In this feature, we take you inside the Startup Finance event held in Toronto in March 2020, where Canada’s venture funding leaders and entrepreneurs came together to discuss one of the most critical topics in business: how to finance your startup.
Startup financing can take many forms – from bootstrapping and seed funding to venture capital, crowdfunding, and business loans. This event aimed to help early-stage founders understand the advantages, challenges, and strategies behind each option.
Funding Options Discussed at the Event
The panel explored several key types of startup financing, including:
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Seed Funding: Early-stage capital from investors who believe in your idea before you’ve generated traction.
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Venture Capital (VC): Institutional investment focused on startups with rapid growth potential.
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Bootstrapping: Building your business using personal savings or reinvested profits — often the best way to retain control early on.
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Crowdfunding: Raising smaller amounts of money from a large group of backers through online platforms.
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Asset-Based Lending: Financing secured against company assets or accounts receivable.
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Unsecured Working Capital: Flexible funding options that don’t require collateral but depend on your creditworthiness and cash flow.
Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs
The discussion provided invaluable advice for founders navigating the early stages of funding:
1. Investors Back People, Not Just Ideas
The number one factor for venture capitalists when evaluating startups is the founder, CEO, and team. A passionate, committed founder can make all the difference.
2. Focus on One Core Product
Startups that focus on solving one specific problem are more likely to gain traction than those that spread resources across multiple unfinished ideas.
3. Validate with Paying Customers
Testing your product with real paying customers provides far more valuable feedback than unpaid trials — it proves genuine market demand.
4. Expect Rejection and Learn from It
You’ll get more no’s than yes’s when fundraising. It doesn’t mean your idea isn’t good — it just means you haven’t found the right investor yet.
5. Clarity and Simplicity Win
The best founders can describe their business in one clear sentence. If you can’t, refine your message until you can.
6. Surround Yourself with Experience
Having senior advisors or co-founders with relevant experience can improve your chances of raising capital. Your team, IP, and credibility matter to investors.
7. Learn and Execute
As one speaker put it: “If you don’t know how to make a video for your crowdfunding campaign, learn how to do it on your phone.” Entrepreneurs who figure things out fast are the ones who succeed.
Our Take
The Startup Finance event reinforced a powerful truth — while capital is important, vision, resilience, and execution matter most. Whether you’re bootstrapping or pitching VCs, what investors really buy into is you — your passion, clarity, and drive to make things happen.
If you’re building a startup in Canada and need funding, Smarter Loans can connect you with verified business loan providers who specialize in working capital, equipment financing, and growth funding for entrepreneurs.
Watch the full video above to learn from Canada’s startup finance leaders.
Use our Business Loan Calculator to estimate repayments and plan your next move.
Video by:
Vlad is the President and Co-Founder of Smarter Loans, Canada's original and largest loan comparison website. He is a passionate entrepreneur and business leader in the Canadian financial sector. He was selected as a 2019 Top 25 Leaders in Lending by the Canadian Lenders Association. Vlad is an author at Smarter Loans, and has been featured in publications like the Toronto Star and National Post, among others.
