
Startup Legends
By Ashley Martis
Entrepreneurs, investors, accelerators, ecosystem leaders, consultants, and coaches.
We talk everything startups, entrepreneurship, innovation and more
We have a big passion around bringing more diversity, impact and inclusion in the startup and venture capital space.

Startup LegendsJul 27, 2023

George Sibble | Technology Due Diligence Expert

#16 - Nicholas Bong | BridgeMe Funding
Nicholas Bong of BridgeMe shares with us about himself and his business.

#15 - Bryan Duarte | BlackTech Capital VC Fund
"We don't inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our kids"
Startups submit your pitch to BlackTech Capital: https://www.startupfuel.com/opportunity?opportunity_id=638f75d60632ba002e404847
Limited Partners interested in the fund: bduarte@blacktechcapital.com
https://blacktechcapital.vclab.fund/
BlackTech Capital was selected, by the World Economic Forum, as one of the most innovative investment funds which invest in people and planet-focused entrepreneurs.
By focusing on Black and Other Underrepresented Entrepreneurs in CleanTech, our impact is at the intersection of social responsibility and environmental initiatives.
Bryan is a Social Venturist, Impact Investor, Entrepreneur and, a licensed Professional Engineer with over 30 years of experience in the Energy Industry. He is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at BlackTech Capital and the Founder & CEO of Enliten. He has experience in creating, developing and growing companies in the Energy, CleanTech and Sustainability Sectors with a focus on Underrepresented founders.
Bryan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duartebryan/

#14 - Ashif Mawji - Telus CSW Accelerator
Apply today: https://cswaccelerator.com/apply/
More info: www.startupfuel.com/opportunity?opportunity_id=62e19dd771237f012e2a5f19
https://cswaccelerator.com/
The TELUS Community Safety & Wellness Accelerator (CSW) is a first-of-its-kind accelerator focused on addressing the social and safety challenges facing our communities.
In partnership with AlchemistX, the Edmonton Police Foundation, and Alberta Innovates, the TELUS CSW Accelerator is bringing proven Silicon Valley acceleration programming to the social impact space in Edmonton, Alberta.
Ashif is a serial entrepreneur who strives for efficiency in everything he is involved with. He is a steady community supporter and believes strongly in giving back to charity. He is happily married to an amazing woman and has two awesome kids.
Ashif's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashifmawji/

#13 - Sumit Bhatia | Accelerator Director | Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst
Apply to the accelerator here: www.startupfuel.com/opportunity?opportunity_id=621932aad3e6870164e11996&referrer_id=5d7112e59e11f10063d00d30
The Catalyst Cyber Accelerator is the first of its kind in Canada. The Catalyst Cyber Accelerator is the first cybersecurity-focused commercial accelerator in Canada. Headquartered in Brampton's Innovation District, the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator helps early-stage Canadian cybersecurity companies grow into national and international competitors. About the Program Our program offers technical and strategic advice, mentorship, and business resources to Canada’s most promising cybersecurity scale-ups and start-ups. Our program offers technical and strategic advice, mentorship, and business resources for early to mid-stage Canadian cybersecurity companies, helping them grow and succeed. There is no cost to participating in the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator, and we do not take equity in participating companies. The Catalyst Cyber Accelerator is supported by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Rogers Communications and the City of Brampton.
Sumit Bhatia is the Director of Innovation & Policy at the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst.
Sumit's Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumit-bhatia/
Watch for more info:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGF7rXOxLh0&ab_channel=RogersCybersecureCatalyst

#12 - Sam Chandola | Early Stage VC Investor | First Fund
Sam Chandola works with First Fund, a pre-seed investment fund established by former founders
who saw a gap in early-stage funding and decided to correct that.
Picture this a new immigrant to Canada, with no existing relationships, and only $700 in your
pocket. Underprivileged in Cash, but rich in drive, passion, and a determination to succeed.
When a serendipitous encounter leads to the first investment in your company and propels your
career. This is Sam Chandola story!
Eight years and two successful exits later, Sam has generated more than 55x returns for his
investors. He has been awarded the 2014 BC Business Top 30 under 30 award, as well as the
2017 Canada’s Next 150 Award by the Toronto Stock Exchange.
With his rich early founder experience, Sam, offers some nuggets of information talking about his
experience finding, funding, and seeding start-ups. Discussing his ethos of betting on the jockey
rather than the horse, through his sector agnostic, but stage focused fund.
Guest Social Links
**Website:**: https://www.thefirst.vc/
**LinkedIn**: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schandola89/?originalSubdomain=ca AND
https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-fund/
**Twitter:** https://mobile.twitter.com/firstfundvc

#11 - Jeremy Neilson | Venture Capital SPV & Fund Admin Software | Assure
Jeremy Neilson is the Co-Founder and CEO of Assure. Mr. Neilson has provided support and leadership for some of the most innovative and dynamic industry initiatives in the U.S.--including launching and managing the State of Utah’s $300 million Fund of Funds program, providing due diligence and advisory services for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s $1-billion early-stage venture capital initiative, and created the LLC syndicate (SPV) administration service used by AngelList, SeedInvest, EquityZen and more.
Assure is a fintech fund administration company that provides the most complete back-office services in the market for fund managers, equity crowdfunding platforms, angel groups and other private-transaction investors.
Assure’s combination of multi-faceted expertise, efficiency and value is unique in the private equity marketplace. Because of the firm’s distinctive focus on the evolving needs of private transaction investors and projects, it services more financial transactions than any other firm of its kind. Today, Assure’s team manages more than 3,500 special purpose vehicles and growing, produces more than 30,000 K-1s annually, and provides fund managers with the industry’s most comprehensive outsourced-CFO administration solutions, bookkeeping and compliance services.
Assure: https://hubs.li/Q0128s4-0

