RHA Ventures Announces Investment in Real Life Robotics

London, ON, April 30, 2024 - In the face of rising costs for domestic businesses in Canada and competition from abroad, RHA Ventures, an Ontario-based venture capital firm specializing in cutting-edge technologies, announced today its investment in Real Life Robotics, a Waterloo-based company designing real robots for real businesses. This investment marks a significant milestone in the development of Real Life Robotics and underscores RHA Ventures' commitment to supporting true, tried, and tested founders and Ontario’s growing startup ecosystem despite an overall decrease in entrepreneurship across the rest of Canada.

Real Life Robotics is at the forefront of revolutionizing how key industries address widespread challenges, such as labor, with their human-centric approach to robot design and deep understanding of autonomous technology implementation designed to enhance efficiency and productivity across the balance sheet. More notably they were recently selected as a winner of the FoodTech Next grants from the Canadian Food Innovation Network aimed at examining how their second-generation delivery robot prototype, BUBS, can give Main Street businesses back their competitive edge by bringing a secure, affordable, convenient delivery experience from the storefront of Canadian business owners to the doorsteps of everyday Canadian families alike.

"We are thrilled to support Real Life Robotics and the experienced founding team on their journey to redefine what's possible in the field of robotics," said Brian Foster, Founding Partner at RHA Ventures. "Their innovative technology, industry experience, and diagnostic approach to problem-solving aligns closely with our investment philosophy, and we are confident that their cutting-edge technologies will not only help push Ontario forward as a leading technology center in North America but also introduce some critical cost savings technologies urgently needed by Canadian industries looking thrive domestically and beyond moving forward into 2024.”

“Real robots, real people, and real-world challenges are what differentiate RLR as a technology company. We could not be more thrilled to have RHA Ventures, a group of experienced founders and problem solvers, on board as strategic advisors and investors as we help elevate Ontario globally as a home for first-in-class robotics and automation technology - empowering businesses with transformative robotics solutions that unlock new levels of efficiency, reliability, and scalability,” said Cameron Waite, CEO of Real Life Robotics.

This initial investment from RHA Ventures will enable Real Life Robotics to accelerate product development, expand its market reach, and support thought leadership in the robotics industry - starting with some upcoming Ontario-based project partnerships and deployments to be announced in Toronto and surrounding regions this May. It also represents the first signs of a collaboration announced earlier this month at the DiscoveryX Conference, between the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) and RHA Ventures Inc. (RHA) aimed at supporting the commercialization of innovative technologies crucial for addressing economic development, job creation, and sustainability in specifically the Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Technology Enabled sectors across Ontario.

About Real Life Robotics:

Real Life Robotics is a pioneering company at the forefront of the robotics industry, specializing in advanced technologies that enhance efficiency and productivity. Leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence and robotics engineering, Real Life Robotics develops innovative solutions to address the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic market landscape.

For more information about Real Life Robotics, visit (www.realliferobotics.com)

About RHA Ventures Inc. - Founders For Founders. (www.RHA.Ventures)

RHA Ventures (“RHA”) is a boutique investment company with a “Founders for Founders” approach to business. With decades of collective operational experience, our firm’s partners bring seasoned, hands-on support with go-to-market approaches, commercial development, growth, and exit strategies. RHA helps founders and entrepreneurs identify the most valuable market opportunities and scale their companies for sustainable growth. RHA leverages our core group of founders (business owners/entrepreneurs), and our extensive network of mentors, industry connections, and investors to help entrepreneurs gain visibility, establish strategic relationships, and build successful companies.

RHA Ventures is a key investor and a General Partner of the 519 Growth Funds The 519

Growth Funds were launched in 2022 to support innovations in early-stage, growth-focused companies that are technology-enabled with demonstrated recurring revenue, market acceptance, and a defensible market position.

For more information or questions please contact:

Michael Dales

RHA Ventures Inc.

Email michael.dales@rha.ventures

RHA Ventures Announces Strategic Investment in BioFerScience Inc.

