ADG Ignite Ventures

ADG Ignite Ventures is a Canadian venture investment platform founded by six-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse, widely recognized as the most accomplished Olympian in Canadian history. The firm operates at the intersection of athletics, entrepreneurship, and innovation, leveraging De Grasse's personal brand, network, and resources to empower Canadian entrepreneurs seeking to compete on the global stage. The investment platform focuses on four primary sectors: Health and Wellness, Sport Tech, Mental Health and E-Learning, and Lifestyle — all areas closely aligned with De Grasse's personal values and professional experience as a world-class athlete.

The firm is guided by a seasoned advisory board that includes John Ruffolo, Founder and Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity; Mike Lang, Consultant at Polar Capital and Operating Partner at Lang Partnerships; Candice Faktor, Founder and Co-CEO of Disco.co and Venture Partner at Lobby Capital; Matt Nichol, Strength and Conditioning Coach and Founding Partner of BioSteel; and Mike Smith, Strategic Advisor in Corporate Development and Olympic Decathlete. This advisory network brings deep expertise across private equity, venture capital, sports science, and entrepreneurship.

ADG Ignite Ventures has built a diverse portfolio of early-stage and growth-stage companies since its inception. Portfolio companies include Plantiga, an AI-powered wearable sensor company whose technology is embedded in footwear to monitor movement, prevent injuries, and optimize athletic performance — an investment held since 2018. Headversity, a Calgary-based mental health upskilling platform focused on preventative workforce training, joined the portfolio in 2021. TUT Fitness Group, a Vancouver-based company that designs and manufactures the TUT Trainer portable micro gym and TUT Rower, was added in 2022 and is publicly traded on the TSXV under the ticker 'GYM.'

The portfolio also includes Disco, a purpose-built operating system enabling founders and operators to build and monetize learning communities, invested in since 2021. AFC Toronto, a founding member of Canada's Northern Super League professional women's football league, was added in 2024. Po Athletic, a natural skincare brand formulated specifically for athletes — for which De Grasse serves as flagship ambassador — also joined in 2024. Additional 2024 investments include Hovr, an innovative rideshare startup based in Toronto offering a unique driver membership model, and brüst, a protein-packed cold brew coffee beverage developed for athletes seeking high-quality, great-tasting recovery drinks.

ADG Ignite Ventures positions itself as more than a capital provider — it offers portfolio companies access to De Grasse's profile as a global brand ambassador, a robust network of advisors with operational expertise, and strategic guidance tailored to scaling in competitive markets. The platform is particularly well-suited for Canadian entrepreneurs in the health, wellness, fitness technology, and consumer lifestyle spaces.