Empowering Bold Innovators

Canada’s future relies on innovators pushing the limits of technology—breakthroughs in AI, healthcare, quantum computing, robotics, and more.

Tough tech companies, also known as deep tech and frontier tech, are the foundation of a sustainable and competitive economy. However, vision and ingenuity aren’t enough. These ventures need strategic guidance, long-term investment, and an ecosystem dedicated to their success. That’s where we come in.

Advisory Services

Building a tough tech company is challenging. It requires more than just traditional business advice. Our advisory services are designed to support companies as they navigate the complexities of product-market fit, fundraising, intellectual property (IP) strategy, and customer engagement.

We don’t just advise—we partner with you. Acting as fractional C-level executives, our team provides hands-on support that’s tailored to your needs, whether it's a short-term project or a long-term partnership. We bring decades of experience in fields like AI, machine vision, healthcare technology, and more. Our goal is to help you scale effectively, de-risk your operations, and accelerate your path to market success.

Your Strategic Partner for Growth

Why Tough Tech?

Tough tech companies are the drivers of disruptive innovation, offering the potential for significant financial returns and societal impact. These companies require specialized support due to their long R&D cycles, capital intensity, and technical complexity. At Tough Tech Canada, we offer the guidance, networks, and resources to help them thrive.

Capital Services

Investing in Canada's Future

At Tough Tech Canada, we understand that funding is a full-time job. We help you get ready for funding, working with you to create credible business plans and compelling pitches that resonate with investors. We know the key players in the funding landscape and can help you navigate the often complex and frustrating process of securing capital.

To further our commitment, we are launching Tough Tech Canada Fund 1, set to become the leading investor in disruptive Canadian tough tech companies. This fund will unlock Canadian wealth, fueling the innovations that will shape the future of our economy while delivering strong financial returns for investors.

Meet the Team

  • Yvan Couture

    FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER

    30+ years in tough tech; start-ups, angel investments, advisory and board roles. Managed growth and sale of a profitable 400 person MedTech firm. Investor, board member, and CEO at Primal, a leading AI company with an extensive IP portfolio.

  • Chris Borth

    SENIOR PARTNER

    Physician and business leader who can discern the most innovative MedTech solutions from those that will not see the light of day in a real hospital. With a biochemistry degree and over 20 years of experience as a medical and surgical specialist, Chris also holds an MBA and has been involved in advising startup businesses in the medical and health tech space.

  • Nadiya Wilson

    SENIOR PARTNER
    Senior product leader with 15+ years of experience with a deep technical background, Nadiya holds graduate degrees in cognitive applications, NLP and an MBA. Nadiya spent most of her career taking disruptive technologies to market. Consulting early stage tough tech companies on product strategy and go-to-market.

  • Tom Donnelly

    FUND ADVISOR AND VENTURE PARTNER

    Successful entrepreneur and co-founder of Sandvine, an executive leader of PixStream, which was acquired by Cisco in 2000, and a founding member of the Waterloo Technology Founders Group. Tom has advised multiple early-stage companies in building and scaling their sales, marketing, business development, and customer service teams.

  • Todd Bissett

    LEGAL COUNSEL

    Ontario & California lawyer 20+ years in practice in the US, China, & Canada focused on the tech industry working on formation, management, due diligence, funding, and M&A activities. Partner at Gowling WLG.

  • Lynn Forgeron

    CFO

    Over two decades in senior finance roles, with several as CFO. Has been leading finance, accounting, and administration at Primal for 10 years including leading annual SR&ED tax credit and auditing activities.

Join Us in Shaping Canada’s Future

Whether you’re a founder seeking strategic guidance, an investor ready to capitalize on the next wave of Canadian innovation, or a partner looking to strengthen the tough tech ecosystem, we want to hear from you. Together, we can fuel the growth of tough tech companies and make Canada a global leader in this space.

Let’s Build the Future Together..

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly! We can't wait to hear from you!