Apply to Pitch

Pre-seed and SEED Investment-ready entrepreneurs can submit an application to pitch the CAN Membership. Members meet three companies at monthly member meetings eight times a year.

Outside of the formal process CAN provides opportunites for founders to meet with CAN investors twice a year. Capital MASHUP - Celebrating Founders and Their Champions and CANLABS - Raising Momentum & Expectations have a solid track record for elevating and amplifying founders raising capital.

Submit an Application

CAN Programming - MASHUP & CANLABS

Start early - fast track investor relationships

Founders getting ready for a pre-seed investment launch can get their round launch polished and ventures under the lenses of investors by applying to the MASHUP Pitch Competition and the CANLABS Masterclass Hybrid Series cohort, each held annually.

Applications for CANLABS run Sep through October & MASHUP March - April each year.

Apply to a CAN Program

See FAQs below.

CAN breaks for July, August & December. Key dates for upcoming meetings:

Submit an Application

2026 Calendar with Meeting Dates and Application Deadlines

Angel investing is a team sport

As founders move through the CAN selection process, they will receive emails via the Dealum platform with tips for a successful process. If you have a champion investor from CAN, another angel group, or within the ecosystem, work with them to develop your social capital and expand your investor network via warm introductions. Be sure to mention your champion when applying for funding and referrals are your superpower. Don't be shy to ask the CAN ED and your investors for referrals to other groups and VCs to speed up your round.

Next Opportunity to find your champion at CAN

Tips to succeed

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Build relationships

Finding champions

CAN provides opportunities to engage outside of formal member meetings. Members are active as mentors and advisors in local and national accelerators.

You can also meet CAN investors and Selection Committee members at Invest Ottawa's Accelerate OTT, StartupFest Montreal, Elevate Festival Toronto, TiECon Canada and SaaS North Ottawa.

Meaningful engagement

Capital MASHUP

CAN hosts an annual mini-festival and pitch competition called Capital MASHUP. This is a great way to meet CAN members (family offices, VCs, non dilutive funders, angels) and partners in a vibey and casual happy hour environment. MASHUP has grown each year, elevating the original 'pitch in a loud pub' vibe to THE place to be with an award winning DJ, and a day of meaningful exchanges and relationship building opportunities.

MASHUP sells out fast and some elements have limited capacity.

Learn about the THEFirst50 List

Meaningful engagement

CANLABS - Raising Expectations & Momentum

In November each year CAN investors and experts deliver a four week investment ready hybrid masterclass series. CANLABS closes with an in person boutique summit with a founder to investor ratio of 2:1.

The program includes opportunities for 1:1 expert and investor sessions, and topic round tables. Content focuses on round momentum strategies, unspoken tips for succeess and deal crushing red flags and missteps to avoid.

Meaningful engagement

IWM Women Angel Investor Breakfast & TechTuesday Women's Pitchfest

CAN and SheBoot, in partnership with Invest Ottawa (IO) kick off International Women’s Month in Ottawa with a Women Angel Investor Breakfast. The boutique event attracts seasoned and emerging / curious investors. The breakfast is known as a forum for interactive, thought-provoking discussion around the startup/investment ecosystem. Each year real-world stories from both sides of the investment table are shared.

For the past two years CAN has partnered with Wesley Clover, L-SPARK, and SheBoot to take over the TechTuesday stage with a Celebrating Women Pitchfest. This is a prime time slot to celebrate the founder chops of women.

Investment FAQs

Application

How can I apply for CAN investment?

CAN, like most Ontario Angel Groups, host their Dealrooms on the Dealum Platform. To be considered Founders can complete their profiles by the 25th of the month preceding the Member Meeting they're aiming to present at.

CAN Members meet to consider selected company investments monthly September through November and January through May.

Fit

Who should apply?

Capital Angel Network typically invests in tech / tech enabled businesses with a minimal viable product (MVP), and /or traction indicators with potential to become a $100M company at scale - or to deliver strong returns at an early exit. Traction indicators and market signals vary within industry verticals and this is taken into consideration.

Submit an Application

Where does CAN invest?

CAN's investment geographical investment area is mainly along the Innovation Corridor - Montreal through Waterloo - with a focus on the Gatineau, Ottawa and Kanata region. The group has portfolio companies coast to coast.

Most Member Investment Meetings are in person, and a digital presentation is possible in January and February.

Read about Portfolio

Founders

CAN's track record

How much does CAN invest?

Capital Angel Network is one of Canada's most active angel groups.

Our members have invested over $41M in early stage startups in the the past five years alone - double the investment of the previous five years

$77M has been invested since the group was formed in 2010.

The average investment size ranges from year to year from $100K to $200K, but historically has varied from $50,000 to $2M for later stage portfolio companies.

What is CAN's diversity track record?

Well ahead of the National average, 69% of initial CAN investments were placed with startups founded / co-founded by women ceos in 2025. This is a trend line and advantage at CAN. 48% of all CAN investment rounds were signed with women

Our membership includes over 60 angels, super angels, VCs, family offices and Corporate member seats with deep expertise.

37% of our members include at least one woman. This is THE driver to raising the diversity bar as our Due Diligence discussions have more depth and perspective with diverse voices at the table.

In 2020 CAN subscribed to the 30-50 Challenge. The initiative of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada working in conjunction with business and diversity organizations aims to give all Canadians a seat at the table.

Since 2023 CANhas consistently met the challenge goals.

30-50 Challenge Goals:

Gender Parity on Candian Boards and or in senior management
Significant representation (30%) on Candian Boards and or in senior management of other equity deserving groups