💪 Sport nutrition relaunch, alumni feature & Canada’s Immigration & Talent Strategy

🔔 Your campaign updates feed

💪 VEGAIN Nutrition has relaunched!

VEGAIN Nutrition is a Canadian performance nutrition brand redefining plant-based protein. With SURGE™, North America’s first clear vegan protein in ready-to-drink and powdered formats, VEGAIN delivers a high-performing, easy-to-digest alternative for the 70% of people who can’t properly digest whey.

Invest in VEGAIN | $465K Raised | 93% of target

🛒 KaleMart24 welcomes new franchisees 

KaleMart24 has welcomed Jacinthe and Mohamed as its newest franchisees, bringing KaleMart24’s fresh, better-for-you products, premium beverages, and curated grab-and-go selections to new communities in Montreal.

Invest in KaleMart24 | $180K Raised | 72% of target

👟 Hettas welcomes Olympian Ivanie Blondin

Hettas welcomes 2x Olympic Medalist and current Canadian 1500m Long Track Speed Skating Champion, Ivanie Blondin, as our newest Hettas Supported Athlete! The supported Athlete Program, provides athletes with footwear and support to train at an elite level. 

Invest in Hettas | $107K Raised | 43% of target

🔔 Alumni updates

🌸Blossom Social is featured in Forbes in an article by Boaz Sobrado, highlighting their role in the social investing landscape. Read it here.

⚽️TSS Rovers Men is hosting a free open tryout for the 2026 L1 season on Nov 30th. 

🧉Cooler Co.’s Yerba Mate is now available at all Whole Foods Market locations across Canada!

🤔 What’s on our minds

🇨🇦 Canada’s 2025 Immigration & Talent Strategy

With the U.S. tightening H‑1B visas and raising fees, Canada is seizing the opportunity to attract global tech and skilled talent. The federal budget links this strategy to boosting innovation and positioning Canada as a global tech hub.

Policy Snapshot:

• Fast-track immigration pathways for high-demand workers in technology, AI, and clean energy.

• International Talent Attraction Strategy includes an “accelerated pathway” for U.S. H‑1B visa holders.

• Permanent residents capped at 380,000 per year (2026–28), with 64 % reserved for skilled workers and targeted talent.

What It Could Mean for Investors
For retail investors, Canada’s new strategy signals a national push to become a global tech leader. Companies likely to benefit include:

• Software, such as, Shopify, OpenText

• AI Tech, such as, Layer 6 AI, Clio

• Supply Chain & Services, such as, Kinaxis, CGI

Talent inflows may accelerate innovation in AI, cybersecurity, and clean energy, creating growth opportunities and potentially boosting valuations in these high-demand sectors.

Sectors to Watch:

• Technology & AI: Faster access to talent could help startups scale and increase productivity.

• Venture Capital & Startups: Increased talent may attract more VC funding and international partnerships.

Cautions:

• Execution risk: Success depends on smooth implementation of new immigration pathways.

• Economical effects: Rapid inflows may affect housing markets and salaries in major tech hubs.

Bottom Line:
Canada’s 2025 strategy aligns immigration policy with innovation-focused budget priorities. The budget features a $1.7 billion “International Talent Attraction Strategy”, major investments in AI infrastructure, and enhanced R&D tax-credits that support the innovation ecosystem. 

For retail investors, this signals potential early-stage opportunities in tech, AI and clean-energy firms while pointing to long-term growth in Canadian innovation sectors.

🎙️ Hear from our latest founder feature

Fanbase: The new mainstream for the social economy with Isaac Hayes III

Q: What sets Fanbase apart from other social platforms?

A: Fanbase is built for creator ownership. We don’t suppress reach or force users into an ad-based system, instead creators reach their full audience and earn through subscriptions, paywalled posts, and our in-app tipping feature. Unlike traditional platforms that profit from ads, Fanbase is a true rev-share model. We make money when creators make money.

Q: What kind of traction and growth have you seen so far?

A: We’ve grown to over 1.4 million users, with installs up 68% year-over-year and engagement up 95%. Now, we’re scaling fast with new tools for creators and community features. This next phase of growth is all about deepening community, expanding our team with top talent from major social platforms, and continuing to build the future of the social economy.

Q: Why choose equity crowdfunding over traditional VC funding?

A: Honestly, it’s the biggest gift we’ve had as a company. Most social platforms are funded by the same small group of VCs who end up controlling the direction. We wanted to flip that model. By raising over $12.3M from more than 23,000 investors through StartEngine, we’ve given ownership back to the people who make Fanbase valuable: our users.

🎧 Want to listen to the full episode?

Spotify / YouTube / Apple

📌 FrontFundr Bulletin

FrontFundr’s Peter-Paul Van Hoeken speaks at Scale Up Bio 2025

FrontFundr’s Founder and CEO, Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, will be speaking at Scale Up Bio 2025 in Ottawa this Friday, November 14. He’ll share insights on “Unlocking Capital Through Private Market Funding Solutions,” highlighting how biotech and life sciences companies can access growth capital to scale innovation.