MaRS Innovation

About The Fund

MaRS Innovation (MI) is a non-profit venture capital firm that represents a collective of Toronto's leading academic institutions. They act on behalf of their members which include 14 top universities, institutions, and research institutes, as well as the MaRS Discovery District. They focus on transforming promising research breakthroughs into commercially viable products and companies. MI's investment strategy centers on extreme early-stage seed investing, showing a strong commitment to nurturing innovative ideas from their inception. While their activities are based in Toronto, Canada, the impact of their investments reaches both national and international markets. The firm was founded in 2008 with a vision to bridge the gap between innovation originating from academic research and market application. Through equity investments and leveraging the scientific foundations from their member institutions, MI aims to propel technological advancements within the Information Technology and related TMT industries. Their role includes identifying high-potential research projects, providing the necessary venture capital, and guiding these emerging technologies through to market readiness, aligning with their belief in empowering innovators and supporting early through merging stage ventures. They emphasize a hands-on approach to mentorship and development, working closely with founders to build robust, successful businesses that reflect the cutting-edge research they originate from.