Barn Ventures
Pre-seed · Waterloo · US$50K first cheques
We back founders before they're fundable — students, recent grads, and experienced builders going again. First cheque: US$50K on a SAFE. Pre-incorporation okay. No finished pitch required.
We see great founders early because we're already in the room with them.
The community behind the fund
We run out of Builders Club, a Waterloo community with direct ties to the alumni showing up in every YC batch, across SF's best companies, and behind some of the most interesting new ones.
Thesis
The most interesting builders don't look like founders yet.
That's the point. We're not looking for traction. We're looking for signal.
Our edge is proximity, not process.
We're embedded in Builders Club. We see people before they're legible to anyone else — before the pitch deck, before the raise, before most investors are paying attention.
What we look for
We aren't scoring a deck. We're looking for evidence in six places — usually before the company is fully formed.
Ambition
A problem and a direction big enough to be worth years of your life.
Speed
You turn questions into prototypes, conversations, and decisions quickly.
Founder–problem depth
You know something about the problem that isn't obvious from the outside.
Co-founder situation
Solo or together, you understand the team you need and can bring strong people with you.
Ecosystem depth
You are close to the users, talent, or technical community that gives you an edge.
Deal shape
The company is early, the terms are clear, and our first cheque can materially move it forward.
Portfolio
Three companies backed since March 2026. Two of the three are Y Combinator companies; both were backed before they applied to YC. We met them early, usually before anyone else was looking.
March 2026
Founder · Rad El Gharbi
Autonomous defense systems that detect and intercept aerial and maritime drone threats. Colony's first platform, Trinity, is a long-range interceptor aircraft built for persistent border and maritime defense. Rad is a Waterloo Honours Physics graduate.
YC F26 · May 2026
Founders · Seungmin Hong and Ahnaf Shahriar
Firmware simulation that lets engineers and AI agents test embedded systems without physical hardware. Simantic runs real firmware against emulated MCUs and peripherals, so a board can be validated before it's manufactured. Both founders are Waterloo computer engineers.
YC S26 · June 2026
Founders · Mazin Al-Ani, Farhan Rehman, and Gurshabd Singh Varaich
An operational layer across finance systems, running agents on the workflows that still need people. Definite connects ERP, spreadsheets, bank data, and supporting documents, with every result linked to source evidence and unresolved items surfaced for human review.
People who build things
Jesse Rodgers
Founder, Barn Ventures
UWaterloo alum. Founded Builders Club and created two of Canada's defining startup programs — Velocity and Creative Destruction Lab. Previously founded and exited a venture-backed HR software company.
Chad Bayne
Co-Founder · Osler LLP, Emerging Companies
Waterloo engineer and one of Canada's top-ranked startup and VC lawyers. Led landmark deals including NASDAQ's $2.75B acquisition of Verafin and Wealthsimple's $750M raise.
Kevin Rooney
Co-Founder · Cooley LLP, San Francisco
Waterloo engineer and Silicon Valley veteran. 24 years advising high-growth companies. 150+ venture financings a year. 50+ private investments including a16z. Connective tissue between Waterloo founders and the global tech ecosystem.
Our investors and network
Operators · founders · technologists
Our LPs are rooted in Waterloo with active networks across North American tech. Barn Ventures runs alongside Builders Club and works directly with the accelerators and programs our founders go through — Y Combinator, Antler, Pear, and others across the Waterloo ecosystem.
Apply
Tell us what you're working on. No deck required — first cheques are US$50K on a SAFE.
F26 Founder Program applications close September 8, 2026.
Build with usGet in touch
Questions, intros, or just want to talk? We're easy to reach.