#10 - Jeep Kline | Impact Venture Capital Partner | VC Fund
A candid conversation with Jeep Kline (Partner at MrPink VC). From her beginnings as a graduate from UC Berkley to a Partner at MrPink VC helping bring much needed resources and support to underserved and underestimated entrepreneurs. Courtesy of her strong background with engagements at Intel, World Bank, and even starting her own company has given Jeep a unique perspective on seeing investment through the lens of Economic Development.Guest
Social Links:
Website: https://mrpink.vc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeepkline/

#9 - Ashley Francisco | Head of Startup Developer Ecosystem | Google Canada
Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders is a 10-week digital accelerator program for Seed to Series A technology startups in North America.
The accelerator program is designed to bring the best of Google’s programs, products, people and technology to Women founder communities across North America. In addition to mentorship and technical project support, the accelerator also includes deep dives and workshops focused on product design, customer acquisition and leadership development for founders.

#8 - Jason Scott | Head of Startup Developer Ecosystem | Google
Google for Startups Accelerator: Black Founders is a 10-week digital accelerator program for Seed to Series A technology startups in North America.
The accelerator program is designed to bring the best of Google’s programs, products, people and technology to Black founder communities across North America. In addition to mentorship and technical project support, the accelerator also includes deep dives and workshops focused on product design, customer acquisition and leadership development for founders.
Website: https://startup.google.com/accelerator/black-founders/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-alexander-scott/
PitchBox: https://www.startupfuel.com/opportunity?opportunity_id=60e32100afc26b002d84b704

#7 - Annette Azan | Female Founder | Nuudii
At Nuudii System, we use real women and real bodies. We make it a rule never to photoshop our models. Also, Nuudii System has seven colors which span various skin tones.
My name is Annette Azan, and I’m a 25-year fashion industry veteran, woman of color and wellness visionary. I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked with fashion icons including Diane Benson, Norma Karmali and Donna Karan, launching, developing and driving sales for brands such as Urban Zen, Diane B. and Episode.
I’m the founder and CEO of a boobwear body essentials company called Nuudii System which is the first CPG brand for boobs and is creating a new category between bra and braless.
Website: www.nuudiisystem.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annette-azan
Instagram: www.instagram.com/nuudiisystem
Clubhouse: @Avazan

#6 - Kirsten Horning | Principal XRC Labs
Website: https://www.xrclabs.com/
StartupFuel Profile: https://www.startupfuel.com/profile?company_id=6074804e75e533002deecc1e
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xrclabs
Twitter: https://twitter.com/xrclabs/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xrclabs/
Clubhouse: @kirsten

#5 - Jason Jacobsohn | Propellant Ventures & Founder Institute Chicago
Our Focus
Propellant Ventures aspires to change the future in a very powerful way. We are filling the funding gap with a bold focus on exciting and disruptive Pre-Seed and Seed stage opportunities. Propellant Ventures invests in a broad range of innovative and game-changing companies with compelling B2B business models such as healthcare, future of work, supply chain, fintech, and edtech.
Propellant Ventures recognizes that it can be a challenge for early stage entrepreneurs to raise venture capital so we see a tremendous opportunity to be that capital partner at the initial stages of growth. Also, we work closely with angels, angel groups, angel syndicates, and other micro-VCs to dramatically improve a startup's chance of success and positive outcomes for the investors.
Guest Social Links
Website: www.propellant.vc
StartupFuel Profile: https://www.startupfuel.com/profile?company_id=5fceacb651cd1b00438bbb34
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonjacobsohn/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/propellantventures
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonJacobsohn

#4 - Safia Morsly-Fikai | Govt. of Canada Trade Commissioner
The Consulate General is part of Global Affairs Canada or Affaires Mondiales Canada in French. Safia's role as a Trade Commissioner is to help innovative Canadian clients across the spectrum of ICT sectors scale and grow in the US and in particular in NY and the tristate area via customer acquisition and access to capital and sales channels.
She also manage 3 Canadian Technology Accelerator programs or CTA:
*The CTA in Cybersecurity, Privacy & Compliance that was just launched mid March
*The CTA in Retail Technologies
*And she is launching a new accelerator in Education Tech this Spring

#3 - Meir Rabkin | Cleantech Venture Capital Investor - BlueVision Capital
Meir is launching a new VC fund targeting the Cleantech industry and building towards a sustainable future.
Meir Rabkin
15 years’ experience in the investment sector, working for the largest investment firms in Canada such as Mackenzie Investments, CIBC Asset Management, Desjardins and Investors Group. He has a unique and exclusive network of UHNW, Founders, Family Offices in the U.S. and Canada.
StartupFuel Profile:
BlueVision Capital | StartupFuel Investor Profile
Cleantech Startups Apply here:

#2 - Purvaja Sekar | Life Coach For People Living Mediocre Lives
Purvaja Sekar who is a 'Life Coach For People Living Mediocre Lives' talks about the mindset needed for people to get started and finish things in their lives. Fall in love with the journey and not the destination.
Social Links
Podcast (also available on other platforms):
https://open.spotify.com/show/74WtBBITdJTw8mRYK6rNli
Instagram:
@pslifecoaching
Website:

#1 - Thierry Lu | Helping Canadian Startups Connect To Silicon Valley
Based in Palo Alto, California, Thierry Lu is a Trade Commissioner working for Global Affairs Canada. His mission is to connect Canada's startups into Silicon Valley and its ecosystem.
CTA Program Info on StartupFuel: www.startupfuel.com/opportunity?opportunity_id=601db4b59ea7c1002dc0ea02&referrer_id=5d7112e59e11f10063d00d30
Trade Commission Service Website: https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/