Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association

The CVCA is the trade association for Canada's private capital industry, representing hundreds of venture capital and private equity firms, institutional limited partners, and service providers. It publishes the authoritative quarterly and annual data on VC and PE deployment, fundraising, and exits in Canada. It also advocates for the industry on tax and regulatory policy in Ottawa and provincial capitals, and hosts the annual Invest Canada conference.

No. The CVCA is a membership organization and advocacy body, not a fund manager or allocator. It does not make investments, manage LP commitments, or operate any investment vehicles. Members include the GPs and LPs who do deploy capital, and the CVCA's role is to represent their collective interests and publish industry data.

Member firms span the full range of Canadian private capital, including major venture funds, mid-market and large-cap buyout firms, growth equity managers, fund-of-funds, corporate venture arms, and large institutional limited partners such as pension funds. Service providers including law firms, consultants, and placement agents are also represented within the membership.

The CVCA releases quarterly and annual reports tracking venture capital and private equity activity across Canada, including deal counts, dollar volumes, fundraising totals, exit activity by type, and geographic distribution. This data is widely referenced by institutions allocating to Canadian private capital and by government bodies evaluating program effectiveness.

The association maintains an active government affairs presence in Ottawa, focusing on tax incentives for innovation investment, securities regulation harmonization, and federal co-investment programs such as the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative. It also engages with provincial governments where securities regulation and local investment incentives differ.