News & Stories
Non-Disclosures (NDAs), Minefield or Just a Minor Document? A Field Guide for Angel Investors, Entrepreneurs and Business Advisory
Over many years of working with, or considering working with, many companies both minor and major, I have encountered a plethora of NDAs landing on my laptop, with the sender’s annotation that please sign this NDA, it’s just a standard form document. However, I have...
Competing on the World Stage: What Angels, Entrepreneurs, and Olympians Have in Common
As we watch the world’s greatest athletes compete on the Olympic stage this summer, it’s hard not to draw parallels between elite sport and the world of entrepreneurship and early-stage investing. The athletes we admire are not simply gifted — they are disciplined,...
Fourteen Things We Can Improve in 2026 — Reflections for Angel Investors and Innovation Entrepreneurs in Ontario
Introduction: A Year That Demanded Honesty 2025 was one of those years that forced honesty on Ontario’s innovation ecosystem. After attending dozens of angel meetings, pitch events, incubator demos, accelerator showcases, policy roundtables, and investor forums —...
Wait… Who Owns Our Data? Why the US May Access Information Stored on Canadian Soil — and What We Should Do About It.
I’m confused — and I suspect I’m not alone. Can the U.S. government force a U.S. corporation to provide access to data stored in a foreign country — say, a Canadian company’s data sitting on a server in Toronto — simply because the data centre is owned by a...
Building Canada Strong — and How AIO Plays Its Part
Canada’s new federal Budget sets out a bold agenda: making capital investments a national priority, building resilience against global shocks, and ensuring that Canadians are empowered with skills, opportunity, and a competitive economy. The document states that...
Broadening the Tent: Unlocking Early-Stage Capital through Smarter Investor Access. The US Passes Bill to let an Exam Determine if Investor is Accredited.
In today’s economy, startups are not just launching businesses—they’re launching the future. Yet one critical ingredient remains in short supply: early-stage risk capital. As angel investors and entrepreneurs across Ontario know all too well, the journey from ideation...
Executive Chair’s Update
1) National Expansion of the Self-Certified Investor (SCI) Program Expands Annual Investment Cap to $50,000. We’re pleased to report that the OSC’s Self-Certified Investor (SCI) pathway has advanced to a Canada-wide unilateral instrument, enabling eligible investors...
Ontario’s Innovation Future Hangs in the Balance – A Call to Action for Canada’s Startup Ecosystem
This may be the most important message I’ve written as Chair of Angel Investors Ontario (AIO). For nearly two decades, AIO has been the backbone of Ontario’s early-stage innovation ecosystem. Our investors have personally funded over $800 million into our innovation...
10 Inspirational Startup Quotes Every Angel Investor Should Bookmark – And the Lessons They Hold for Ontario’s Startup Ecosystem
As angel investors, we aren’t just providing capital — we’re betting on people, timing, and potential. But what separates the good investments from the great ones? Often, it’s less about the pitch and more about the execution, mindset, and team dynamics behind it. ...
What Ontario Entrepreneurs Should Know about Engaging with Angel Investors: A Founder’s Guide to First Conversations and a Companion FAQ.
Ontario’s angel investor community plays a critical role in funding and mentoring early-stage companies. With over a dozen active not-for-profit angel groups in the province—each with formal intake processes, volunteer screening committees, and close adherence to...
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If the idea of joining a community of professionals and industry leaders, investing in innovative start-ups, and providing mentorship to promising entrepreneurs interests you, click below to explore your nearest angel group.
Interested in becoming an Angel?
If the idea of joining a community of professionals and industry leaders, investing in innovative start-ups, and providing mentorship to promising entrepreneurs interests you, click below to explore your nearest angel group.