Padder wins $100K fintech grant at Montreal’s Startupfest
What's the deal? PadderDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Canadian fintech founded by Daniel Moss, won this year’s $100,000 Fintech Grant after a multi-stage pitch competition at Startupfest in Montreal. The grant is led by Digital Commerce GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What's the endgame? Padder calls itself Canada’s first guarantor-as-a-service platform. It helps non-traditional renters qualify for housing while giving property owners more financial protection.
Moss won after pitching the platform’s potential to address housing accessibility, which he framed as one of Canada’s most pressing challenges.
The breakdown: Padder will receive $95,000 in non-dilutive cash plus an Osler Startup Package valued at $5,000. Backers of the grant include ApayloDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, and Outlier Compliance Group.
Why now? Digital Commerce Group created the Fintech Grant in 2025 for private Canadian fintech startups near the seed stage, requiring a minimum viable product and market traction. Ready Plan Go won the inaugural award last year.
Padder beat finalists Tedy, ClearCost, Parsor, and Access2Pay across multiple rounds during the three-day event.
The signal: A second consecutive grant marks a quick re-raise for the young program, signalling steady momentum behind early-stage Canadian fintech tied to real-world problems like housing access.
Read more: fintech.ca
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
