Our Approach
Backed by a global institution and offering benefits beyond capital solutions, CIBC Innovation Banking offers flexible plans, expert insights, unique market knowledge and recurring revenue lending for late-stage startups ready to level up. Our specialized team offers extensive industry knowledge and deal experience in providing venture debt and growth capital to further accelerate the strategic plans of high-growth tech and life science companies.
Our focus is industry agnostic
Technology
- Enterprise & B2B software
- SMB software
- Infrastructure software
- Disruptive technology
- Clean technology
Life sciences
- Medical devices
- Life science tools
- Diagnostics
- Biotech/Pharma
- Healthcare IT
- Healthcare services
Revenue-based financing for every stage of business growth
Startup stage
(Series A funding)
If your business is demonstrating hyper revenue growth and strong gross margins, and is still EBITDA-negative, we can provide tailored venture debt solutions to accelerate your growth.
At this stage, our focus is on supporting your business through key milestones — product development, demonstrating market fit, initial customer acquisition, as well as implementing a sales strategy — with sights set on scalability as you move from early startup funding stages to the next growth stage in business.
Growth stage
(Series B funding)
If your business is showing continued revenue momentum and strong gross margins, and is EBITDA-negative or moving into profitability, we provide flexible venture debt and venture lending solutions to help you scale with confidence.
At this stage, our focus is on supporting your expansion strategy as you grow your team, increase your investment in sales and marketing, expand your customer base and continue to invest in research and development.
Late stage
(Series C funding)
If your business demonstrates sustainable revenue growth and has established customer relationships and recognizable products or services, it may be time to scale up with series-C funding.
At this stage, our focus is on helping your company deepen market penetration and evaluate both organic and inorganic growth strategies to enter new markets. Whether you’re exploring new verticals or even looking at IPO, we can underwrite agents and arrange syndicated credit facilities with a team dedicated to providing syndicated financing. Our team is on hand with the advice and expansion capital you need.
We pursue excellence
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Explore frequently asked questions about how CIBC Innovation Banking helps technology, life science, and venture-backed businesses grow.
We specialize in supporting the game-changing innovators in technology and life sciences – as well as the venture capital firms that support these industries.
Our innovative clients are changing the world by:
- Reducing emissions through AI-powered insights (ZeroNorth)
- Improving patients’ lives by simplifying orthopedic technology (IntelliJoint Surgical)
- Monitoring predictive maintenance through AI and IoT (Nanoprecise)
- Driving the future of auto appraisal (Tractable)
- Going places enabling on-demand para-transit services (Spare)
- Saving lives ferrying organs for transplants (TransMedics)
Discover the companies we’ve worked with here.
Angel investors, venture capital (VC) funds and startup accelerators all support early-stage businesses, but in different ways. Angel investors are individuals who independently invest money, typically for an equity stake, and sometimes with mentorship. Startup accelerators, on the other hand, offer robust and formalized mentorship programs to help early-stage businesses grow rapidly. Venture capital firms invest funds from limited partners with a similar stake in helping these companies grow.
We offer non-dilutive funding and investment to businesses at all stages of growth, primarily late-stage startups. Our flexible capital solutions include venture debt and recurring revenue financing, which enable growth without giving up equity.
Both equity and debt financing are valuable options for various stages of startup funding. The main difference is that in equity financing, companies give up a stake of ownership for growth capital they have no obligation to repay, whereas debt financing allows companies to retain their ownership stake to borrow funds for repayment with interest.
Though debt financing and equity financing could be appropriate for any stage of a startup company, it typically depends on where you are in your growth cycle, alongside other key factors like financial security, risk tolerance, growth outlook and ownership dilution.
The case for equity financing
Early-stage startups typically lack predictable revenue, and often prefer to give up an ownership stake (and, with it, a share of future profits and possibly decision-making power) through equity financing to secure growth capital without the pressure of interest-based repayments. They often also benefit from the strategic advice and connections that angel investors and venture capital firms bring to the table.
The case for debt financing
High-growth late-stage startups with stable revenue often prefer to retain control and avoid diluting equity by opting instead for debt financing. This funding is often leveraged for strategic growth through operations, acquisitions and expansion.
When high-growth startups, particularly in technology and software, begin earning consistent, predictable revenue, they may seek recurring revenue financing to support their expansion strategy without diluting equity. These loans not only offer quick access to growth capital, but they are also flexible, repayment-based and scalable, with the potential to increase alongside your margins.
There are traditionally six stages of a startup company: Pre-Seed Stage, Seed Stage, Early Stage (Series A and B), Late Stage (Series C) and Exit or Liquidity Stage (Series D). We can support a startup at any stage, but specialize in high-growth late- and exit-stage financing.
We offer support at any stage of a startup company interested in non-equity capital for business growth. Our team can offer support as your startup evolves from pre-growth to sustainable growth.
Our international team offers more than growth capital solutions. They act as the coaches in your corner as you scale from the growth stage in business to critical mass. Drawing on decades of experience, our team — who have deployed $11.2 billion to date across 700+ clients in the innovation capitals across North America and Europe — offer deep insights on how to scale with flexible capital, whether analyzing opportunity, evaluating acquisitions or pacing growth at a sustainable rate.
Fund banking for growth equity and venture capital firms.
We support venture capital funds and growth equity firms of all sizes with flexible financial solutions tailored to the fast-paced world of startup funding and investment.
We understand your focus on deal origination and enhancing your internal rate of return. Our specialized team offers extensive industry knowledge and deal experience across capital call lines/subscription lines, management company lines, general partner (GP) lines, cash management capabilities and venture lending to support your expansion strategy.
