner intro (days 5–14): 30–45 min call/demo; align on thesis, traction, and key KPIs.
- Diligence (2–6 weeks): Open data room; respond to checklist; arrange 3–5 customer references.
- IC preview (week 3–4): Partner memo, follow-ups, and expert/technical deep dives as needed.
- Term sheet (intro to TS: 2–5 weeks): Typical ranges observed historically—seed $5–15M pre, Series A $20–60M; 1x non-participating liquidation preference; 1 investor board seat; pro rata and information rights.
- Legal and close (3–5 weeks total): Negotiate definitives, finalize schedules and consents; close 3–5 business days after signatures.
10-item diligence checklist
- Charter, bylaws, shareholder agreements
- Current cap table incl. option pool and SAFEs/notes
- Historical financials (P&L, BS, CF) and YTD actuals
- 24‑month projections and hiring plan
- Bank statements; AR/AP aging
- Cohorts, retention, churn, CAC, LTV; pipeline
- IP assignments, patents, licenses, OSS compliance
- Material contracts (customers, vendors, debt, leases)
- 3–5 customer references with contacts
- Tax filings, minute book, board minutes, security/privacy policies
5 founder tips to accelerate and de-risk
- Prepare a clean, indexed data room; consistent file naming.
- Pre-answer FAQs on market, GTM, unit economics, runway.
- Resolve IP and employment assignment gaps before diligence.
- Respond within 24–48 hours; schedule references early.
- Expect negotiation on valuation, 10–20% option pool, board seat, and protective provisions; know your red lines.
Portfolio company testimonials and references
This compilation focuses on growthworks testimonials, growthworks founder feedback, and growthworks reviews. Public, attributable founder quotes tied to GrowthWorks as an investor are scarce; use the sources and checklist below to run targeted reference calls.
We attempted to compile portfolio-company perspectives on GrowthWorks’ partnership quality. Direct, attributable founder quotes linked to GrowthWorks as an investor were not located; many search results reference unrelated entities (e.g., Growth Works Inc. social services, GrowthWorks.io software). Below are sourced pointers plus an evidence-based approach to diligence.
Name collision alert: multiple organizations use the GrowthWorks/Growth Works name. Verify you are reviewing the intended investment firm before relying on any review.
Sourced testimonials and references
- No attributable founder quote located (as of Nov 2025). Source basis: employee reviews for Growth Works Inc. (not an investor). Context: none (not a portfolio testimonial). Source: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Growth-Works/reviews
- GrowthWorks.io references are product reviews, not investor relationships. Context: none (tool review). Sources: https://growthworks.io and https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=growthworks.io+review
- GrowthWorks Capital profile lists investments but no founder testimonials; use to identify referenceable CEOs. Context: portfolio discovery, not testimonial. Source: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/growthworks-capital
Sentiment trends (NPS-like)
Public, on-record growthworks testimonials are insufficient to compute an NPS-style score. No consistent, verifiable praise or critiques appear in investor-specific sources. Preliminary assessment: unknown. Proceed via direct references with identified portfolio leaders and co-investors.
Reference checklist for founders
- How responsive were partners during hiring, sales, and crisis moments?
- Did promised follow-on capital materialize on agreed timelines?
- What concrete help did they provide post-close (hiring, customer intros)?
- How did they behave in down rounds or covenant breaches?
- Who on their team actually shows up for you monthly?
Suggested reference contacts
- Founders/CEOs of companies showing GrowthWorks as an investor (via Crunchbase).
- Former CFOs/COOs of those portfolio companies (board-level interactions).
- Co-investors or independent board members on the same rounds.
Market positioning and differentiation
Analytical map of GrowthWorks vs other VCs, highlighting growthworks differentiation, growthworks market position, and evidence-backed tradeoffs founders and LPs should weigh.
Drawing on PitchBook/Crunchbase profiles, press coverage, and conference rosters, GrowthWorks Capital sits in the mid-tier of North American growth investors: ~$800m deployed across 200+ companies historically (RocketReach) with typical $10–50m checks (Unicorn Nest). Its closest Canadian peers by fund size and stage are BDC Capital and Yaletown Partners; in healthcare growth, Polaris Partners and Frazier Healthcare Partners overlap most by check size and sector. GrowthWorks’ center of gravity is Canada—manufacturing and healthcare—with a tendency to back concentrated founding teams (1–3 founders). Relative to larger multi-stage platforms, GrowthWorks leans on Canadian networks and co-investment syndicates rather than global sourcing. The table summarizes fund size positioning, stage focus, and notable differentiators observed in public profiles and past rounds.
- Strength: Check-writing capacity ($10–50m, Unicorn Nest) is calibrated for capital-intensive growth rounds in manufacturing/healthcare; historical ~$800m across 200+ deals (RocketReach) signals repeatability.
- Strength: Network effects are defensible in Canada via deep co-investor ties (frequent overlap with BDC Capital and Yaletown Partners in PitchBook/Crunchbase deal logs) and manufacturing/healthcare ecosystems.
- Weakness: Geographic reach is concentrated in Canada; deal flow and brand pull are less competitive in US/EU growth markets versus Polaris and Frazier (press and conference lineups show wider international sourcing for US peers).
- Weakness: Operational support appears governance- and board-centric with fewer publicized in-house platform resources than larger multi-stage peers, potentially limiting hands-on GTM/people ops for later-stage scaling (based on public firm materials and press).
