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Redbrick Technologies
Tobias Lütke's permanent-capital investment firm backs concentrated technology bets including Wealthsimple, Clio, and North from Victoria, BC.
Redbrick Technologies
Redbrick Technologies launched in 2011 as the private investment vehicle for Shopify founder Tobias Lütke and operator Rian Gauvreau, deploying capital generated from Shopify's rise into a concentrated portfolio of technology companies. The firm operates with a permanent-capital base, eschewing outside limited partners and standard fund lifecycles, which allows it to hold positions through market cycles without redemption pressure. Redbrick invests across stages, from early venture to growth equity, primarily targeting enterprise software, fintech, and digital health. The portfolio includes known positions in Wealthsimple, the Canadian digital wealth manager, and Clio, the legal practice management platform. It also backed North, the smart-glasses maker acquired by Google in 2020. Geographic focus centers on Canada, with selective exposure to US and European technology companies. Rian Gauvreau leads investment decisions and portfolio management. The firm is closely associated with Lütke's broader ecosystem, which includes philanthropic commitments through the Lütke Family Foundation. May 2024: Redbrick participated in Clio's $900 million Series F raise at a $3 billion valuation, the largest software funding round in Canadian history (per The Globe and Mail, 2024). Redbrick’s structural differentiator is its permanent-capital architecture tied to a single liquidity event, creating an investment horizon unconstrained by traditional fund durations. This allows the firm to support portfolio companies across multiple funding rounds without mandating early exits, functioning more like a proprietary holding company than a conventional venture fund.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2011
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
Canada
City
Victoria
Corporate office
Victoria, BC, Canada
Principals
Tobias Lütke
Chairman
Rian Gauvreau
Lead Investor, Portfolio Manager
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Redbrick?
Rian Gauvreau serves as Lead Investor and Portfolio Manager, overseeing day-to-day deal sourcing and portfolio management. Tobias Lütke holds the Chairman role and is actively involved in strategic direction, but Gauvreau is the primary investment decision-maker.
Is Redbrick a single family office or a venture firm?
Redbrick operates as a hybrid entity — legally structured as a corporation with permanent capital rather than a traditional family office or venture fund. It does not manage third-party capital or charge management fees, yet its concentrated technology portfolio and active co-investment posture resemble that of an institutional venture platform.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The wealth primarily originates from Tobias Lütke's equity in Shopify, the commerce platform he co-founded in 2006. Shopify's 2015 IPO and subsequent appreciation created the liquidity that Redbrick deploys, making this one of Canada's largest technology-generated fortunes.
Does Redbrick participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Redbrick primarily executes direct equity and convertible note investments. The firm has not publicly disclosed significant fund-of-fund commitments, instead concentrating capital in a relatively small number of direct company positions where Lütke and Gauvreau can add operational value.
How is Redbrick related to the Lütke Family Foundation?
The Lütke Family Foundation operates as a separate philanthropic entity focused on environmental and educational causes. While both are backed by Lütke's Shopify wealth, they are legally and operationally distinct, with no evidence of philanthropic capital being deployed alongside Redbrick's for-profit investments.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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