LONDON, ONTARIO - RHA Ventures is pleased to announce its latest investment in BioFerScience Inc., an innovative animal health company.  RHA Ventures, known for its “founders for founders” approach, has been actively investing in early-stage, innovative companies in the agriculture, food and technology sectors. This new investment aligns with RHA’s commitment to supporting early stage companies.

BioFerScience manufactures and markets probiotic supplements that naturally support animal health and performance. BioFerSciences is set to benefit from RHA’s extensive business experience, management skills and networks..

“We are very excited to work with Behnam Abbasian, the founder of BioFerScience Inc,” says Nevin McDougall, Managing Partner with RHA Ventures. “This company brings innovative solutions which address real-life problems in the livestock industry.”

RHA Ventures’ investment in BioFerScience Inc. is part of its ongoing mission to fill the gap in both capital and business support for early-stage companies. This strategic partnership will accelerate growth and scale operations for BioFerScience.

For more information about: 

RHA Ventures, please visit https://rha.ventures/

BioFerScience Inc., please visit https://bioferscience.com/

About RHA Ventures Inc. - Founders For Founders.

RHA Ventures (“RHA”) is a boutique investment company with a “Founders for Founders” approach to business. With decades of collective operational experience, our firm’s partners bring seasoned, hands-on support with go-to market approaches, commercial development, growth and exit strategies. RHA helps founders and entrepreneurs identify the most valuable market opportunities and scale their companies for sustainable growth. RHA leverages our core group of founders (business owners / entrepreneurs), our extensive network of mentors, industry connections, and investors to help entrepreneurs gain visibility, establish strategic relationships, and build successful companies.

About BioFerScience Inc.

BioFerScience Inc. is an innovative animal pharmaceutical company with a focus on  probiotic supplements that naturally support animal health and performance.

RHA Ventures Announces Launch of New $30M Venture Capital Fund – 519 Growth Fund II

London, ON – RHA Ventures Inc. (RHA), a boutique investment firm with a Founders for Founders approach, announced today the launch of a new $30M Venture Capital Fund; 519 Growth Fund II (519 GFII).  The Fund will invest in early-stage companies in the Agriculture, Agri-Food and Technology Enabled sectors. The vision is to support company founders in the commercialization of innovative, sustainable technologies, while providing competitive returns for investors. RHA has secured a non-binding term sheet with an anchor investor and is actively fundraising toward a first close in March of 2024.

“We are excited to launch this new fund due to the market gap in both capital and business support for early-stage companies,” said Nevin McDougall, Managing Partner for RHA. “Looking specifically at the opportunities facing our target sectors, supporting commercialization of innovative technologies is key to addressing economic development, job creation and sustainability.”

The new fund is a natural progression from RHA’s initial fund, 519 Growth Fund I, which also focused on high potential, early-stage companies.  The first fund supported companies with investments ranging between $75,000 and $250,000.  519 GFII will continue to focus on early-stage companies but also look at larger investments of $750,000 to $1,000,000 for Seed stage companies. The fund will focus on predominantly Canadian based firms. The RHA Ventures’ team, composed of experienced founders and entrepreneurs, will actively support and work with 519 GFII portfolio companies applying their knowledge, skills, and broad networks. View the complete list of partners at https://rha.ventures/partners.

“The launch of 519 Growth Fund II is further validation of our “Founders for Founders” approach” commented Joe Dales, co-founder of RHA. “Early-stage company founders are often in need of sector expertise, operational capability, and networks which our firm has delivered to other portfolio companies in the past.  We look forward to continuing this impactful work with this fund.”

For more information on 519 Growth Fund II, please visit our website at https://rha.ventures/519-growth-fund-2

About RHA Ventures Inc. - Founders For Founders.

RHA Ventures (“RHA”) is a boutique investment company with a “Founders for Founders” approach to business. With decades of collective operational experience, our firm’s partners bring seasoned, hands-on support with go-to market approaches, commercial development, growth and exit strategies. RHA helps founders and entrepreneurs identify the most valuable market opportunities and scale their companies for sustainable growth. RHA leverages our core group of founders (business owners / entrepreneurs), our extensive network of mentors, industry connections, and investors to help entrepreneurs gain visibility, establish strategic relationships, and build successful companies.

