Fonds de solidarité FTQ is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in investments in start-ups, early venture, mergers, business acquisitions, management buyouts, market development project or a buyout, financing for new programs, organic growth and cash flow, growth and expansion financings, development capital, business succession, financial restructuring, business transition financing, family and non-family buyout, consolidations, turnaround, and leveraged management buyouts. It also invests in new markets, product and business line developments, market diversification, interim financings, new product marketing, additional working capital, purchase of tangible and intangible assets, equipment modernization, equipment purchases or upgrades, and integrator projects. The firm has regional funds that do not invest in retail, real estate, farming, biotechnology, and financial services.  Fonds de solidarité FTQ invests in small and medium-sized businesses. It typically invests in export projects, forest products, productivity improvement, natural resources, aerospace, agri-food, wood, pulp and paper, chemicals, construction and construction materials, printing, transportation equipment and automobiles, transportation services, furniture and fixtures, combinatorial chemistry and other lead generating technologies, mining and exploration, social economy, textiles, plastics, life sciences, business services, telecommunications, distribution and consumer goods, environment, equipment and machinery, financial services, information and communication technology, metal products, recreational tourism, and culture sectors.  Within the culture sector, Fonds de solidarité FTQ seeks to invest in pre-production and creative projects, production projects, infrastructures and services, post-production projects, distribution, and broadcasting and multiplatform broadcasting. Within the environment sector, it invests in waste management and energy conversion for residual waste; air treatment and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; processes to reduce industrial energy and water consumption; water treatment; and soil rehabilitation and decontamination (metals and organic compounds).  Within the life sciences sector, Fonds de solidarité FTQ focuses on services for the biopharmaceutical industry; nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals; diagnostics and medical supplies and equipment; biopharmaceuticals and generic drugs; biotechnology, and animal health. Within the tourism sector, it focuses on urban tourism, nature tourism, resort type tourism, and local tourism for Quebecers, and in the textiles sector it invests in companies engaged in development and production of specialty textiles as well as development of industrial applications for the construction, transportation, health and safety, and work apparel industries.  Fonds de solidarité FTQ prefers to invest in Quebec and in companies impacting the Québec economy. It focuses on investing in the following regions- Abitibi –Témiscamingue, Bas Saint Laurent, Chaudière-Appalaches, Côte-Nord, Estrie, Gaspésie Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Laval, Mauricie - Centre-du-Québec, Montérégie, Nord-du-Québec, Outaouais, and Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean.  Fonds de solidarité FTQ seeks to invest in projects of $3 million or more and also provides loans of up to $ 2 million. It invests in companies in business succession sector having minimum capitalization of $500,000 and EBITDA of over $35.5 million in case of majority interest; equipment and machinery sector with average investment in excess of $3 million; environment sector with funding needs of more than $500000; financial services sector having net assets between $20 million and $50 million in equity; metal products sector having annual sales of over $5 million and financing needs of at least $2 million; and printing sector having investment needs of over $1 million.  In the information technology sector, Fonds de solidarité FTQ seeks to invest $2 million as initial investments while total investments can be more than $10 million. It invests in the form of equity financing (common or preferred shares) and unsecured debt requiring no collateral (debenture).  Fonds de solidarité FTQ can take both a minority interest including an equity stake of up to 49 percent as well a majority interest in its portfolio companies in case of business succession financing. It seeks a minority stake for the portfolio companies in the equipment and machinery sector. It typically holds its investments for a period of five to ten years in case of equity financing and for more than ten years in case of business succession financing.  Fonds de solidarité FTQ began operation on June 23, 1983. It has its headquarters in Montreal in Canada with additional offices in the same city and Quebec in the same country.

Fonds de solidarité FTQ

They  are an investment firm, created by entrepreneurs, targeting technology and media related profitable companies with a proven track record and strong potential for growth.   They  help develop the potential of the organizations in which They invest. Using the approach of an entrepreneur, They work closely with companies on their development by reinforcing their strengths and maximizing their efficiency without necessarily disrupting their business model or affecting key individuals in place. They  truly promote talent, and They ensure positive change and guarantee expansion while bringing in added value which makes all the difference.

W Investments

Marel is the leading global provider of advanced processing systems and services to the Poultry, Meat and Fish industries. We offer the convenience of a single source to meet every need.

Marel

Investissement Québec offers a range of financing solutions to SMEs and large companies. Investissement Québec partners in consulting and financing to support their client's expansion project in Québec. They offer the combined advantages of financial institutions and economic development agencies.

Investissement Quebec

Worximity Technology

We assist food processing companies and manufacturers to apply continuous performance. From the shop floor to the business level, our solution enables everyone that involved with production to make smarter decisions, to collaborate better and to take part in meeting production goals.

