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TandemLaunch

Unique startup foundry and seed fund based in Montreal
TandemLaunch
Leadership team

Benjamin Finkelstein (co-founder)

Alexandre Gagnon (co-founder)

Paul Raphaël (co-founder)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
Montreal, Canada
Established
2010
Social Media
Summary

TandemLaunch is a venture capital firm based in Montreal, Canada, founded in 2010 by Helge Seetzen. It specializes in incubating early-stage technology startups in the fields of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and other emerging technologies.

TandemLaunch helps aspiring entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses by providing them with mentorship, funding, and access to a network of industry experts. It also provides physical resources such as office space, hardware, and software tools to help startups get off the ground.

The company's investment strategy is focused on identifying promising startups with cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to disrupt traditional industries. TandemLaunch invests in companies with the innovative technology in the early stages of development and helps them grow and succeed.

TandemLaunch has a strong track record of success, having incubated over 30 startups, with several of them being acquired by larger companies. The company has also raised over $20 million in funding and has a team of experienced professionals with expertise in business development, engineering, and marketing.

TandemLaunch has gained a reputation for being a highly selective and hands-on incubator. It only selects a handful of companies each year to ensure that it can provide each startup with the resources and attention it needs to succeed. The company is known for its rigorous screening process and its focus on nurturing a culture of innovation and collaboration.

History

TandemLaunch is a startup foundry and seed fund that was founded in Montreal, Canada, in 2010. The company was founded by Helge Seetzen, who had previously worked at technology firms such as Dolby Labs and Sirius XM Radio. TandemLaunch operates on a unique model where it works with cutting-edge research from some of the world's best universities to help entrepreneurs build and launch exceptional technology companies.

Over the years, TandemLaunch has developed a reputation for providing de-risked and comprehensive support to first-time entrepreneurs, allowing them to focus on building their ventures and developing solutions to real-world problems. The company provides funding, coaching, mentorship, and operational support to its startups, thereby eliminating barriers that typically cause startups to fail.

TandemLaunch's model is based on scouting for disruptive technologies that entrepreneurs can use to create a tech startup. The company is constantly looking for exceptional technical minds with graduate research experience and strong leadership skills to join its Entrepreneurship-in-Residence program.

The program is designed for individuals with a PhD or an MS in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or similar technical fields, with industry and/or project experience. Great communication skills, a passion for entrepreneurship, and the drive to build something from the ground up are also essential, and previous experience in successfully leading a team is a plus.

The TandemLaunch model is divided into four phases: Qualification, Creation, Incubation, and Graduation. During the qualification phase, the company trains entrepreneurs in startup building basics and places them temporarily with one of its existing ventures to give them an insight into what building a company at TandemLaunch looks like.

During the creation phase, the goal is to prepare viable investment opportunities, including validation of the technology and its market viability, formation of the initial core team, establishment of an initial business plan, and definition of the early financial structure for investment. In the incubation phase, the entrepreneur establishes a complete team, formalizes the product and technology, and secures third-party financing.

If all the criteria are met, the entrepreneur graduates from the program and becomes an independent company. Third-party angel and/or venture investors, often from the TandemLaunch network, generally finance the growth of the company at this stage.

Since its founding, TandemLaunch has created over 30 deep tech ventures focused on the consumer electronics industry. The company has employed hundreds of people from entry-level to the executive level, and its portfolio companies have raised over $250 million in third-party investment.

The company has also contributed significantly to value creation, with over $500 million in value created since its inception. Moreover, over 80% of TandemLaunch's companies have raised Series A financing.

Today, TandemLaunch continues to operate out of Montreal, Canada, with a team of over 30 people from more than 40 different nationalities, and the company is proud to have a wide range of cultures at its office so that it can learn from each other.