RHA Ventures is a key investor and a General Partner of the 519 Growth Funds

The 519 Growth Fund was launched in 2022 to support innovations in early stage, growth-focused companies that are technology-enabled with demonstrated recurring revenue, market acceptance and a defensible market position.

For more information visit our website at www.RHA.Ventures

Contact: 

Nevin McDougall, RHA Ventures email; nevin.mcdougall@rha.ventures

Michael Dales, RHA Ventures email: michael.dales@rha.ventures

RHA Ventures Announces Key Role in New Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Western Fair Association (WFA) Agreement to support Innovation Farms Ontario

London, Ontario, October 31, 2023:  RHA Ventures (RHA), a boutique investment firm with a Founders for Founders approach, announces a key role in the new agreement between Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Western Fair Association (WFA) including Innovation Farms Ontario. In September 2023, FCC announced a long-term relationship with WFA (including The Grove at Western Fair District) to elevate agriculture and food producers by delivering the knowledge, innovation and research Canadian producers can use to complement their own expertise in the advancement of farming and food businesses. RHA Ventures will support them by providing participating companies with investment and business mentoring support to help scale their businesses. The original press release from FCC can be found on their website; https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/about-fcc/media-centre/news-releases/2023/fcc-western-fair-partnership.html 

Photo from left to right: Chuck Bearsich, President, Haggerty AgRobotics; Sophie Perreault, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Farm Credit Canada; Fred Wall, Vice President Marketing and Digital Agriculture, Farm Credit Canada; Reg Ash, CEO Western Fair Association; and Joe Dales, Co-Founder RHA Ventures.

RHA is also pleased to announce the first project in this agreement is with one of RHA’s portfolio companies, Haggerty AgRobotics (https://www.haggertyagrobotics.com). The launch of the new on-farm research called Innovation Farms Ontario powered by AgExpert, is located at Haggerty Creek near Bothwell, Ontario. This research farm is part of a network of Canadian demonstration farms, also sponsored by FCC, where innovative, emerging technology is developed and tested. The results and benefits of different technologies in the emerging agriculture robotics and automation industry are shared with producers to optimize current farming practices and future decisions.”

“We are thrilled to support this important project and develop innovative solutions for Canadian farm producers,” says Joe Dales, Co-Founder of RHA Ventures. “We look forward to supporting participating companies by demonstrating and testing the value of their products with real farmers.”

Nevin McDougall, Manager Partner at RHA, hails the plan for fostering innovation and building businesses directed at the agriculture and food industry. “There has been a lack of venture capital in Canada for early-stage firms and we are ready to step up to the plate,” said McDougall, “and RHA plans to provide capital and mentorship for early-stage companies with focus on investments in Agriculture & Food Innovations and/or Technology-Enabled companies. RHA will invest and lend its world-class business expertise and acumen to mentor and develop new leaders and innovators in these sectors.”

For more information visit https://rha.ventures/ or the Press Room page at https://rha.ventures/pressroom

About RHA Ventures Inc. - Founders for Founders.

RHA Ventures (RHA) is a boutique investment company for visionary founders looking for long term capital and a “Founders for Founders” approach to building business. The RHA partners have decades of collective operational experience and bring seasoned, hands-on support in corporate governance, go-to-market approaches, commercial development, growth and exit strategies. RHA helps founders and entrepreneurs identify the most valuable market opportunities and scale their companies for sustainable growth. RHA leverages a core group of founders (business owners / entrepreneurs), with an extensive network of mentors and investors to help entrepreneurs gain visibility, establish strategic relationships, and build successful companies.

RHA Ventures is a key investor and a General Partner of the 519 Growth Funds

The 519 Growth Fund was launched in 2022 to support innovations in early stage, growth-focused companies that are technology-enabled with demonstrated recurring revenue, market acceptance and a defensible market position.

For more information visit our website at www.RHA.Ventures

Contact : Michael Dales, RHA Ventures, michael.dales@rha.ventures 

RHA Ventures announces the addition of new portfolio companies

London, ON - RHA Ventures Inc. is pleased to announce it has completed investments in 3 early stage companies; Farm Health Guardian, Local Line and VETSon. These investments reflect the company’s commitment to providing innovative early-stage companies with the capital and resources needed to scale their operations.

