Alexandre Préfontaine | BDC Venture Fund | Industrial Impact Podcast | Momenta

Unveiling the Future of Industrial Innovation: A Conversation with Alexandre Préfontaine

Welcome to episode 236 of the Momenta Industrial Impact podcast. Today, we’re pleased to host Alexandre Préfontaine, Principal at BDC’s Industrial Innovation Venture Fund.

About Alexandre Préfontaine:

Alexandre has been with BDC Venture Capital since 2017, starting as an analyst and working up to his current role as Principal. He plays a pivotal role in shaping the fund's investment thesis, executing investments from sourcing to negotiation, and enhancing value creation with portfolio companies. Additionally, Alexandre supports key BDC initiatives and partnerships, making him an integral part of the team.

With a strong reputation in the Canadian technology scene, Alexandre serves on the Board of seven of his fund’s portfolio companies. He is also a Creative Destruction Labs community member and frequently lectures on Venture Capital at local universities. Before his tenure at BDC, Alexandre began his career in the financial sector with TD Canada Trust.

His academic credentials include a master's degree in financial economics from HEC Montreal and a bachelor's degree in commerce from the University of Ottawa.

Besides his professional achievements, Alexandre is the proud father of his 5-month-old daughter, an active ice hockey player, and a fly-fishing enthusiast.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Alexandre Préfontaine as we delve into his experiences, insights, and the future of industrial innovation. Don't miss this episode of the Momenta Industrial Impact podcast!

Stay tuned for the release of episode 236!

 Discussion Points:

• What would you consider your digital thread (the defining interests and experiences that brought you to this point)? 
• Who is BDC Capital?
• Regarding venture investments, can you give us an idea of BDC’s focus and scope (stage, geography, check size, etc.)?
• You’ve been with the Industrial Innovation venture team since 2019. What does Industrial Innovation mean to BDC, and what attracted you to this theme?
• What have been some of your more notable investments?
• What role does BDC play relative to post-deal value creation (what we at Momenta call co-creation)?
• Momenta has at least five portfolio companies that call Canada home. What are the top reasons a company should consider founding in or operating in Canada?
• While we have been investing in industrial optimization for over a decade, we’ve ramped up our Industrial AI investments in the past 18 months (4 already this year). What are some of the interesting use cases and companies you are seeing relative to the application of AI in the industry?
• What other key trends are you following in Industrial Innovation to help guide your investments?
• As we wrap up, I like to learn how you maintain your leadership edge. Do you have any recommendations you would like to highlight? (Think books, articles, podcasts, and individuals.)