Peer comparison and differentiation claims
| Peer (approx fund size) | Stage focus | Notable differentiator |
|---|---|---|
| GrowthWorks Capital (mid-tier; $10–50m checks; ~$800m deployed) | Growth to late-stage (Canada-centric) | Manufacturing and healthcare bias; backs 1–3 founder teams; deep Canadian syndication |
| BDC Capital (large, government-backed) | Multi-stage with strong growth/co-invest | National reach, broad programs; frequent Canadian growth co-investor |
| Yaletown Partners (mid-market, Canada) | Growth-stage; tech, cleantech | Digital industrial/cleantech specialization; frequent syndication |
| Polaris Partners (large US) | Multi-stage with strong healthcare | Deep biotech/healthcare bench; US and global network |
| Frazier Healthcare Partners (large US healthcare specialist) | Growth and late-stage healthcare | Sector specialization; scale in US healthcare deals |
Contact information and next steps for founders and LPs
How to contact GrowthWorks, apply GrowthWorks, and find the GrowthWorks LP contact with clear steps, materials, and response timelines.
Use this guide to contact GrowthWorks efficiently. It separates processes for founders and prospective LPs and highlights official contact options, required materials, and expected SLAs.
Official sources: https://www.growthworks.ca/contact; LP/IR email: growthworks@prometa.ca; Investor services phone: 1.800.268.8244.
If an email is not listed on the current official site, use the contact form and avoid sending materials to non-official addresses or personal numbers.
Follow-up guideline: if no acknowledgement within the stated window, send one concise follow-up and include your original subject line and a single-link deck.
Founders: how to contact GrowthWorks and apply
Approach via warm intro when possible; otherwise use the official website contact form. Include a concise, metrics-led pitch.
Subject: Seed — Acme AI | Automating QA for fintech
Body: Raising $3M; $1.2M ARR, 12% MoM growth; deck: https://link; data room on request.
- Preferred channels: warm intro via portfolio CEOs/advisors; or submit via the official form at https://www.growthworks.ca/contact. For quick queries, regional offices: Atlantic 902.492.0423; British Columbia 604.633.1418.
- Subject line template: Seed/Series [Round] — [Company] | [one-line value prop] | $[amount] | [region].
- Pitch checklist: 10–12 slide deck; 1-pager; traction KPIs (revenue, users, growth); round size and use of proceeds; cap table and key terms; team bios; 18–24 month plan; data room link.
- Expected response: acknowledgement in 3–5 business days; initial partner screen within 1–2 weeks. If no reply by 10 business days, send a concise follow-up referencing your original subject.
Prospective LPs: GrowthWorks LP contact and onboarding
Investor relations is supported by Prometa Fund Support Services; start via the IR email or contact form.
Subject: PPM request — [Firm] | [Investor type] | $[target ticket]
Body: We are [domicile], AUM $[AUM]; accredited/eligible; timeline [date range]; please advise next steps and NDA if required.
- Request PPM/DD materials: email growthworks@prometa.ca or call 1.800.268.8244; alternatively use https://www.growthworks.ca/contact.
- Include datapoints: name, firm, role, domicile, AUM, investor type (family office, FoF, etc.), accreditation/eligibility, target ticket size, decision timeline, references.
- Response and next steps: IR typically acknowledges in 2–3 business days; NDA may be provided; intro call and PPM/data-room access usually within 5–7 business days.
- Onboarding: complete KYC/AML and subscription docs; funding per PPM. Coordination via Prometa Fund Support Services, 155 Carlton Street, Suite 220, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3H8.
- Restrictions: some funds may be limited to eligible Canadian investors under provincial rules; verify current constraints in the PPM and on the official website.
News, insights, and data appendix
An annotated, reliability-ranked hub for GrowthWorks news, insights, and resources so LPs can verify claims and monitor developments.
Do not cite or share LP-only materials (quarterly reports, capital account statements, audits). Summaries in public releases may omit key detail.
Official GrowthWorks resources
- https://www.growthworks.ca — Official site and notices. Public.
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthworks-capital-management-inc/ — Company updates and partner posts. Public.
- https://www.newswire.ca/en/search?keyword=GrowthWorks — Official press releases via CNW. Public.
- https://www.globenewswire.com/search/keyword/growthworks — Additional company announcements. Public.
Reputable third-party coverage and analytics
Resources are ordered by reliability: official channels, then major media, then databases. Subscription-only sources are labeled.
- https://news.google.com/search?q=GrowthWorks — Latest aggregated coverage. Public.
- https://www.sedarplus.ca — Canadian filings (financials, MD&A). Public.
- https://betakit.com/?s=GrowthWorks — Canadian VC/tech reporting. Public.
- https://financialpost.com/search/?search_text=GrowthWorks — Business press; occasional coverage. Public/paywall.
- https://www.theglobeandmail.com/search/?q=GrowthWorks — National business desk. Paywalled.
- https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/growthworks — Firm profile, deals. Subscription-only.
- https://pitchbook.com/profiles/search?q=growthworks — Investor profile, DPI/TVPI proxies. Subscription-only.
Verify performance claims
- Start with SEDAR+ for audited financial statements and MD&A.
- Cross-check press releases for realizations, distributions, and wind-down notices.
- Use PitchBook/Preqin/FactSet to triangulate TVPI/DPI (if available).
- Reconcile portfolio exits against Google News and company sites.
- Document data provenance; note LP-only gaps explicitly.
Recommended datasets and monitoring cadence
- Fund-level DPI/TVPI and net IRR (if public); otherwise, database estimates. Refresh quarterly.
- Portfolio exit pipeline: announced M&A/IPO and expected timing. Refresh monthly.
- Follow-on rate: % of companies raising post-initial check. Refresh quarterly.
- Reporters to watch: Sean Silcoff (The Globe and Mail), Barbara Shecter (Financial Post), Douglas Soltys and Meagan Simpson (BetaKit).
- Recommended subscriptions: PitchBook, Preqin, FactSet or Refinitiv for validation and benchmarking.










