Celebrating milestone impact while advancing global pathways for Canadian agri-tech innovators
Guelph, Ontario — March 5, 2026 — Bioenterprise Canada and SVG Ventures | THRIVE are marking five years of collaboration and announcing an expanded strategic commitment to accelerate Canadian agri-tech innovation and commercialization.
Since formalizing the partnership in 2021, the two organizations have connected high-potential Canadian ventures with global investment networks, commercialization expertise, and strategic industry partners, elevating Canada’s presence within the global agri-food and climate technology ecosystem.
Over the past five years, THRIVE Canada has accelerated 153 startups across 10 provinces and invested in 21, most recently through deployments from The SVG Ventures Pioneer Fund. Alumni companies have raised more than $242 million and created thousands of jobs nationwide. Through its global platform spanning investors, corporates, and innovation hubs in over 100 countries, THRIVE has built one of the world’s most active agri-food innovation networks.
During that same period, Bioenterprise Canada has funded and supported more than 375 innovation projects and distributed over $35 million in project funding, helping companies advance commercialization, access new markets, and build Canada’s agri-tech capacity. Through Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, Bioenterprise connects more than 1,200 members and partners nationwide, including innovators, industry leaders, investors, producers, researchers, and service partners.
This next phase of collaboration builds on that momentum. By aligning programming, advisory services, investor engagement, and national and international market pathways, Bioenterprise and THRIVE will deepen support for ventures developing high-impact, climate-smart, performance-driven solutions across Canada’s agriculture value chain.
“At THRIVE, we’ve always believed in the power of strong partnerships to transform the future of food and agriculture,” says John Cassidy, Managing Director of THRIVE Canada. “Our expanded collaboration with Bioenterprise reinforces Canada’s agri-food innovation ecosystem by aligning global investment networks with commercialization expertise to help Canadian agri-food technologies scale, enhance competitiveness, and deliver measurable environmental and economic impact.”
As global food systems face growing pressure to reduce emissions, strengthen trade resilience, and improve productivity, Canadian agri-tech companies are playing an increasingly important role. This expanded collaboration positions both organizations to better coordinate capital, mentorship, and commercialization infrastructure in support of founders navigating growth and scale.
“For more than two decades, Bioenterprise has worked at the intersection of innovation, capital, and commercialization. Through The Engine, we’ve supported hundreds of high-potential ventures in scaling technologies to build the sector and drive Canada’s economy,” says Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise Canada. “THRIVE brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to accelerating innovation. Together, our complementary strengths will empower Canadian startups tackling agriculture’s most urgent challenges.”
Joint activities will focus on maximizing outcomes for Canadian ventures through coordinated programming, strategic networking, referrals, investment readiness mentorship, and enhanced access to domestic and international capital markets. The strengthened partnership reinforces a shared long-term vision: ensuring Canadian agri-tech innovators can compete and lead on a global stage.
About Bioenterprise Canada
Bioenterprise is Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, the country’s leading agri-tech alliance, uniting innovators, partners, and investors to drive groundbreaking agri-food innovation. By providing market intelligence, mentorship, and funding, Bioenterprise bridges cutting-edge research to commercial success, helping agri-food innovations scale nationally and globally. Through its team of agri-food industry experts and Innovation Advisors, The Engine is dedicated to helping small- and medium-sized agri-food businesses connect, innovate, and grow.
About SVG Ventures | THRIVE
SVG Ventures | THRIVE is a leading agri-food innovation and investment platform globally headquartered in Silicon Valley, with its Canadian headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, and comprised of top agriculture, food, and technology corporations, universities, and investors. With a global community of more than 15,000 startups across over 100 countries, SVG invests, accelerates, and creates unparalleled access for entrepreneurs to scale globally and solve the biggest challenges facing the food and agriculture industries. SVG’s corporate innovation program works with Fortune 1000 corporations to transform their businesses, accelerate growth, and drive innovation priorities.