Back in September 2007 we first profiled Well.ca. At the time I was intrigued and felt like the concept was sound, but I knew it would be all about execution and discipline. Running a web startup is one thing, running a pharmacy is probably another, but doing both is a huge undertaking.

Since then, Well has been motoring along and Ali has gone from shy first-timer to a confident leader. He has built the company out of Guelph and continues to grow it there.

So it was exciting to hear that Ali has closed his second round of financing, and that he has done it in a unique way. The $1.1 Million placement has been done between a small group of angels who each bring a specific set of experience and capability to the table. Sophisticated investment is something we are missing at all levels in Canada and I hope that a healthy exit for this investment will send a positive message.

In his post today, Ali says

Raising this new round was a journey. I was honoured to be able to meet some of the best VCs and investors in Canada in the US. In the end, we found a team of local Canadian investors that share the same vision and values as Well.ca.
A key investor in this round is Jordan Banks, whom I first learned about through this video on the Globe and Mail Business Incubator website. Jordan is past Managing Director of eBay Canada, and past CEO of JumpTV. Over the last months, Jordan has become not just a mentor and advisor, but also a friend. I am honoured to have him join our family. Immediately after his first visit to our offices, the entire team fell in love with him.

Well is a different kind of retail startup, bridging a technology focused pedigree with an obsessive compulsive approach to customer service that puts them in the league of Zappos and Amazon in my books. All of my purchases through Well have been simple and fast.

Now, I need some deodorant .