# Mark Skapinker

> Mark Skapinker is a seed investor at The Upside Foundation of Canada backing SaaS and Software. See 18 investments, check sizes, portfolio. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: Angel Investor
- Fund: [The Upside Foundation of Canada](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/the-upside-foundation-of-canada)
- Total investments: 18
- Last investment: Jul 2024
- Lead investor: 39%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/markskapinker
- X (Twitter): http://twitter.com/MarkSkapinker
- Website: https://x.com/MarkSkapinker

Mark Skapinker is a seed investor at The Upside Foundation of Canada focused on SaaS and Software. Mark offers an insider's view to the scope and magnitude of what it takes to create and build a company from an idea through to a thriving company. The proof of Mark’s expertise is detailed in his track record: in 1988, Mark co-founded Delrina Corporation and successfully grew Delrina to annual revenues topping $150 million.Mark wasPresident of Delrina from its initial incorporation through its public stock offering and listings on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ — until Delrina was acquired by Symantec in 1995.In 1997, when the technology market place was yet to recognize the tremendous growth of the Internet, Mark founded Balisoft Technologies Inc. – a company focused on intelligent customer interaction software. Later, in the spring of 1999, Balisoft merged with Boston-based Servicesoft Technologies.Servicesoft became the first major vendor of comprehensive Internet customer service solutions. In September 2000, Servicesoft Technologies was acquired by Broadbase Software Inc. (NASDAQ:BBSW).In 2008, Mark co-founded iStopOver.com, a Toronto based Internet business focused on peer to peer travel with online ecommerce. In 2010, Skapinker co-founded GaggleUp, an Internet business focused on Internet marketing, group buying and ecommerce with a focus on enterprise companies.In 2000, Mark co-founded Brightspark Ventures. Mark is a Managing Partner at Brightspark and is based in Brightspark’s Toronto office.

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SaaS | 3 | 17% |
| Software | 3 | 17% |
| Enterprise Software | 3 | 17% |
| E-Commerce | 2 | 11% |
| Health Care | 2 | 11% |

43 industries tracked in total.

### Stage

| Stage | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Seed | 6 | 33% |
| Series A | 5 | 28% |
| Series B | 3 | 17% |
| Funding Round | 1 | 6% |

### Country

| Country | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Canada | 9 | 50% |
| United States | 1 | 6% |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Elevate Farms | Elevate Farms’ solution uses hydroponics, automation, and photobiology to grow leafy greens in a climate-controlled environment. The solution aims to deliver a product that is larger, tastes better, and is more nutritional, at a lower cost than other methods. | $2.5M | Series B | Jul 30, 2024 |  |
| Potential Motors | Potential Motors is using computer vision to enable vehicles to go anywhere. They have built software that works with a variety of cameras to analyze off and on-road terrain in real-time which is then used in the vehicle to change traction and suspension settings to improve performance and efficiency. They are currently working with OEMs inMotorcycles, Powersports, Defence, and Automotive to trial their technology. | $1.5M | Seed | May 02, 2024 |  |
| Forcen | Forcen is a tier 1 supplier of Force/Torque sensor systems and edge intelligence to robotics OEMs. A comprehensive plug-and-play sensing network for your robot's force/torque systems. | $6.1M | Series A | Apr 23, 2024 |  |
| Elevate Farms | Elevate Farms’ solution uses hydroponics, automation, and photobiology to grow leafy greens in a climate-controlled environment. The solution aims to deliver a product that is larger, tastes better, and is more nutritional, at a lower cost than other methods. | $19.1M | Series A | Oct 05, 2022 |  |
| Elevate Farms | Elevate Farms’ solution uses hydroponics, automation, and photobiology to grow leafy greens in a climate-controlled environment. The solution aims to deliver a product that is larger, tastes better, and is more nutritional, at a lower cost than other methods. | $19M | Series B | Oct 03, 2022 |  |
| Potential Motors | Potential Motors is using computer vision to enable vehicles to go anywhere. They have built software that works with a variety of cameras to analyze off and on-road terrain in real-time which is then used in the vehicle to change traction and suspension settings to improve performance and efficiency. They are currently working with OEMs inMotorcycles, Powersports, Defence, and Automotive to trial their technology. | $3.1M | Seed | Feb 11, 2022 |  |
| Vetster | Vetster is an innovative pet wellness platform that connects pet parents to a marketplace of licensed veterinary professionals for video, chat and voice enabled appointments. For everyone, anytime, day or night. | $7.4M | Series A | May 26, 2020 |  |
| Elevate Farms | Elevate Farms’ solution uses hydroponics, automation, and photobiology to grow leafy greens in a climate-controlled environment. The solution aims to deliver a product that is larger, tastes better, and is more nutritional, at a lower cost than other methods. | $1.8M | Seed | Feb 10, 2020 |  |
| Nudge | Nudge is a communications platform that empowers deskless employees and drives better outcomes for your business. Backed by the power of behavioral science and the highest user ratings in its category, Nudge mobilizes non-desk teams by providing the information, inspiration, and insights employees need to exceed expectations and stay connected atwork. Leading brands such as Compass Group, Staples, and Margaritaville rely on Nudge to boost employee engagement, exceed sales goals, and transform the customer experience. For more information, please visit www.nudgerewards.com. | $9.3M | Series B | Aug 16, 2019 |  |
| Nudge | Nudge is a communications platform that empowers deskless employees and drives better outcomes for your business. Backed by the power of behavioral science and the highest user ratings in its category, Nudge mobilizes non-desk teams by providing the information, inspiration, and insights employees need to exceed expectations and stay connected atwork. Leading brands such as Compass Group, Staples, and Margaritaville rely on Nudge to boost employee engagement, exceed sales goals, and transform the customer experience. For more information, please visit www.nudgerewards.com. | $3.7M | Series A | Nov 15, 2017 |  |

10 of 18 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [Build Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/build-ventures) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Generation Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/generation-ventures-9dfb) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Kensington Capital Partners Limited](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/kensington-capital) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [New Brunswick Innovation Foundation](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/new-brunswick-innovation-foundation) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [StandUp Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/standup-ventures-i) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [BDC Capital Corporation](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/bdc-capital-corporation) — VC Fund, 1 deal together

## About The Upside Foundation of Canada

VC Fund · Toronto, Canada

The Upside Foundation of Canada brings the Canadian tech & innovation community together to do good by enabling early-stage, high-growth companies to share their future financial upside with charities; ensuring that today’s successful companies can pay it forward and lay the infrastructure for Canada’s prosperous future. Over 200 companies havepledged to donate stock options or warrants, which, upon a successful liquidity event, convert to a donation to the charity of their choice. Companies pledge with Upside when they are looking for a simple way to make an impact, build giving back into their company brand and culture, and connect with the Upside community of leading founders, investors and partners.

3 contacts available at The Upside Foundation of Canada.

| Name | Title | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Jennifer Couldrey | Executive Director | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/jennifer-couldrey |
| Mark Skapinker | Co-founder | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/mark-skapinker |
| Robert Antoniades | Co-Founder and Board member | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/robert-antoniades |

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## FAQ

### What does Mark Skapinker invest in?

Mark Skapinker invests primarily in SaaS, Software and Enterprise Software startups, most often at Seed and Series A stage. Most of the 18 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in Canada. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### When did Mark Skapinker last invest?

The most recent investment recorded for Mark Skapinker closed in Jul 2024. Shizune tracks 18 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

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