“We are thrilled to support these companies and help the founders achieve their business goals and vision” says Joe Dales, Co-Founder of RHA Ventures. “Each of these companies are aiming to address real challenges in their markets and deliver sustainable solutions to their clients.”

Farm Health Guardian is a management tool for farmers and food companies to improve biosecurity and disease prevention, saving time and reducing costs. https://farmhealthguardian.com/

Local Line is an all-in-one sales platform for family farms, helping them sell their products online to retail and wholesale buyers.  Local Line will have thousands of growers in eight countries on their platform processing over $100m in local food sales this year. https://site.localline.ca/ 

VETSon a leading innovator in telemedicine for veterinarians, farmers and animal owners through cutting-edge mobile technology and digital solutions.https://vetson.ca/

“We are thrilled to welcome these 3 new companies to our portfolio. We look forward to supporting their success by sharing our expertise and experience as founders and entrepreneurs.” said Brian Foster, Co-Founder of RHA Ventures.                            

For more information visit https://rha.ventures/ and the Firms page at https://rha.ventures/firms

About RHA Ventures Inc. Founders Helping Founders.

RHA Ventures is a boutique investment company for visionary founders looking for long term capital and a “Founders for Founders” approach to building business. The RHA partners have decades of collective operational experience and bring seasoned, hands-on support in corporate governance, go-to market approaches, commercial development, growth and exit strategies. RHA helps founders and entrepreneurs identify the most valuable market opportunities and scale their companies for sustainable growth. RHA leverages a core group of founders (business owners / entrepreneurs), with an extensive network of mentors and investors to help entrepreneurs gain visibility, establish strategic relationships, and build successful companies.

RHA Ventures is a key investor and a General Partner of the 519 Growth Funds.

The 519 Growth Fund I was launched in 2022 to support innovations in early stage, growth-focused companies that are technology-enabled with demonstrated recurring revenue, market acceptance and a defensible market position.

For more information visit our website at www.RHA.Ventures

Contact: Michael Dales, RHA Ventures email: michael.dales@rha.ventures

FCC and Western Fair District partner to elevate agriculture and food producers

Woodstock, Ontario, September 12, 2023 – Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is pleased to announce a long-term partnership with Western Fair District to deliver the knowledge, innovation and research Canadian producers can use to complement their own expertise in the advancement of their farming and food businesses.

The partnership announcement includes new on-farm research called Innovation Farms Ontario powered by AgExpert, located at Haggerty Creek near Bothwell, Ontario. This research farm is part of a network of Canadian demonstration farms where innovative, emerging technology is developed and tested. The results and benefits of different technologies in the emerging agriculture robotics and automation industry are shared with producers to optimize current farming practices and future decisions.

“Practical research and on-farm testing on new technologies such as automation, robotics and sustainability innovations will help farmers confidently adopt new systems with less risk,” said Chuck Baresich, president of Haggerty Creek Farms. “FCC’s support will allow us to tap into incredible potential that will increase productivity for producers and provide them with the ability to put their labour into high value work.” “The new resources complement the great research we have conducted with OMAFRA and the AgRobotics Working Group.”

Including FCC’s farm management software, AgExpert, in the name and on the farm, signals the value both Western Fair and FCC place on growing Canada’s digital agriculture system. The 2,000+ acre full-scale production innovation farm will use AgExpert software as part of its testing, research, and technology development.

“FCC sees tremendous opportunity with the creation of this partnership. Producers and processors will realize the benefits of the knowledge, research and funding that this collaboration brings”, said Fred Wall, vice-president, marketing and digital agriculture at FCC. “The depth of resources and people working together will elevate so much of what the Canadian agriculture and food industry has to offer, from digital agriculture, to processing food at home and securing the funding for the ideas that shape our future.”

This partnership will also support The Grove at Western Fair District, a growing agriculture and food business innovation hub that is already home to 32 companies. Here, a range of resources support food processors and businesses to access the startup funds and tools they need to begin scaling their businesses.

