From InBC’s Chief Investment Officer, Thomas Park:
Today, InBC and the University of British Columbia announce the UBC Catalyst Ventures Fund. Our goal is to help more UBC-affiliated companies move from research to real world impact, and to grow here in British Columbia.
Since joining InBC, I have met many founders whose ideas began in university labs or classrooms across Canada. Their talent, especially in B.C., is remarkable. What they often lacked was early growth financing and the kind of support that helps a breakthrough become a company. Too many felt pressure to leave B.C. just to find the capital they needed.
This fund aims to change that.
Why This Fund Matters
The UBC Catalyst Ventures Fund reflects a simple idea.
Public purpose capital, used strategically, can:
- Attract more private investment into B.C.
- Accelerate the path from research to commercialization
- Keep companies, talent and intellectual property anchored in the province
- Strengthen B.C.’s long term economic resilience
UBC and InBC are each contributing $10 million, and the fund is now raising additional private capital. This blended model is intentional. It aligns with our strategy to mobilize more investment into the sectors where British Columbia already has global strength.
A Strong Foundation to Build On
UBC’s record speaks for itself.
To date, UBC has generated:
- Nearly 300 spin offs
- Significant licensed discoveries
- An estimated $13 billion in revenue from those discoveries
Few research institutions in Canada have this scale or impact. The Catalyst Ventures Fund builds on that momentum and expands B.C.’s capacity to move ideas into the market. It ensures these spin-off companies and the jobs they create will stay in the province.
Focus Areas Where B.C. Can Lead
The fund will begin by investing in:
- Life sciences
- Deep tech
These fields combine scientific depth with long term growth potential. They also reflect areas where B.C. is already competitive internationally and where the province sees strategic economic opportunity.
Supporting these sectors helps founders, but it also strengthens B.C.’s long term economic foundation.
Anchoring Companies and Talent in B.C.
At its core, this fund is about anchoring.
Anchoring means:
- Companies can grow from B.C. and stay here
- Talent sees a future in this province
- Intellectual property remains rooted in the local economy
- High quality jobs are created and sustained in B.C.
- Economic benefits cycle back into B.C. communities
When founders have reasons to stay, the entire ecosystem benefits.
Looking Ahead
I am proud of this partnership with UBC. It shows what is possible when public institutions, researchers, and private investors work together. It also demonstrates the strength of B.C.’s research base and what can happen when we match that strength with strategic investment.
This fund is not just about supporting individual companies. It is about shaping the future of B.C.’s innovation economy and creating opportunities that will benefit the province for decades.
If you are building a company connected to UBC, or you are an investor interested in contributing to B.C.’s economic future, our team would be glad to connect.
— Tom
Connect with the InBC team:
I am a UBC-affiliated company | I am an investor interested in the fund
Quotes:
“British Columbia is home to world-class research and development, and this fund will accelerate the growth of university-related innovations. We are proud to partner with UBC, one of Canada’s largest research-intensive universities. This partnership aligns with our goal to attract more capital to B.C. and scale more businesses, anchoring them here to generate economic and jobs growth in the province.”
— Thomas Park, Chief Investment Officer, InBC Investment Corp.
“As co-lead investors, UBC and InBC are working together toward this unique academic public-private partnership to anchor and grow companies in B.C. and further the impact of UBC’s research and innovation in the province, across Canada and beyond. One of UBC’s strategic goals is to partner for purpose to generate economic and social impact, and this partnership is a perfect example of what we can do by working together.”
— Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia
“Since spinning out from UBC and leaving campus in 2017, Aspect Biosystems has grown to a team of over 130, raised more than US$350 million, and developed an industry-leading tissue therapeutic platform. We are deeply committed to continuing to grow here in B.C., and it’s fantastic to see this new fund from InBC and UBC that will help more companies like Aspect scale and innovate here at home.”
— Tamer Mohamed, Founder and CEO, Aspect Biosystems
“Some of the most impactful businesses in North America have begun at UBC. Access to capital is as competitive as ever, and it’s vital that we find new ways to support these innovative companies to grow, create jobs and stay right here at home in B.C. UBC and InBC’s initiative, representing one of the largest government investments of its kind in Canada, works in parallel with our Look West strategy, supporting a stronger, more resilient and more diverse economy that everyone in B.C. will benefit from.”
— Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth