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Last week, we marked a major milestone in the movement to democratize private markets in Canada—FrontFundr’s 10-Year Anniversary. It was more than just a celebration; it was a reflection of how far we’ve come together as a community of founders, investors, and changemakers shaping the future of funding and investing in Canada’s startup ecosystem.
Held in Toronto, the evening was a vibrant tribute to the collective energy, belief, and action that have powered FrontFundr since our very first investment in 2015.
Celebrating a Decade of Impact
We kicked off the evening by celebrating 10 years of progress:
But the real story lies in the people. From early believers to bold founders and passionate community investors, our journey has always been about more than capital—it’s about access, empowerment, and ownership.
In a candid and powerful conversation, our Founder & CEO Peter-Paul Van Hoeken sat down with Joe Canavan, the 2025 NACO Angel of the Year, to unpack the evolving world of angel investing and what it takes to build meaningful impact through capital.
A few standout takeaways:
The night continued with a high-energy panel moderated by Kate Grant of Fasken, featuring Maxwell Nicholson (Blossom), Christian Alicpala (HOVR), and Trieste Reading (FrontFundr). Together, they explored how startups can turn their users into co-owners—and why community capital is changing the way companies grow.
The conversation emphasized that a mission-aligned, authentic community is the foundation for any successful raise. “To be successful with this form of funding, it's so important to have a community—and to have an authentic community,” said Trieste.
Max shared how Blossom raised $1.93M almost entirely through their waiting list, while Christian highlighted the groundswell of support from HOVR drivers who wanted ownership in the platform they helped build.
The panel also explored how community investors can become a company’s most powerful advocates—and how founder authenticity, transparency, and timing all play critical roles in building trust and momentum.
Key takeaways from the panel:
To close the evening, we honoured three companies that exemplify the very best of community-powered growth:
🏆 Sheringham Distillery – Sustainable Future Award
A model of triple-bottom-line excellence. From award-winning gin to green business certifications, Sheringham raised $1.2M while keeping people, planet, and profit at the core.
🏆 HOVR – Equity for Everyone Award
A startup rewriting the rideshare rules by giving drivers real ownership. Their campaign brought equity into the hands of the very people powering their platform.
🏆 Blossom Social – Equity Icon Award
A trailblazer in retail investing, Blossom’s lightning-fast raise broke national records. With 250,000+ users and a mission-driven approach, they’re proving that retail investors are here to stay.
As we toasted to the future, one theme echoed loud and clear: community capital isn’t a trend—it’s the future of investing.
None of this would be possible without our incredible community and the partners who’ve backed us along the way. A huge thank you to all of our event sponsors:
💼 Event Sponsors: Fasken, Potomac Growth, Western Pacific Trust Company, HRU MIC, and Become. Media
🍸 Bar Sponsors: Proxies (currently live on FrontFundr) and Collective Arts (launching soon!)
To our team—across both offices—our volunteers, speakers, partners, and every founder and investor in the room: thank you. Your belief in what we’re building is what powers our mission.
Here’s to the next 10 years of democratizing access to capital—together. 🎉
Giving everyone access to early-stage startup investing.
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