🚀 2 investor event invitations, 1 new announcement, and a founder interview

🔔 Your campaign updates feed

🍷 Proxies is hosting a webinar! You’re invited to an exclusive investor webinar with co-founders Charlie and Scott, where they’ll share the story behind Proxies’ growth and the future of non-alcoholic wine. Learn more.

Invest in Proxies | $1.57M Raised | 90% of target

🌱 VEGAIN has a retail partnership announcement! VEGAIN is now available at all Body Energy Club locations across Vancouver, marking a significant milestone in their retail strategy. Read more.

Invest in VEGAIN | $162K Raised | 32% of target

🌷 Flower Turbines is hosting a Canadian Investor Webinar! Join Founder & CEO of Flower Turbines, Dr. Daniel Farb, for an investor webinar, sharing their innovation, unique technology, and plans moving forward with an evaluation of the Canadian market. Learn more.

Invest in Flower Turbines | $1.14M Raised | 114% of target

🌱 Kovo+ shares an overview of the investment! Kovo+ is walking you through their investment pitch. Rather than simply reading a PDF, you can hear from their team directly. Watch the video.

Invest in Kovo+ | $1.25M Raised | 11% of target

🔔 Your alumni feed

🌼 Blossom Social has launched crypto! Blossom now syncs crypto holdings from Wealthsimple, Public, and Robinhood, and they've added connections to Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance so users can see and share the complete picture of their portfolio. Read more.

🏠 CABN is making headlines! CABN was featured by the Green Municipal Fund, highlighting the completion of their first net-zero affordable home. Watch the video.

🥬 KaleMart24 is expanding its franchise connections! KaleMart is attending the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference to look for multi-unit franchisees who want to be part of the next generation of convenience stores. Read more.

💉 PKA SoftTouch has scheduled its AGM. Shareholders can log into their FrontFundr dashboard for the AGM Invitation. You also will have received an email with details of the event.

🤔 What’s on our minds

Why Canadian Equities Are Outpacing U.S. Stocks in 2025

For years, investors have focused on U.S. markets as the primary driver of global growth. The dominance of technology stocks, rapid innovation, and strong corporate earnings made the S&P 500 a staple in most portfolios. However, 2025 is proving to be a year of surprises, with Canadian equities outpacing their American counterparts. Barron’s reports that the iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC) has risen by 3.4% this year, while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) has declined by 2%.

This shift in performance is not accidental. Several factors have contributed to the resilience of Canadian stocks, offering a compelling case for investors looking beyond the usual suspects in the U.S. market.

The Strength of Commodities and Materials

Unlike the U.S. market, which is heavily weighted toward technology, Canada’s stock market is deeply tied to commodities, including energy, mining, and materials. With gold prices hitting multi-year highs amid economic uncertainty, Canadian mining companies have seen a surge in investor interest. As central banks around the world continue their dovish stance, the demand for hard assets like gold remains strong, benefiting Canadian firms in this space.

Less Exposure to Struggling Tech Stocks

The U.S. stock market has been rocked by significant corrections in the technology sector, which had become overvalued after years of aggressive growth. Rising regulatory pressures, concerns over artificial intelligence’s monetization, and global trade tensions have led to a tech pullback. In contrast, the Canadian market has less exposure to high-flying tech names, insulating it from the volatility that has plagued U.S. indices this year.

Stability in Banking and Dividends

Canada’s banking sector remains one of the most stable in the world, with a strong track record of prudent risk management and consistent dividend payouts. With interest rates still elevated, Canadian banks have continued to generate healthy margins, while their conservative lending practices have shielded them from the credit risks affecting some U.S. financial institutions.

The Trade War Effect

U.S. trade policies have created uncertainty, particularly in industries reliant on global supply chains. Canadian firms, while not immune to these challenges, have benefited from increased commodity prices and a diversified trading approach, including stronger ties with Europe and Asia. This has allowed them to navigate economic headwinds better than many of their American counterparts.

What This Means for Investors

For investors looking to hedge against volatility and sector-specific downturns, Canadian equities present an attractive opportunity. While the U.S. market still boasts some of the world’s most innovative companies, the current economic cycle favors Canada’s more defensive sectors.

As 2025 unfolds, investors should consider increasing their exposure to Canadian stocks, particularly in commodities, financials, and dividend-paying blue-chip firms. The global market landscape is shifting, and those who adapt their strategies accordingly may find strong returns north of the border.

🎙️ Hear from our latest founder feature

Breaking the Protein Myth: How VEGAIN is Redefining Sports Nutrition with Edan Wolk and Melissa L'Heureux-Haché

🥤 On a breakthrough moment: Co-founder Edan experienced firsthand the struggles of being an Elite Athlete who was severely lactose intolerant. I would feel terrible after drinking Whey protein shakes, not realizing my body was rejecting it. That moment sparked a realization: 75% of the global population is lactose intolerant, yet whey protein dominates the market. We set out to create a product that works for every body—without compromise.

💪 On growth milestones: We saw a massive gap in the market—no vegan brand was truly serving high-performance athletes. By creating products that are powerful, clean, and gender-neutral, we’ve built a brand that resonates far beyond the vegan community. After seeing strong initial demand from the building community, VEGAIN is now backed by Pro UFC fighters, Olympians, and the Vancouver Warriors Pro Lacrosse team.

🚀 On what sets us apart: Our latest innovation, Surge, is a game-changer— a clear, refreshing protein drink instead of the usual heavy shake. It’s set to revolutionize sports nutrition and beyond, making protein more accessible in grocery and convenience stores.

🎧 Want to hear the full story? Listen on Spotify or watch on YouTube.

📌 FrontFundr bulletin

📣 #ICYMI FrontFundr’s Founder & CEO, Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, was featured in TechBeat Canada, discussing how startups can adapt by strengthening their domestic presence and exploring global markets. Read more about why Canada is an ideal testing ground, and how trade agreements with Europe and the UK can open new doors.

📧 This morning, we hosted a 2025 Canada Private Markets & Venture Capital Outlook webinar. Thank you to our guest speakers, Jan Christopher Arp and Luca Manglaviti, and to all those who attended. We will share the webinar recording so stay tuned for an email from us!