OMERS Ventures is a North American venture capital firm founded in 2014 and based in Toronto, with offices in New York and Palo Alto. It is part of OMERS, which has managed retirement assets for more than 600,000 municipal employees in Canada for over six decades. The firm’s mission is to help founders build companies that make a positive impact. OMERS Ventures focuses on early-stage technology firms, typically investing US$5 million to US$25 million in Series A through Series C rounds.
As an active partner, the firm draws on the wider OMERS network to provide strategic advice on growth, product positioning and organizational processes. The portfolio spans financial services technology, health care platforms, vertical business software and artificial intelligence, reflecting a commitment to practical solutions for market challenges. Notable investments include Hootsuite, Shopify, Wattpad and Vidyard.
OMERS Ventures integrates environmental, social and governance guidelines into its process, aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. It has supported clean technology ventures such as Crux, which facilitates financing for energy and manufacturing projects, and Deep Sky, a carbon removal developer. The broader OMERS platform further invests in battery recycling through Redwood Materials, advanced battery materials through Group14 Technologies and renewable energy and storage projects in multiple regions.
Investment teams engage in operational reviews, share best practices and arrange introductions to global markets. This hands-on approach has helped portfolio companies secure follow-on funding and establish leadership positions within their industries. Teams from OMERS Ventures also open doors to collaboration with other portfolio companies, potential customers and industry experts. Each investment includes regular checkpoints to review progress, share market insights and plan for subsequent growth rounds.
