Raven Indigenous Capital Partners is a new Indigenous-led Vancouver-based venture capital fund that will provide capital and support to Indigenous social enterprises across Canada.
Managing partners, Jeffrey Cyr and Paul Lacerte, aim to improve outcomes in Indigenous communities and generate returns for investors through impact investing.
Mr. Cyr, who is Métis from Manitoba, and Mr. Lacerte, who is a member of the Nadleh Whut'en Band and belongs to the Carrier First Nation in northern British Columbia, have extensive experience working with Indigenous communities.
The new fund, which the partners have been raising for the past year, will bridge gaps in the Indigenous finance sector by providing early and growth stage equity to Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Joining the investment firm is chief investment officer Stephen Nairne, who is non-Indigenous and has worked in impact investing in Africa.
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Three social enterprises were recognized at the 2013 President’s Challenge Social Enterprise Award for their major contributions to society. SATA CommHealth and Bliss Restaurant landed Social Enterprise of the Year titles, while Bettr Barista Coffee Academy bagged the award for Social Enterprise Start-up of the Year.