BDC announced the details around the Thrive Lab’s first phase, to be built around a co-investment model with like-minded partners focused on supporting women-led businesses at the earliest stages of development. BDC is actively seeking partners with a proven history of supporting women entrepreneurs and those committed to providing additional capital, or “sweat equity” in the … Read more
The cost per unit has grown approximately six times more between 2020 and 2021 than the average annual cost growth between 2013 and 2019, according to BDC’s new study How to cope with inflation and remain profitable. “We’re not going backwards; the business environment is changing, and small businesses may be tempted to postpone their strategic thinking … Read more
BDC’s investment arm released the 2023 edition of Canada’s Venture Capital (VC) Landscape report. It shows a significant slowdown of activities last year, indicating the end of an overheated VC market which saw most metrics at record-breaking levels in 2021. The report points to a renewed focus on start-up profitability, operational efficiency, and a return to more … Read more
A recent survey from BDC, reveals that 45 per cent of Canadian business owners indicated that they felt mental health challenges compared to 38 per cent in February 2022. The report also shows a double-digit increase in the proportion of entrepreneurs indicating they wanted to seek support from a mental health professional, a percentage that … Read more
A Business Development Bank (BDC) report on of the Survey on SME owners’ mental health has found that 90 per cent of Canadian business owners now say they are open to seeking support for a mental health issue. According to a 2019 survey conducted prior to the pandemic by the Canadian Mental Health Association and supported by BDC, 16 … Read more
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) launched a new study and tool that focus on productivity and solutions that SMEs can put in place to counter current economic challenges. Entitled Inflation, Labour Shortages and Supply Challenges – Embrace Productivity to Thrive in The Current Context, the study finds that challenges brought on by the economic context affect … Read more
Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses are making significant investments in digital technologies, with nine out of 10 (91 per cent) investing an average of $118,000 in 2021, says a new BDC study released on May 10. Entitled, Seize the Technological Advantage: Why Digitally Mature Companies Perform Better, the study finds that digitally mature businesses show … Read more
BDC Capital launched a new standardized Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Reporting Template for Canadian GPs and their portfolios. The new tool builds on the global framework of the ILPA Diversity Metrics Template for capturing metrics related to gender, race, ethnicity, and identification in a way that aligns with the Canadian market. “We can only improve what … Read more
BDC announced a new three-year strategic partnership with Mila, the Quebec artificial intelligence institute. “We are very excited about this partnership that will bring together bright minds: entrepreneurs innovating in the AI space and a world-renowned machine learning research and development center. We are confident that Mila’s resources, problem-solving approach and international reach will give participating businesses … Read more
Canadian entrepreneurs’ confidence in the economy is strong and their investment intentions are above pre-crisis levels, according to BDC’s Canadian Entrepreneurs’ 2022 Investment Outlook. “The results indicate that entrepreneurs’ confidence in the economy is strong and that investment intentions are above their pre-crisis level, with one out of five SMEs planning to increase their investments in 2022,” … Read more
