Accelerating growth
in AI startups
Excelsior.vc is a venture capital firm that invests in fast-growing AI software companies in Canada.
Investment Focus
We invest in fintech, deep tech, platform tech, no code tech…yes, pretty much anything with an AI software tech focus!
We’re industry agnostic and we invest at the pre-seed and seed stages. We also make follow on investments in Series A financing rounds.
We don’t invest at the idea stage or at the pre-revenue stage. And we only invest in startup companies based in Canada.
Our Companies
We believe in partnering with visionary entrepreneurs who are solving complex problems and building cutting-edge products and services using the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other emerging technologies. The companies below represent the investments Mark led and made at Sprout Funds I and II and on his own.
Our Process
Step 1
Our investing process starts with you submitting your investor presentation here on our website. Don’t email it to us, please fill out our form on this website. We’ll review your deck and respond by either passing on the opportunity to invest (and we’ll tell you why) or scheduling a zoom call to talk with you about your company and vision.
Step 2
If we’re interested in moving forward, we’ll do due diligence in your data room, talk with some customers and references, and write up an investment memo. Then if we decide to invest, we’ll negotiate the terms, sign the legal documents, and wire the funds to your bank account.
Step 3
After that, the real work starts! We’ll help you continue to grow your company and raise follow-on funding to take your company onward and upward. We will meet with you on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on your preference.
Step 4
From start to finish, it could take as little as a month and as long as three to four months. However, our ongoing relationship with you will likely last 5-10 years or longer, so make sure we’re the right partner for you!
Mark Benning is the Founder and Managing Partner of Excelsior.
Mark previously founded and was a general partner with Sprout Fund I and Sprout Fund II. Before Sprout, Mark founded and led four investor-backed software startups as CEO over 20 years in Silicon Valley, California. He has an MBA from Stanford focused on venture investing and entrepreneurial leadership and a Harvard AB in Economics. Between Harvard and Stanford, Mark played professional ice hockey in Europe and traveled around the world. As an experienced entrepreneur and successful investor, Mark is ready to help propel your startup onward and upward!