Latest news with #ClifftonCross
Cision Canada
01-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Raiven Capital Launches $100M Climatech Fund Anchored by Frog Lake First Nation investing in Scalable Climatech.
TORONTO, PALO ALTO, Calif. and EDMONTON, AB, May 1, 2025 /CNW/ - Raiven Capital, the cross-border venture firm known for its AI and IoT investments, announces the launch of Raiven Climatech, a $100M USD fund targeting high-growth startups building digital infrastructure to solve global sustainability and climate challenges. Raiven Climatech builds on its successful early-stage investment record merging deeptech with market-ready applications. The fund focuses on scalable, intelligent systems—leveraging AI and IoT to enable real-time decision-making, resource optimization, and emissions reduction across many sectors - energy, manufacturing, mobility, and agriculture. "The next generation of climate solutions will come from connected, data-driven platforms," said Paul Dugsin, General Partner and Co-Founder of Raiven Capital. "We're looking for founders building mission-critical systems with global potential—and we bring more than capital. Our global network and deep operational experience help accelerate scale." A key differentiator of Raiven Climatech is its anchor investor: Frog Lake First Nation (FLFN). This landmark partnership mobilizes First Nation capital in the VC space, aligning a shared vision of building commercially successful, future-focused businesses that deliver environmental and economic outcomes. "We see venture capital as a tool to shape a future that aligns with our values," said Cliffton Cross, FLFN representative."Raiven uniquely understands that profitability and impact are not at odds—and empowers us to back technologies that are both investable and transformational." Raiven's Climatech Fund serves as a platform to commercialize Indigenous-led innovation, blending traditional knowledge systems such as "two-eyed seeing" with frontier technologies to develop practical, market-driven solutions in digital infrastructure and clean energy innovation. "Frog Lake First Nation approached us as they saw the results from our first tech fund—and wanted to co-create a more ambitious future," said Supreet Manchanda, General Partner at Raiven. "This partnership focuses on mobilizing capital, uncovering undervalued ideas, knowledge-transfer while delivering outsized returns." Raiven's approach to climate innovation is a fundamental re-platforming of global industry. The most valuable companies of the next decade will be those that turn AI and IoT powered sustainability into defensible, high-margin business models. About Frog Lake First Nation Frog Lake First Nation invests in transformative innovation that blends Indigenous values with cutting-edge technology. By investing in innovation FLFN sees a path to clean energy and sustainability. According to the Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) initiative, 200+ Indigenous-led clean energy projects are operational or under development across Canada. FLFN is among the first Indigenous organizations in North America to anchor a venture capital fund focused on climate tech and digital transformation. About Raiven Capital Raiven Capital is a global VC, investing at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and operational transformation. With hubs in Silicon Valley, Toronto, and Dubai, Raiven has delivered multiple successful exits since 2020. Its portfolio spans deeptech and digital platform companies driving systemic change. Learn more at or follow Dry Powder, Raiven's thought leadership platform.
CBC
12-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Indigenous-owned Alberta company making better building blocks — with hemp
A new manufacturing plant in the northeastern Alberta community of Elk Point is blending hemp and other additives into concrete to make lightweight building blocks resistant to weather, fire and mould. The company, called Asinikahtamwak — in Cree it means "works with rock" — operates from a 13,000-square-foot building on the south end of Elk Point, 215 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Frog Lake First Nations owns 51 per of the venture. Edmonton-based Natural Fibre Technologies owns 39 per cent and the Town of Elk Point has a 10-per-cent stake. Frog Lake First Nations councillor Cliffton Cross is "excited and proud" about the new business that's already started construction on a two-bedroom, 1,250-square-foot prototype show home in the First Nation community. The company is also experimenting with smaller projects like greenhouses, ice fishing shacks and one-room cabins constructed from structural insulated panels, another product made at the plant. "I believe it's a part of our calling," said Cross. "If we ever had a moment in history where we had to provide answers on how to become more sustainable, more safe," it's now, he said. Asinikahtamwak CEO Tamrat Tekle said the partnership makes sense, given the First Nation's need for affordable housing a short drive east of the manufacturing plant. "The town of Elk Point has a need to create economic activities in the town," said Tekle, "and Natural Fibre Technologies has a need to commercialize sustainable products and technologies." WATCH | Take a tour of Asinikahtamwak in Elk Point: In ancient times, everything from straw to banana leaves went into brick-making. Since then, hemp fibre has been developed, tested and used in building projects in France, England and Italy. The high-performance building blocks being made in Elk Point are the same size as traditional cinder blocks but weigh only half as much. Asinikahtamwak says other benefits include reduced noise transmission, better thermal insulation and reduced cracking. Made with a mixture of fibre, cement, water and special additives, the blocks have mould- and fire-resistant properties, said Michael Marty, clean energy manager for Frog Lake First Nations. The material isn't fully fireproof but could slow the spread of fire, he said. Mould resistance could help extend the lifespan of homes, he added. "We actually have a lot of wetlands in our area, so our basements tend to become mouldy," Marty said, "including my family home growing up." He said the aim is to move away from "one-generation homes and into seven-generation homes." 250 blocks a day The plant opened in the summer of 2024. It will operate with 15 full-time staff and some part-time positions. About half of the full-time employees are on the job now. The facility is currently capable of manufacturing about 250 bio-fibre blocks per day, with an eye to scaling up to 1,000 in the next few months. "There's a lot of buzz right now about hemp," said company co-founder Jesse Hahn, adding that waste wood from the forestry industry or municipal landfills can be used in place of the hemp fibre. It's also possible to make the blocks with flax, wheat, straw or bamboo. Cliffton Cross draws a comparison between the manufacturing plant and its current and future products and the First Nation's relationship with the bison. "The buffalo in the past have provided food, shelter and clothing to our Nation members since time and memorial," he said. He believes Asinikahtamwak will provide "sustainable building materials for not only Frog Lake First Nations, but its partners and its neighbouring communities" — a home-grown solution that could grow beyond northeastern Alberta.
