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StandUp Ventures
StandUp Ventures began deploying capital in 2017 under Managing Partner Michelle McBane.
StandUp Ventures
StandUp Ventures began deploying capital in 2017 under Managing Partner Michelle McBane. The firm launched with a thesis anchored to a single underwriting criterion: at least one woman must hold a C-level leadership position with an equitable ownership stake in every company it backs. It operates from Toronto and invests across Canada and the United States. The firm writes initial checks at the seed stage, targeting pre-seed to Series A rounds in for-profit technology businesses. Its mandate concentrates on enterprise software and digital health, with portfolio exposure spanning both sectors. The fund's website lists a portfolio of companies building ground-breaking technologies, though individual deal names are not publicly itemized on the site. StandUp's capital comes from a base of leading institutional investors, which the firm states provides a deeper well of financing for its portfolio. The team lists eight professionals on its website, including Managing Partner Michelle McBane, Principal Lucas Perlman, and Venture Partners Katheleen Eva, Meredith Powell, and Timothée Eva. Jessica Weisz serves as an Analyst. The firm maintains its headquarters in Toronto, with no additional offices disclosed. StandUp Ventures' structural differentiator is its underwriting lens, which embeds a gender-equity screen at the C-suite and cap-table level as a core investment criterion rather than a sidecar initiative. The firm does not describe itself as an impact vehicle; instead, it frames the thesis as a source of competitive advantage in accessing high-growth founding teams that institutional capital structurally overlooks.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2017
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
Canada
City
Toronto
Corporate office
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Principals
Michelle McBane
Managing Partner
Lucas Perlman
Principal
Katheleen Eva
Venture Partner
Jessica Weisz
Analyst
Meredith Powell
Venture Partner
Timothée Eva
Venture Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is StandUp Ventures' core investment thesis?
The firm backs seed-stage, for-profit technology companies that have at least one woman in a C-level leadership position with an equitable amount of ownership. It views this as a structural sourcing advantage for accessing high-potential founding teams that are often undercapitalized by traditional venture. The thesis applies uniformly across its enterprise software and digital health investments.
Does StandUp Ventures invest only in women-led companies?
No. The firm's mandate requires at least one woman in a C-level leadership role with equitable ownership, but founding teams can be co-ed. The criterion focuses on decision-making power and economic alignment at the executive level, not on the founder being a woman exclusively.
What stage does StandUp Ventures target?
StandUp writes initial checks at the seed stage and can support companies from pre-seed through Series A rounds. It positions itself as a partner to ambitious founders working to break through early traction milestones.
Where does StandUp Ventures get its capital?
The firm states it is backed by leading institutional investors, though it does not publicly name its limited partners. This institutional base is cited as a source of deeper financing capacity for portfolio companies.
What is StandUp Ventures' geographic focus?
The firm invests across Canada and the United States. Its headquarters are in Toronto, Ontario, and it deploys capital into both domestic Canadian startups and US-based companies fitting its thesis.
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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