🧭 How to Invest in Great Companies (and Build a Better Capital Market)

Last week, we celebrated FrontFundr’s 10th anniversary—a milestone not just for the company, but for the Canadian innovation economy.In the past decade, nearly $300M has been invested via FrontFundr by almost 20,000 investors. That’s not just capital—it’s community. And it’s a reimagining of how early-stage companies can raise money and stay in control.I joined FrontFundr early—as an investor, board member, and long-time believer in the crowdfunding model. Used wisely, it can be more aligned, more forgiving, and more strategic than institutional capital—especially for B2C startups.The same spirit applies to revenue-based financing, like the approach Lighter Capital takes. I’ll be speaking with CEO Melissa Widner on the podcast soon—stay tuned.And a big thanks to Joe Canavan for reminding us that while markets matter, character still comes first. The best founders protect early believers, think long-term, and build with values.More thoughts on crowdfunding, capital structure, and founder-first funding in my latest edition#FrontFundr #AngelInvesting #Crowdfunding #LighterCapital #CapitalStrategy #EarlyStageInvesting #CanadianStartups #FounderFirst #PrivateMarkets #ValueCreationPeggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare