Emmertech

Emmertech was built from an industry-first approach, with investors being some of Canada’s most innovative farmers, agribusiness owners and agriculturally-centered financial institutions. With proper access to early stage venture capital, Canada has become a global leader in agriculture innovation.

Emmertech has thrown out the Canadian playbook when it comes to venture capital, and rebuilt a new investment approach to fit the world of agtech. Agtech requires companies that can build highly reliable products that deliver an immediate return on investment to the farm and, as a result, they need investors to bet bigger and earlier then we typically see in the tech space. This is exactly what Emmertech plans to do – when we find a company we want to invest in, we’re going to invest big. Emmertech investments will mean more products are released to market that add significant value to the farm with a high degree of reliability.

The Fund is also a founding partner, alongside Cultivator powered by Conexus and Economic Development Regina, in the Agtech Accelerator. Through an accelerator program that runs once a year, selected companies will have access to resources, programming and funding they need to help them scale. The Agtech Accelerator is venture-capital backed by Emmertech, meaning each Canadian company selected to participate in the yearly cohort has the opportunity to receive an equity investment at intake – a first for an accelerator in Saskatchewan and Canada. Learn more about the Agtech Accelerator including how to apply here.

The need for agtech venture capital investment in Canada

We’re looking to invest in Canadian agtech companies from “farm to fork”, with a special focus “where technology meets the farm”, including:

Agribusiness marketplaces: trading platforms, online procurement, leasing, etc.
Farm software, sensing and IoT: Ag data capture, predictive analytics, etc.
Farm robotics, mechanization and equipment: machinery, automation, drones, etc.
Products in the physical world: novel fertilizers, biologicals, etc.
Midstream: storage, food safety & traceability, logistics, transport, etc.
Other: fintech, SaaS for farmers, etc.

We predominantly look for seed stage companies and will also look at Series A and B opportunities. A company must have commercial revenue.

Emmertech brings together key ag leaders from across Canada that believe Canadian agtech will flourish in smaller ecosystems. Investors of the fund are critical players and stakeholders in Canadian agriculture, ranging from farmers with boots on the ground and agribusiness to ag-focused insurance companies and specialty lenders & insurers anchored in agricultural communities. We are also proudly supported by Innovation Saskatchewan with a $15M commitment to the fund and ongoing support.

The fund is managed and operated by Conexus Venture Capital Inc. (CVC). Meet the team below.

In 2019, Sean launched CVC’s first venture capital fund, CVC Fund #1, with a $32 million final close. CVC has deployed capital into 14 companies through since launch, and the Fund’s investment metrics have been tracking top quartile to date.

Prior to Conexus, Sean was SVP Partnerships and an early investor in Grow Technologies Inc. (acquired by ATB), where he helped launch and guide the tech startup to become a highly successful Canadian enterprise software company.

Sean holds a degree in Finance and International Business from McGill.

Sean O'Connor - Managing Director

Kyle joined Conexus Venture Capital Inc. in 2021 and helps manage both CVC Fund #1 and Emmertech.

Prior to Conexus, Kyle was a Vice President with Clairvest Group Inc., where he led the firm's agriculture investment strategy. Kyle was also an Engagement Manager with McKinsey & Company where he led projects in private equity due diligence, and strategy and operations serving clients around the world.

Kyle began his career with KPMG Advisory in Regina and has

owned / invested in his own businesses for the past 10 years. Kyle holds an HBA and MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.

Kyle Scott - Managing Director