Realize Fund I, managed by Realize Capital Partners, announced that it has secured a record-setting $25 million investment from the Concordia University Inter-Generational Fund, representing the most significant Canadian university investment to date into a private impact fund. The commitment highlights the accelerating momentum behind Canada-first impact investing and the growing participation of institutional investors in sustainable finance initiatives.
Realize Fund I serves as a fund-of-funds manager for the Government of Canada’s Social Finance Fund, a national initiative designed to mobilize private capital toward positive social and environmental outcomes. The new investment by Concordia University marks a significant step in aligning higher education endowments with sustainability objectives while supporting the broader Canadian innovation and impact ecosystem.
The investment aligns with Concordia’s commitment, announced in April 2025, to ensure that its entire endowment portfolio is invested in 100% sustainable assets. The university views its participation in Realize Fund I as both a financial and ethical investment—advancing long-term intergenerational benefits while supporting Canadian businesses that drive measurable social and environmental progress.
Canadian institutional investors have increasingly sought opportunities to invest in domestic innovation and economic resilience, a trend amplified by recent trade and tariff policy changes in the United States. Realize Fund I’s growing investor base—comprising 17 limited partners (LPs) to date, two-thirds of whom are first-time impact investors—reflects this national shift toward mission-aligned capital deployment. Investors range from large financial institutions such as Roynat, a division of Scotiabank, to prominent venture investors like Patrick Lor, Managing Partner at Panache Ventures.
The fund’s investees, including early-stage impact funds and enterprises, have already seen benefits from Realize’s catalytic institutional support.
By focusing on sectors such as climate, health, and education, Realize Fund I continues to play a pivotal role in scaling Canada’s social finance ecosystem and accelerating sustainable growth across the country. The fund is scheduled to hold its final close on or before March 31, 2026.
KEY QUOTES:
“This was a big step for us. Making a $25 million investment into a private impact fund is not a decision we took lightly. But at the same time, the decision was intuitive because we are investing in the positive Canadian future that we aim to cultivate through all our university activities. As well, we are driving forward the commitment we announced last April for the endowment fund to be in 100% sustainable investments. Realize Fund I aims to deliver long-term financial security and inter-generational positive outcomes, and it aligns with our values and endowment strategy. We’re proud to have invested.”
Marc Gauthier, Chief Investment Officer, Concordia University
“This record commitment from Concordia University signals a tipping point. More and more, Canadian institutions are prioritizing investing in Canadian economic sovereignty and innovation in order to create a more resilient, inclusive Canadian economy.”
Lars Boggild, Portfolio Manager, Realize Fund I
“I am glad to be an early investor in Realize Fund I – providing both an opportunity to affect positive long-term change in Canadian communities and with Canadian businesses, while also targeting a strong risk-adjusted return given the de-risked structure of the fund.”
Patrick Lor, Managing Partner, Panache Ventures
“Realize believed in us from Day 1 — before the crowd, before the momentum. As one of our earliest and most values-aligned partners, they’ve helped catalyze more interest in Fund III and our mission to back world-changing companies across climate, health and education. As we approach our final close, we’re proud to have them as core partners.”
Kathryn Wortsman, Managing Partner, Amplify Capital
