Real Fellowship launched
New program pairing a dozen experienced entrepreneurs with portfolio founders; the first retreat was held in Montreal.
Venture Capital
Montreal early-stage VC (founded 2007) behind FounderFuel; currently backing only existing portfolio companies.
0 open roles0 deals6 people7 sources
Real Ventures is a Montreal-based early-stage venture firm co-founded in 2007 by John Stokes, Alan MacIntosh and JS Cournoyer. It backs Canadian technology founders from pre-seed onward; portfolio companies include Xanadu, Transit, BenchSci and Zeffy. It also runs ecosystem programs such as the FounderFuel accelerator, the Real Fellowship and Rep Matters. Its FAQ says it is focused on supporting existing portfolio companies through follow-ons and is not making new investments, and its careers page shows no openings. Treat it as a small team and an ecosystem connector rather than an active hiring channel.
Sector-agnostic, tech-enabled pre-seed and seed investing, mainly in Canada with occasional US deals. It co-invests readily and does not always need to lead. Per its FAQ it is currently focused on follow-ons in existing companies, not new investments.
Real's accelerator program for early founders, run by Partner and General Manager Katy Yam and drawing on Real's mentor network.
The Real Fellowship (launched 2024) pairs experienced entrepreneurs with portfolio founders for monthly peer support and leadership retreats. Rep Matters is an interview series highlighting Black entrepreneurs and investors.
| Montreal | QC | headquarters |
Powered by
From the inside
Reasons that work in interviews
3 reasons for Real Ventures
Venture interviews test sourcing and judgement rather than technicals. Bring a company they have not invested in and explain why you would back it, then name a portfolio company of theirs you find interesting and why. That does more than any structural reason.
Deliberate ecosystem-building role in Montreal, including accelerator and community work, so the firm's impact extends past its portfolio.
Seed stage with a long history of backing founders early.
Strong Quebec tech network.
Coming soon
We’re collecting the real technical and behavioural questions candidates were asked at Real Ventures, by role and office, and how each round runs.
When they’re in, they’ll be part of BSO Pro, which already has candidate reports for dozens of firms.
Interviewing there sooner than that? Get in touch and we’ll help you prepare.
How juniors get in
Small Montreal team with no open roles and no analysts; it is not making new investments, so treat it as a networking contact rather than a place to apply now.
Green: evidence it does. Struck through: evidence it doesn’t. Dashed: no public evidence either way.
Programs
Managing Partner (Co-founder)
Investment
Co-founded Real Ventures in 2007 after leading roles in two startups in Asia-Pacific and several years of angel investing. His listed companies include Transit App, Unsplash, Clearbanc and Breathe Life.
Board Partner (Co-founder)
Investment
Co-founder (with John Stokes and Alan MacIntosh) and hands-on investor focused on AI, blockchain, AR/VR and synthetic biology. Listed companies include Xanadu, Tenstorrent, Avidbots and Arcbyt.
Co-founder (title not listed)
Investment
Wireless and internet operator-investor who co-founded GSM Capital and Acta Wireless before co-founding Real Ventures in 2007. He works mainly with emerging-software startups; listed companies include Swift Medical, Algolux and XpertSea.
Partner
Investment
Spent nearly a decade in Silicon Valley, including on the founding team at Chegg, then led growth, marketing and sales at early-stage startups before joining Real. He works with founders on organization building, product strategy and Series A fundraising; his companies include Looka, MindBridge and LoginRadius.
Partner and FounderFuel General Manager
Investment / FounderFuel
Runs the FounderFuel accelerator as Partner and General Manager. Before Real she spent three years at Element AI, and she has about 20 years managing product, business intelligence and marketing teams. She also leads TEDxMontréal.
Senior Associate
Investment
Former athletic trainer who created the Rep Matters interview series with Real in 2020 and joined as an associate in 2021. He supports the firm's investment activities.
Professional information only, drawn from official biographies and published reporting. BSO never lists private contact details.
New program pairing a dozen experienced entrepreneurs with portfolio founders; the first retreat was held in Montreal.
John Stokes, Alan MacIntosh and JS Cournoyer co-found the firm in Montreal.
No sourced transactions or people moves for this firm. BSO publishes a fact only once it can attribute it to a named source, so these stay off the page rather than being filled in from inference. If you know something published that belongs here, it is the fastest way to get it added.
Tell us what we’re missing5
1
1
0
Real Ventures · Apr 22, 2024 · realventures.com
Real Ventures · Date unavailable · realventures.com
Real Ventures · Date unavailable · realventures.com
Real Ventures · Date unavailable · realventures.com
Real Ventures · Date unavailable · realventures.com
BetaKit · Sep 21, 2022 · betakit.com
Bay Street Oracle · Oct 8, 2026 · intelligence.baystreetoracle.ca
Showing sources for the free preview. 0 further sources support the locked intelligence on this page.
Add your resume and BSO shows how you match Real Ventures and the signals in your favour. BSO Pro adds how to position yourself, who to contact and the roles open at your level.
Get your planCo-op / Off-cycle intern · Canada
Seed funds take interns on a rolling basis rather than a cycle, and the work is sourcing and diligence rather than modelling. A company you would back, argued well, does more than a resume here. BSO has not confirmed a timetable for Real Ventures on an official page: this records that the intake exists and what the category's cycle looks like, not a published date. Confirm with the firm before you plan around it.
Typical background
GuidanceNo prior finance experience required; a student investment fund or one relevant internship helps.
Large-cap platforms and global multi-strategy funds
Upper mid-market PE, infrastructure, the Maple 8 and large managers
Mid-market PE, mid-sized managers, domestic hedge funds and smaller pensions
Small-cap private equity, boutique managers and early-stage VC
Real Ventures is hereWhere people go next
Guidance