Investment criteria

TandemLaunch specialises in early-stage technology startups. The firm has specific investment criteria that it looks for in companies that it chooses to invest in. Here are some of the key investment criteria that TandemLaunch focuses on:

  • Founding Team: TandemLaunch looks for founders who are passionate about their product or service and have a deep understanding of their target market. The founding team should also have a strong track record of working together and building successful ventures in the past.
  • Market Potential: The firm looks for startups that are targeting large and growing markets with significant potential for disruption. The market should also be large enough to support multiple successful companies.
  • Technology Innovation: TandemLaunch invests in startups that are developing innovative technologies that have the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. The firm looks for companies that are working on cutting-edge technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics.
  • Intellectual Property: The firm looks for startups that have a strong intellectual property portfolio that is defensible and can be monetized in the future. The IP should also be relevant to the startup's target market.
  • Stage of Development: TandemLaunch invests in early-stage startups that are pre-seed or seed-stage. The firm looks for startups that have a working prototype or MVP and are ready to begin testing their product in the market.
  • Growth Potential: The firm looks for startups that have the potential to scale rapidly and become leaders in their respective markets. The startup should also have a clear path to monetization and a plan for generating sustainable revenue.

Overall, TandemLaunch invests in startups that are solving real-world problems with innovative technology solutions. The firm has a strong focus on supporting its portfolio companies throughout their growth journey and providing them with the resources they need to succeed.

Values

The startup accelerator works with entrepreneurs to turn their early-stage ideas into successful companies. The company is guided by a set of core values that define its culture and approach to business.

  • Entrepreneurial Spirit: TandemLaunch values the entrepreneurial spirit and works with founders who are passionate about their ideas and committed to turning them into successful businesses.
  • Diversity and Inclusion: TandemLaunch recognizes the value of diversity and inclusion in building successful companies. The company actively seeks out entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and works to create an inclusive environment where all ideas are welcomed and respected.
  • Innovation: TandemLaunch is committed to innovation and works with founders who are developing groundbreaking technologies and products. The company encourages its portfolio companies to take risks and push the boundaries of what is possible.
  • Collaboration: TandemLaunch believes that collaboration is key to building successful companies. The company works closely with its portfolio companies to provide guidance and support and to help them connect with investors, customers, and partners.
  • Long-Term Thinking: TandemLaunch takes a long-term view of its investments and works with founders who are committed to building sustainable businesses. The company believes that success is not just about short-term gains but about building companies that can thrive over the long term.

Overall, TandemLaunch's values reflect a commitment to supporting innovative, diverse, and inclusive startups that have the potential to make a significant impact on their industries and the world.

Mission

TandemLaunch's mission statement is to build successful companies by identifying and nurturing high-potential technology and transforming them into successful ventures. The company aims to bridge the gap between research and commercialization by providing a platform for entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators to collaborate and bring their ideas to market.

TandemLaunch believes that by fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, they can make a positive impact on the world by creating new products and services that solve real-world problems. The company seeks to identify technologies with the potential to make a significant impact on society and invest in the talent and resources needed to transform them into successful businesses.

At the heart of TandemLaunch's mission is the belief that great ideas can come from anywhere. The company's goal is to provide a supportive environment where entrepreneurs, regardless of their background or experience, can thrive and succeed. TandemLaunch also places a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing that a wide range of perspectives and experiences is essential for building innovative companies that can make a positive impact on society.

Portfolio

TandemLaunch is a Montreal-based startup incubator and venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-stage deep technology startups. Since its inception in 2010, TandemLaunch has incubated and invested in over 40 companies across various industries, including artificial intelligence, computer vision, the internet of things (IoT), and more. Here are a few examples of companies in TandemLaunch's portfolio:

  • wrnch - wrnch is an AI company that provides real-time motion capture and analysis for human pose estimation. Its technology can be used in a wide range of applications, including sports training, gaming, and virtual reality.
  • Aerial Technologies - Aerial Technologies develops intelligent WiFi sensing technology that can detect the presence and movement of people within a space. This technology has applications in home security, healthcare, and smart home automation.
  • Algolux - Algolux is an AI company that develops computer vision technology for autonomous vehicles. Its software improves the ability of cameras to see in challenging lighting and weather conditions.
  • Sportlogiq - Sportlogiq is a sports analytics company that uses AI and computer vision to track player and ball movement in real time. Its technology is used by professional sports teams and media companies.
  • Fluent.ai - Fluent.ai develops voice recognition technology that can understand natural language commands in a variety of languages and dialects. Its technology has applications in voice assistants, smart home automation, and more.

Overall, TandemLaunch's portfolio companies are focused on developing deep technology solutions that can have a significant impact on various industries.

References
TandemLaunch
Leadership team

Benjamin Finkelstein (co-founder)

Alexandre Gagnon (co-founder)

Paul Raphaël (co-founder)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
Montreal, Canada
Established
2010
Social Media