Blakes upRound March Edition: Insights for Venture Investors and Emerging Companies

Blakes Emerging Companies & Venture Capital (EC&VC) group has released its March edition of Blakes upRound, a publication that highlights legal developments relevant to venture investors and emerging companies. The group, with lawyers in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Montréal, provides transactional and ongoing legal assistance to dynamic emerging companies in Canada and venture investors from Canada, the United States, and beyond.

In this edition, readers can expect insights on how to leverage intellectual property, potential online content regulations, comprehensive guidelines for compliance with fintech and payments regulations, and more. Paul Ciriello also shares his thoughts on the market for venture capital in 2024, noting a strong focus on seed stage, AI, cybersecurity, and data-driven businesses in Q1.

The legal update section covers topics such as the Online Harms Act, cybersecurity trends, FinTech and Payments Guidelines, fund formation and investment trends, and the use of Artificial Intelligence in financial institutions. The Q&A with Paul Ciriello provides further insights into the venture capital market in 2024, highlighting the transition to a new tech and investment cycle.

The deal monitor section showcases the bright spots in the Canadian venture and growth equity market, particularly in health care and biotechnology. Notable transactions include Aspect Biosystems’ partnership with Novo Nordisk and other significant investments in biotech companies.

Overall, the market remains relatively slow at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, but there is hope for an increase in investment activity as interest rates are expected to decline. The Blakes EC&VC group continues to provide valuable insights and support to the emerging company ecosystem, offering guidance on legal matters and market developments.