White Star Capital raises $70 mln VC fund anchored by BDC

White Star Capital, a venture capital firm with offices in London, New York and Montréal, has secured US$70 million for its first institutional fund. BDC Capital was the anchor investor in the fund. Founded by Canadian-born Managing Partner Eric Martineau-Fortin, White Star is focused on deploying between $500,000 and $5 million to initial investments in early-stage technology companies in North America and Western Europe. Among its recent deals, the firm in May led a $6 million Series A financing of mnubo, an Internet-of-Things data analytics company based in Montréal. Canadian venture capital firm McRock Capital also invested in the round.

PRESS RELEASE

White Star Capital reaches final close on first institutional fund to back ambitious entrepreneurs across the Atlantic

White Star Capital has already deployed $25 million into companies such as robotic locksmith KeyMe in New York, IoT predictive analytics firm mnubo in Montreal and financial exchange Cryex in Stockholm

London, New York and Montreal, 13 November, 2015 — White Star Capital, a transatlantic Venture Capital fund with offices in London, New York and Montreal, is pleased to announce the close of its first institutional fund with $70 million in Limited Partner commitments.

White Star Capital will deploy between $500,000 and $5 million in initial investments into companies in North America and Western Europe. The team believes in the power of data, the ubiquity of mobile and the value of networks and is convinced that there has never been a better time to start a technology company and achieve global scale.

This first institutional fund is primarily backed by sovereign and institutional funds supported by entrepreneurs and family offices from over 18 markets.

White Star was co-founded by Eric Martineau-Fortin, an experienced technology M&A banker, and Christian Hernandez Gallardo, a former Facebook executive. Jean-François Marcoux, the co-founder of gaming company Ludia, joins Eric and Christian and a team of experienced former entrepreneurs, who have founded scaled and exited businesses. With this new institutional fund, the Partners wish to continue to identify and back ambitious entrepreneurs with global ambitions.

“We are thankful for the support we have received from our Limited Partners in North America and Western Europe, and our peer funds, in evolving White Star Capital from our personal investment vehicle into an established transatlantic VC fund. We have built an investment team that can borrow from our combined operational expertise to support our entrepreneurs as they scale globally,” stated Eric Martineau-Fortin, co-founder and Managing Partner of White Star Capital.

“The ability to create and scale world-class companies is now a global phenomenon; we founded White Star Capital to partner with ambitious entrepreneurs from established tech hubs like London and New York, and from fast-emerging clusters like Montreal and Berlin. We see ourselves as active partners to the entrepreneurs we back and will deploy funding, but also add our experience and global network to allow them to succeed in their ambitions,” added Christian Hernandez Gallardo, co-founder and Managing Partner of White Star Capital.

“BDC Capital is proud to be the anchor investor in White Star Capital,” said Jérôme Nycz, Executive Vice President, BDC Capital. “We always look to support world-class teams of experienced operators and White Star is best positioned to identify, back and actively help entrepreneurs reach new international markets. Their performance to date showcases the strength of their business model and we look forward to our continued partnership with the team.”

About White Star Capital

White Star Capital is an early-stage Venture Capital firm investing in exceptional entrepreneurs who are building the iconic companies of tomorrow. With offices in London, New York and Montreal and a team with deep operational expertise, we partner closely with the teams we back to help them scale globally. Find out more at www.whitestar.vc or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

Key PR contact

Suzannah Archibald, Ballou PR for White Star Capital
+44 (0)203 735 8756
WhiteStar@BallouPR.com

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