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Wittington Ventures Closes $180 Million Canadian VC Fund, Targets Climate, Commerce and Consumer Startups
Toronto’s Wittington Ventures just closed a third venture‑capital fund, amassing 180 million Canadian dollars (CAD) to back Series A and B startups across climate, commerce, consumer, healthcare and food‑technology sectors.
The announcement came from managing partner Jim Orlando on LinkedIn. Limited partners include Wittington Investments— the Weston family’s holding company that owns Loblaw Companies and Shoppers Drug Mart—alongside a handful of unnamed institutions. The new fund is 50 percent larger than the 120 million‑CAD pot that closed in 2022, pushing the firm’s total assets under management to 820 million CAD.
Wittington Ventures has not yet deployed a single investment from the new pool. According to the firm, it intends to back 15 companies, allocating an average of 10 million CAD per deal. In an interview with BetaKit, Orlando said the firm will keep focusing on areas where it has a “differentiated” point of view, adding that the third fund will bring “more of the same.”
Founded in 2019 by Orlando, who previously led OMERS Ventures, Wittington began as a single 100 million‑CAD fund concentrated on commerce and healthcare. It has since grown into a 15‑person platform that spans pre‑seed, seed, growth equity, climate, consumer and food‑tech. The investment strategy is tiered: a 100 million‑CAD early‑stage arm targeting Canadian deep‑tech, a 400 million‑CAD core VC portfolio, and a 320 million‑CAD allocation for profitable or near‑profitable growth companies—including a 100 million‑CAD carve‑out for Canadian food growers.
Since its inception, the firm has backed more than 25 companies, including Toronto‑based Grey Matter Neurosciences, Odaia, Shakudo, Vancouver’s ViewsML and U.S.‑based Gatik. Several of these startups have already entered collaborations with Weston‑family businesses.
Wittington’s strategy is underpinned by close ties to the Weston portfolio. The company lists Loblaw, Shoppers Drug Mart, Choice Properties, Holt Renfrew, Wittington Investments and the Weston Family Foundation as part of its network. Orlando emphasized that the firm will continue to provide patient capital and support to entrepreneurs tackling difficult problems.
The closure of the third fund marks a milestone for the seven‑year‑old venture house, which has built a reputation for leveraging corporate relationships to nurture early‑stage innovation. While the first investment from the new capital remains pending, analysts note that the 180 million‑CAD pool positions Wittington to compete for deals in Canada’s expanding climate‑tech and consumer‑tech ecosystems.
As of September 10, 2026, Wittington Ventures has not announced any portfolio additions from the new fund. The firm’s next public update is expected in the form of a quarterly report or a press release announcing its first investment. Investors and industry observers will be watching to see how the firm deploys its capital and whether it continues to focus on the sectors highlighted in its recent announcement.
The expansion reflects broader trends in Canadian venture capital, where corporate‑backed funds increasingly aim to bridge gaps between research and commercialization—particularly in deep‑tech and sustainability. The Weston family’s ongoing investment in venture capital underscores its long‑term commitment to supporting Canadian innovation.
In summary, Wittington Ventures has raised 180 million CAD for its third VC fund, plans to invest in 15 Series A/B companies across climate, commerce, consumer, healthcare and food‑tech, and will lean on its corporate network to identify and support high‑potential startups. The firm’s next move will be to deploy capital and announce its first portfolio additions.
The announcement came from managing partner Jim Orlando on LinkedIn. Limited partners include Wittington Investments— the Weston family’s holding company that owns Loblaw Companies and Shoppers Drug Mart—alongside a handful of unnamed institutions. The new fund is 50 percent larger than the 120 million‑CAD pot that closed in 2022, pushing the firm’s total assets under management to 820 million CAD.
Wittington Ventures has not yet deployed a single investment from the new pool. According to the firm, it intends to back 15 companies, allocating an average of 10 million CAD per deal. In an interview with BetaKit, Orlando said the firm will keep focusing on areas where it has a “differentiated” point of view, adding that the third fund will bring “more of the same.”
Founded in 2019 by Orlando, who previously led OMERS Ventures, Wittington began as a single 100 million‑CAD fund concentrated on commerce and healthcare. It has since grown into a 15‑person platform that spans pre‑seed, seed, growth equity, climate, consumer and food‑tech. The investment strategy is tiered: a 100 million‑CAD early‑stage arm targeting Canadian deep‑tech, a 400 million‑CAD core VC portfolio, and a 320 million‑CAD allocation for profitable or near‑profitable growth companies—including a 100 million‑CAD carve‑out for Canadian food growers.
Since its inception, the firm has backed more than 25 companies, including Toronto‑based Grey Matter Neurosciences, Odaia, Shakudo, Vancouver’s ViewsML and U.S.‑based Gatik. Several of these startups have already entered collaborations with Weston‑family businesses.
Wittington’s strategy is underpinned by close ties to the Weston portfolio. The company lists Loblaw, Shoppers Drug Mart, Choice Properties, Holt Renfrew, Wittington Investments and the Weston Family Foundation as part of its network. Orlando emphasized that the firm will continue to provide patient capital and support to entrepreneurs tackling difficult problems.
The closure of the third fund marks a milestone for the seven‑year‑old venture house, which has built a reputation for leveraging corporate relationships to nurture early‑stage innovation. While the first investment from the new capital remains pending, analysts note that the 180 million‑CAD pool positions Wittington to compete for deals in Canada’s expanding climate‑tech and consumer‑tech ecosystems.
As of September 10, 2026, Wittington Ventures has not announced any portfolio additions from the new fund. The firm’s next public update is expected in the form of a quarterly report or a press release announcing its first investment. Investors and industry observers will be watching to see how the firm deploys its capital and whether it continues to focus on the sectors highlighted in its recent announcement.
The expansion reflects broader trends in Canadian venture capital, where corporate‑backed funds increasingly aim to bridge gaps between research and commercialization—particularly in deep‑tech and sustainability. The Weston family’s ongoing investment in venture capital underscores its long‑term commitment to supporting Canadian innovation.
In summary, Wittington Ventures has raised 180 million CAD for its third VC fund, plans to invest in 15 Series A/B companies across climate, commerce, consumer, healthcare and food‑tech, and will lean on its corporate network to identify and support high‑potential startups. The firm’s next move will be to deploy capital and announce its first portfolio additions.
