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Local lawn and garden software business touched by Angel investors

Georgian Angel Network helps grow LinkGreen
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Image provided by GAN

NEWS RELEASE

GEORGIAN ANGEL NETWORK

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Seven angel investors from the Georgian Angel Network (GAN), along with other local investors, completed an initial seed round of financing for LinkGreen, a Barrie business-to-business software start-up founded by Warren Patterson and Robert Tigwell. The funding will allow the business to hire people with the marketing, sales and software skills needed to fully commercialize LinkGreen’s product and start the business on its growth trajectory.

“Each month, GAN gives two companies the chance to present their business at a monthly meeting of accredited investors. LinkGreen demonstrated that they were ready for angel investment,” says Michael Badham, GAN Managing Director. “Because of the quality and commitment of the support network available for entrepreneurs in Barrie, GAN investors were presented with a quality investment opportunity. The investors responded by completing their due diligence and closed the financing in under 30 days.”

Patterson, a long–time garden center owner, started LinkGreen to streamline the process of ordering products by creating an online ordering platform for businesses that have a multitude of vendors. “Our goal here at LinkGreen is to establish ourselves as the authority in the Lawn & Garden industry for online commerce and B2B connectivity, with future expansion into other fragmented industries,” says Patterson. “LinkGreen’s networked marketplace creates a more efficient way for businesses to connect, transact and communicate with each other.”

LinkGreen was introduced to Georgian College’s Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC) at an Invest Barrie networking event. Patterson credits his ability to attract top talent to work for LinkGreen to Invest Barrie’s many networking and training opportunities. 

“LinkGreen is further proof that Barrie has the talent, networks, and financial resources needed to start and scale new businesses,” says Jeff Lehman, Barrie’s Mayor.  "It's great to see local capital being invested in growing local companies.  This is the self-sustaining economic ecosystem at work. Thank you HBEC and GAN.”

LinkGreen graduated from Georgian College’s Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC), where Chris Adams, an HBEC Mentor, guided the founders through the start-up process. The opportunity was brought to GAN by Adams. “Warren and Robert are outstanding entrepreneurs, who identified a large B2B opportunity, and developed a robust digital solution” says Adams. “I was confident that GAN investors would be impressed.”

Along the way, LinkGreen received grants from the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), the Ontario Centre of Excellence’s IBM Customer Demonstration Program and the Bioenterprise Corporation’s Accelerator Seed Fund. VentureLab in Markham also mentored the founders and put LinkGreen into their Genesis Program for due diligence. Invest Barrie and the City of Barrie were instrumental in introducing LinkGreen to various organizations and service providers, including the initial introductions to HBEC and VentureLab. 

“The eco-system in Barrie for entrepreneurs to commercialize their innovations is alive and active,” says Badham. “From start-up to their Series A round of growth financing, founders can receive funding grants and quality mentorship right here in the southern Georgian Bay area. It’s very exciting to be a part of this community.”

About Georgian Angel Network

Georgian Angel Network (GAN) is a not for profit organization that connects angel investors in the Barrie, South Georgian Bay, Orangeville, and Muskoka regions with entrepreneurs needing equity capital to commercialize their innovations. GAN serves as a catalyst for economic development, facilitating deal flow between accredited investors and high-quality investee opportunities as well as providing investor and investee education services. Since December 2011 members of GAN have invested over $9 million in 25 portfolio companies, through initial financings as well as follow-on financings. GAN is supported by the Government of Canada through funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and the National Angel Organization through Angel Investors of Ontario.

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