“There is incredible potential for agriculture and food startup founders to build the great new companies of the future, bringing innovative technologies to market, helping feed the world, creating jobs and supporting the economy,” said Joe Dales, co-founder at formerly the Roundhouse Accelerator, now RHA Ventures. “The RHA Ventures team is committed to supporting the early-stage companies with investment and business mentoring support. Having Farm Credit Canada as a new partner in The Grove is going to accelerate and expand the number of companies fostered here.”

“This partnership allows us to level-up what we offer at the Grove from ag-tech to education, funding and practical space for businesses,” said James Smith, director of agri-food at Western Fair District. “A great example is supporting startups and food processing companies through an incubation stage where you can rent kitchens and food processing space that were built to CFIA standards.”

“They can produce more, get to a larger audience and a point where they can start to think about building or renting their own square footage where we can help them design and grow into that space. The opportunities for producers and businesses at the Grove are just beginning.”

This partnership reflects the goal of Innovation Farms Ontario powered by AgExpert to bring together top ag-tech and industry minds who are intentionally shaping agricultural and commercial productivity gains.

Learn more about the advantages producers and businesses can find at The Grove and with Haggerty AgRobotics in this profile.

Western Fair Association

The Western Fair District is one of Canada’s oldest and largest Agriculture Societies and supports the Agriculture Community with programming and facilities that help meet the business needs of this sector while at the same time providing innovative educational experiences for today’s consumer. For more information visit www.westernfairdistrict.com

The Grove at Western Fair is the agriculture and food business hub where companies can share space, resources, and connections to create the right conditions for innovation and growth. For more information visit www.thegrovewfd.com

Haggerty Creek and Haggerty AgRobotics

Haggerty AgRobotics is a leader in the emerging agriculture robotics and automation industry. For several years, Chuck Baresich, founder and president, has been researching and testing various technologies on the Haggerty Creek farming operation. The farming operation is part of Haggerty Creek Ltd. owned & operated by Chuck & Justin Baresich and AGRIS Cooperative since 2001. For more information visit www.haggertycreek.com www.haggertyagrobotics.com

RHA Ventures Inc.

RHA Ventures Inc. is a long term, value adding investor in early-stage innovative companies in the agriculture and food sector. We increase the probability of success and accelerate growth by leveraging our team’s extensive business experience, world class leadership and management skills, industry wide networks and financial resources. For more information visit our website at www.RHA.Ventures

Farm Credit Canada

FCC is Canada’s leading agriculture and food lender, dedicated to the industry that feeds the world. FCC employees are committed to the long-standing success of those who produce and process Canadian food by providing flexible financing, AgExpert business management software, information and knowledge. FCC provides a complement of expertise and services designed to support the complex and evolving needs of food businesses. As a financial Crown corporation, FCC is a stable partner that reinvests profits back into the industry and communities it serves. For more information, visit fcc.ca. 

For more information or interviews, please contact:

Jill McAlister
Corporate Communication
Farm Credit Canada
306-540-4840
jill.mcalister@fcc.ca

RH Accelerator Changes Name to RHA Ventures and Welcomes New Partners

London, ON - RH Accelerator is excited to announce that it has changed its name to RHA Ventures Inc. The new name reflects the company’s commitment to providing innovative growth-stage companies with the investment and resources they need to scale their operations.

“We had some confusion with founders and investors around the word “Accelerator”…many public organizations help founders with free educational programming and it does not reflect what RHA does when it invests venture capital in the long term success of our portfolio companies.” Says Joe Dales, Co-Founder of RHA Ventures.

In addition to the name change, RHA Ventures is proud to welcome eight new partners: Nevin McDougall, Brian Cram, Zamir Khan, Lynn Davis, Steve Bolton, Steve Groves, John Pollock and David Brebner. These individuals bring significant private sector experience and expertise in starting and scaling businesses. They will help RHA Ventures to invest in and support more innovative companies. For more information visit https://rha.ventures/ and the Partners page at https://rha.ventures/partners

“We are thrilled to welcome these seven new partners to our team,” said Brian Foster, Co-Founder of RHA Ventures. “Their expertise and experience will be invaluable as we continue to help future growth-stage companies scale their operations and drive considerable sales.”

