Sampler, a direct-to-consumer product sampling platform, carries out sampling programs for companies such as Kraft, L’Oréal, Nestlé, and Unilever. Consumers who have signed up for Sampler receive samples of products that the consumer has expressed interest in or that Sampler believes they will enjoy.
Sampler’s financing from CIBC is yet another high point in an exciting year for the company. In February, Sampler closed its $3 million Series A financing round, with investors including BDC’s Women in Tech fund, Shipfusion, Factory LLC and Standup Ventures. In addition, Sampler was named one of Canada’s 50 most innovative workplaces at The Elevated Awards in May.
The announcement marks CIBC IB’s latest financing in the North American innovation sector. Canadian tech companies such as Hootsuite Inc., Jane Software Inc., and Lightspeed POS Inc. all recently received a total of $107 million of financing from CIBC IB, which not only provides capital, but also helps create connections and provide strategic advice for these companies.
Sampler’s CEO, Marie Chevrier, implied that the deal exemplifies a funding route that is not always considered by technology start-ups, but perhaps will be increasingly in the future. “I think it’s important for startups to realize that there are other financing options than equity financing” Chevalier stated. “With CIBC, Sampler has been able to leverage our revenue in a way that will allow us to accelerate our growth and expand into new markets. ”
In March 2026, Whoop Inc. (“Whoop”) completed a Series G funding round for US$575 million, valuing the leading fitness wearable company at US$10.1 billion. Whoop received investment from many notable…
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will showcase some of the most advanced officiating technology ever used in soccer. Building on systems introduced in previous tournaments, FIFA is rolling out new tools…
Recently, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (“CIRO”) approved Wealthsimple to offer forecast contracts. Forecast contracts are investment products that offer investors binary “yes” or…
On June 10, 2026, the federal government introduced Bill C-34, also known as the Safe Social Media Act. The proposed legislation represents a sweeping effort to regulate social media platforms…
The “sleep economy” is growing rapidly with more than just sleep masks, weighted blankets and melatonin products on the market selling a good night’s rest. Sleep technology has evolved from tracking…
Following a multi-year joint investigation, federal and provincial privacy regulators recently published their findings with respect to OpenAI’s collection and use of personal information to train…
