What is InBC Investment Corp.?

InBC Investment Corp. is a strategic investment fund created by the Government of British Columbia with $500 million to invest as a source of local and long-term capital for small and medium businesses. With a triple bottom line approach that values people, planet and profit, InBC seeks to build a more prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future for British Columbians.

What are InBC’s impact objectives?

Our four impact objectives are to:

• Drive climate action
• Innovate for the future
• Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
• Elevate inclusive communities

How will InBC be making investments?

InBC will invest through:

• Venture funds who invest across various stages of growth, including:
  • Seed stage companies – entrepreneurs needing capital to start a business
  • Early stage companies – with a product in testing or pilot production
  • Later stage companies – with a service/product looking to scale
• Direct investments in early and later stage companies

What will InBC invest in and what will it not invest in?

Each investment InBC makes is individually assessed according to the following:

• Business model and financial returns
• Strong connection to B.C.
• Alignment to one (or more) impact objective
• Environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks

We will not invest directly in seed stage companies, only through venture funds.
InBC will not be offering grants, loans and guarantees, short-term financing, investment into infrastructure or real estate projects.
InBC will also not invest in distressed businesses or illegal industries. The full list of exclusions is available in our Investment Policy Statement.
Over time, InBC will consider additional investment types.

How does InBC define “a strong connection to B.C.”?

We assess each investment’s connection to B.C. based on but not limited to the following:

• Location of headquarter and/or offices in B.C.
• Proportion of decision-makers and management team based in B.C.
• Percentage of investment and deal flow, revenue, employees and/or infrastructure in B.C.

How will you measure success and impact?

In addition to financial returns, we will measure impact across our portfolio with metrics that reflect progress towards the following:

• Diversity, equity and inclusion
• Impacts on Indigenous businesses and communities
• Geographic representation across B.C.
• Contribution to decarbonization
• Quality job creation, productivity and economic development

InBC leverages global standards and frameworks to measure impact including but not limited to the Impact Management Project, UN Principles for Responsible Investing, UN Sustainable Development Goals and Targets, UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) , Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative and International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Operating Principles for Impact Management.

Is InBC seeking a return on investment? What will it do with returns?

Yes, we are seeking a positive financial return across our portfolio.

Returns on investments will be reinvested to create an evergreen fund for B.C., with a goal to generate enough investment income for InBC to become financially self-sustaining in the medium to long-term. Achieving this goal, InBC will be able to continue working for British Columbians well into the future.

Who does InBC report to?

InBC’s shareholder is the Government of British Columbia, represented by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. InBC is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors, two appointed from the public service, and the remaining seven made up of representatives from industry, finance, academia and other areas of leadership in the province. The Board Chair is Christine Bergeron, CEO of Vancity.

Will InBC’s investments be shared publicly?

InBC will be sharing investments once they are committed. Our founding legislation also requires that we publish annual reports detailing our investment performance and activities. In order to maintain confidentiality of the commercially sensitive data that is accessed during the investment evaluation process, InBC cannot share investment decisions in advance. For specific investment dollar amounts, we are respecting each fund or business’s communications plan for when they are ready to publicly announce.

How do I apply for investment?

If you are a company or venture fund who meets our investment criteria and impact objectives, please submit your information here to be considered for investment.


What is the deadline to submit my company/fund information to be considered for investment?

InBC’s investments are ongoing and there is no set deadline for submission. We will be deploying $500 million over the next few years. Over time, profits will be reinvested so that InBC can be an evergreen fund serving B.C. for years to come.


I need help with submitting my fund/company information. Who can I contact?

For help with your submission, please email info@inbcinvestment.ca. Due to volume, we are unable to provide status updates on demand for existing submissions.

Is InBC investing in pre-revenue companies?

We are focused on companies currently generating revenue and showing positive signs of market traction (such as a customer base, successful pilot, previously raised financing, etc.). In very limited cases, we may consider pre-revenue companies.

Is InBC investing in rural areas and smaller cities?

We are considering investment in all economic regions of the province. There is no advantage or disadvantage based on a company/fund’s location.

I submitted my company/fund information a while ago. When will I hear back?

Due to the volume of interest, we may not be able to respond to all submissions immediately. As of today, you can expect an initial response within approximately two weeks. Companies and funds proceeding to the next stage will also be contacted for additional information.

How do I appeal an investment decision?

If there has been a significant change to your business since your submission that results in your business meeting InBC’s criteria, please follow up your previous submission with this additional information. Due to the volume of submissions received, we may not be able to respond immediately to every submission.