About RHA Ventures Inc. Founders Helping Founders.

RHA Ventures is a boutique investment company for visionary founders looking for long term capital and a “Founders for Founders” approach to building business. The RHA partners have decades of collective operational experience and bring seasoned, hands-on support in corporate governance, go-to market approaches, commercial development, growth and exit strategies. RHA helps founders and entrepreneurs identify the most valuable market opportunities and scale their companies for sustainable growth. RHA leverages a core group of founders (business owners / entrepreneurs), with an extensive network of mentors and investors to help entrepreneurs gain visibility, establish strategic relationships, and build successful companies.

RHA Ventures a key investor and the General Partner of the 519 Growth Funds.

The 519 Growth Fund I was launched in 2022 to support innovations in early stage, growth-focused companies that are technology-enabled with demonstrated recurring revenue, market acceptance and a defensible market position.

For more information visit our website at www.RHA.Ventures

Contact: Michael Dales, RHA Ventures email: michael.dales@rha.ventures

Founders WTF* Forum - February 2nd 2023

Please mark your calendar and register for our February 2nd for a Founders (WTF*) Forum. Join us for a fast but detailed (*where to focus) look at London's entrepreneurial growth ecosystem.

In cooperation with the RHA Partners and our Life Science community you'll hear pitches from 6 local founders: from early stage through well established growth firms. Founders will have 6 minutes to explain what they do, and how they're delivering value to the world from right here in London. We are looking forward to hearing from:

Speaker Companies

Burglar Buster,

Terra Optima,

Vessl,

Local Line,

Vidhug / Punchbowl,

and more to be confirmed

After the presentations there will be time to meet, and learn a little more about the exciting and interesting things happening here. Please register for this event. If you register, we really hope you'll attend since no-shows challenge our catering and planning.

What: Founders (*WTF) Forum / RH Partners / Life Sciences London

When: February 2nd. 4:00 - 6:00pm

Where: Siskinds, 275 Dundas Street

What: Snacks, drinks, 6 pitches from London founders

Why: Spend some quality time with London's entrepreneurial community

Register

RH Accelerator Company Cannabis Wiki Announces Second Cannabis Conference

LONDON ONTARIO - JANUARY 17, 2022 – For the second consecutive year Cannabis Wiki and The Western Fair District have partnered to bring Southwestern Ontario’s regulated cannabis industry and community to the Forest City. Organizers are again planning on hundreds of exhibitors and attendees gathering to move the industry and the region’s economy forward, while continuing to break the stigma of cannabis. 

“After a higher-than-expected level of success last year we are excited to be back in 2023! From our location partners to our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and panellists we will once again pack the itinerary with value, diversity and high level business networking. This is an event where the agriculture and cannabis industry connects and deals get made,” said Derrick Burney, CEO and founder Cannabis Wiki.  

Learn More

RHA Portfolio company Intelliculture announced as John Deere Startup Collaborator

OLATHE, Kan. (January 9, 2023) — Deere & Company has released the names of eight companies chosen for its 2023 Startup Collaborator program. The Startup Collaborator was launched in 2019 and helps John Deere enhance precision technology in its agriculture and construction equipment.

IntelliCulture, a company providing farm equipment management software that helps drive sustainable farming practices through actionable insights, efficiency improvements and risk mitigation.

Read More

Founders WTF* Forum - November 10th, 2022

Connect, learn, share and listen to Founder Pitches from London's entrepreneurial community.

Join us on November 10 for a fast but detailed look at London's entrepreneurial growth ecosystem.

What: Founders (*WTF) Forum / RH Accelerator / Life Sciences London When: November 10th, 4:00 - 6:00pm Where: Siskinds, 275 Dundas Street What: Snacks, drinks, 6 pitches from London founders Why: Spend some quality time with London's entrepreneurial community

Register

Companies presenting are:

• Terra Optima

• Reya Health

• Cannabis Wiki

• Mobials

• Farm Games

• Law Labs