<div><p>Based in Canada, Worximity offers data analytics solutions for the manufacturing industry. It utilizes AI and machine learning for automatic data collection, real-time operations monitoring, and generates automated analytical reports with operational insights while also offering insights for preventive and predictive maintenance. Worximity offers three main products: 1) Tile+&mdash;a real-time production tracking software that enables remote monitoring of factory operations, 2) Tilelytics&mdash;an analytics platform that analyzes production patterns to offer insights for decision making, and 3) TileConnect&mdash;a sensor-based device that can be attached to machines to collect data. These products are aimed at measuring downtime, throughput, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and yield of factory operations.     In June 2023, the company launched the<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19776">Insights platform</a>enabling manufacturers to monitor and optimize its production processes by leveraging data intelligence to transform shop floor metrics into actionable insights.    The company operates in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.</p></div>

Using data and automation to achieve 24/7 production.

Smart Factory

Worximity

<div>
  <p>
    Based in Canada, Worximity offers data analytics solutions for the manufacturing industry. It utilizes AI and machine learning for automatic data collection, real-time operations monitoring, and generates automated analytical reports with operational insights while also offering insights for preventive and predictive maintenance. Worximity offers three main products: 1) Tile+&mdash;a real-time production tracking software that enables remote monitoring of factory operations, 2) Tilelytics&mdash;an analytics platform that analyzes production patterns to offer insights for decision making, and 3) TileConnect&mdash;a sensor-based device that can be attached to machines to collect data. These products are aimed at measuring downtime, throughput, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and yield of factory operations. 
    In June 2023, the company launched the 
    <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19776">
      Insights platform
    </a>
     enabling manufacturers to monitor and optimize its production processes by leveraging data intelligence to transform shop floor metrics into actionable insights.
    The company operates in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
  </p>
  <p>
    <b>Key customers and partnerships</b>
  </p>
  <p>
    Worximity had completed over 2,500 projects as of May 2022, with its customers including BiC, Olymel, Arterra, ADL, and Boreale.
  </p>
  <p>
    <b>Funding and financials</b>
  </p>
  <p>
    In May 2022, Worximity raised USD 14 million in Series B funding to develop new products, invest more in R&amp;D, grow its presence in current markets, and expand into new geographies.
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    Righthand Robotics provides autonomous robotic picking solutions called RightPick. It utilizes a smart gripper, machine learning, and computer vision to imitate human hand-eye coordination. It develops software and hardware for predictable order fulfillment at scale with flexibility. The company&rsquo;s solutions can be utilized in industries such as apparel, grocery, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. It is based in Massachusetts and has an office in Tokyo, Japan. The company is focused on expanding its European operations, having opened an office in Frankfurt, Germany, in March 2020.
  </p>
  <p>
    In 2019, the company launched the second generation of its piece-picking robotic solution, &ldquo;RightPick2,&rdquo; which includes enhancements to hardware and software. The upgrades included a fifth-generation industrial gripper with the capacity to lift up to 4.4 lbs, new depth-sensing cameras from Intel, and an improved arm from Universal Robots. In 2021, the company launched &ldquo;RightPick 3,&rdquo; with improved picking speeds, capacity to handle a broader item range, and with capabilities for dense packing and damage-free item handling. 
    <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25875">
      <u>In January 2024,</u>
    </a>
     it launched &ldquo;RightPick 4&rdquo; with enhanced AI, sensor suite, and new hardware that allow the system to extend its item-picking range, handle items more efficiently, and enhance system autonomy.
  </p>
  <p>
    In February 2022, the company raised USD 66 million in a Series C round bringing its total funding to USD 100.3 million. The funds were expected to be used to accelerate product and business development, scale global presence by expanding the partner network, expand offices, and acquiring new talent to support overall growth plans. Subsequently, in March 2022, the company announced the launch of its 
    <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9203?industryIds=6">
      partner integrator program,
    </a>
     to complement its robotic piece-picking solutions with warehouse technologies and solution providers to cater to the broad ecommerce order fulfillment market. In May 2022, AutoStore integrator in South Korea Asetec also joined the program.
  </p>
</div>


