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Key people at Good News Ventures.
Good News Ventures is a Toronto-based pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital firm investing in high-growth B2B and B2B2C technology startups. It prioritizes innovations in AI and blockchain, including generative tools, predictive analytics, and infrastructure. Beyond capital, the firm provides strategic insights, operational guidance, and a network to portfolio companies, maintaining a founder-first approach.
The firm was founded by Marat Mukhamedyarov, an angel investor with a blockchain track record, and Mohan Markandaier, an entrepreneur experienced in scaling ventures. Their insight, rooted in personal startup challenges, fosters a "founders first" philosophy, emphasizing support beyond financial backing. This pedigree informs their hands-on method for engaging with promising early-stage companies.
Good News Ventures engages founders of early-stage technology companies, evaluating opportunities via its "Why You? Why Now? Why This?" thesis, assessing founder-market fit, timing, and competitive moat. The firm empowers these visionaries through its "Next Level Program" to accelerate scaling and guide them to critical growth milestones in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Good News Ventures is a Toronto-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 that focuses on investing in pre-seed and seed-stage technology startups, particularly in AI, Blockchain, IoT, Infrastructure, and Quantum Computing sectors. Their mission centers on backing visionary founders who challenge the status quo, providing capital, expertise, and operational support through programs like their Next Level initiative to help startups scale and solve operational challenges. The firm primarily invests in B2B and B2B2C high-growth potential companies, contributing to the technology startup ecosystem by nurturing early-stage innovation and helping founders navigate growth hurdles[1][2][3].
The firm was established by key partners including Marat Mukhamedyarov and Mohan Markandaier. Over time, Good News Ventures has evolved to emphasize a founder-first approach, leveraging a network of experienced partners and limited partners (LPs) to support portfolio companies beyond capital. Their investment activity is concentrated mostly in Canada and the United States, with a portfolio of over 33 investments and several exits, focusing on startups typically valued between $1 million and $5 million. Notable portfolio companies include AXIS Labs, Zoom.ai, and Sampler, reflecting their interest in software, internet, and financial services sectors[1][3][6].
Good News Ventures rides the wave of rapid technological advancement in AI, Blockchain, and related fields, sectors that are reshaping industries globally. Their timing is strategic, investing early in startups that leverage these transformative technologies when market demand and innovation potential are accelerating. By focusing on early-stage companies, they help bridge the gap between nascent ideas and scalable businesses, influencing the broader ecosystem by fostering innovation, job creation, and technological progress in Canada and beyond[1][2][3].
Looking ahead, Good News Ventures is likely to continue expanding its portfolio in AI and Blockchain, sectors expected to drive significant technological disruption. Their founder-first approach and operational support model position them well to capitalize on emerging trends such as decentralized finance, quantum computing applications, and AI-driven enterprise solutions. As these technologies mature, Good News Ventures’ influence may grow, potentially increasing their role as a key catalyst in the North American and global startup ecosystems, helping shape the next generation of tech leaders[1][2][3].
Key people at Good News Ventures.