RightHand Robotics

<div>
  <p>
    SparkCognition is an AI analytics startup offering four deep learning product solutions: Darwin (automated model-building software), DeepArmor (AI-powered cybersecurity), DeepNLP (NLP solution), and SparkPredict (analytics solution utilizing sensor data). These products deliver actionable insights, predict machine issues via historical maintenance data, and provide security from cyber threats. These products can be deployed across multiple industries, such as manufacturing, defense, utilities, oil and gas, and aviation. 
  </p>
  <p>
    SparkCognition’s clientele comprises large companies such as Boeing, Hitachi, and British Petroleum. It has also built partnerships with Google for cloud platform services, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise to offer AI predictive maintenance on HPE Edgeline Converged Edge Systems, and OSIsoft to integrate SparkCognition’s machine learning technology with OSIsoft’s PI system to improve data and process data analytics.
  </p>
  <p>
    The company’s most recent funding round was Series D funding worth USD 123 million in January 2022 from March Capital, Doha Venture Capital, B. Riley Venture Capital, AEI Horizon X, Temasek, and several others. The funds were intended to be used to invest in R&D, accelerate sales and marketing, facilitate organic and inorganic growth, and also for the working capital requirements of the company. In March 2022, the company acquired Indian visual AI startup 
    <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9370?industryIds=6">
      Integration Wizards
    </a>
     to expand its intellectual property (IP) portfolio to improve vision capabilities. The company has reported a 2x increase in revenue YoY in 2021.
  </p>
</div>


SparkCognition

<div>
  <p>
    Kinta AI provides an automated production planning platform for manufacturing that uses advanced AI algorithms and simulation techniques. Using existing operational data, a SaaS solution is deployed that can be integrated with existing management execution systems (MES), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and Industry 4.0 tools in the factory. The software looks to have cross-functional communication across the factory to eliminate any bottlenecks that delay resolving breakdowns. Kinta AI has partnered with Flex (an electronics manufacturer) and BASF (a chemical company).
  </p>
  <p>
    Kinta AI’s most recent financing was a Series A funding round worth USD 5.5 million in April 2021 led by Lachy Groom’s LGF and Shine Capital. The funds will be utilized to scale operations in existing general industrial client factories and implement the Kinta AI platform in new client factories.
  </p>
</div>


Kinta AI

<div>
  <p>
    Sight Machine provides a digital manufacturing platform enabled by AI. It creates a digital twin of both assets and processes to help manufacturers improve processes, quality, and productivity. It can also gather data from machines of various manufacturers supplying actionable insights for predictive maintenance, quality improvement, capacity utilization, among other benefits. In October 2022, the company released 
    <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13696?industryIds=6">
      <u>Sight Machine Blueprint</u>
    </a>
     to offer manufacturers with advanced data analytics solutions.
  </p>
  <p>
    Sight Machine has established partnerships with large global companies such as Microsoft, Google, and  Amazon Web Services (AWS) for their cloud platforms and Fujitsu (system integrator) to help with wide deployments. Sight Machine, which caters to at least 15 verticals, such as food and beverage, electronics, and automotive, is on the move to expand into more verticals. It has global clients of Fortune 500-caliber, including Nissan, Heineken, Westrock Co., and Asian Paints. Sight Machine&rsquo;s most recent funding round was Series C funding worth USD 29.4 million in April 2019, led by LS Group. The funds were to be used to expedite the company&rsquo;s growth.
  </p>
  <p>
    <b>Funding and financials</b>
  </p>
  <p>
    In December 2023, 
    <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25200">
      <u>Sight Machine received a low double-digit million euro investmen</u>
    </a>
    t from TeamViewer to improve industrial digitalization and enhance manufacturing efficiency.
  </p>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


Sight Machine

<div>
  <p>
    Overview uses smart cameras and AI to monitor manufacturing equipment and robots and identify defects in real time before significant damage or downtime is incurred. The technology has a repository of machine data so that there is a traceable visual record of all units. With AI, the cause of production issues and quality concerns can be identified either on-site or remotely. The company claims over time, the deep learning computer vision algorithms allow for any sudden substantial increases in production and improved yields. 
    
    <b>Funding and financials</b>
  </p>
  <p>
    In February 2022, the company raised USD 10 million in series A funding to be used to expand operations and business reach.
  </p>
</div>


Overview

Creates digital twins of assets and processes to help manufacturers improve processes, quality, and productivity

Connected devices, sensors, IoT, and analytics are used to optimize factory operations

Uses advanced robotics, AMRs, and related software to improve the efficiency of factory operations

Uses connected devices and sensors to gather data—IIoT, predictive analysis, and equipment inspection

Uses AI/ML to analyze data for predictive maintenance and AI-based vision systems for line inspections

5G standard allows for faster reaction times and supports high connection densities

Uses edge computing for data processing at the edge

Some companies in the predictive maintenance space uses generative AI to generate possible alternative scenarios

Companies that focus on data analytics for operations streamlining and process optimization, and may offer predictive maintenance.

Worximity

Smart Factory

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Recent Updates

Worximity launches Insights platform for better analysis of manufacturing data

Worximity raises USD 14 million in Series B funding

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