For entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs
Invest Ottawa is staffed by a hands-on group of former CEOs, investors and professional analysts devoted to helping your company grow and build wealth. We’re for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs. Meet the team!
Kevin J Carroll BA, MBA, Managing Director of Innovation, Invest Ottawa
Kevin Carroll heads the Invest Ottawa Innovation team that provides services ranging from helping budding entrepreneurs get their small business ideas off the ground, to an innovation acceleration service for technology companies offered in a new 75-seat business accelerator facility at Invest Ottawa’s premises.
Previously as Interim CEO, Kevin lead the Launch Lab team on its mission to transform Eastern Ontario into a hotbed for innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition to guiding the centre’s strategic plan, he would liaise with business, community partners, sponsors, and investors as well as the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation.
Prior to Launch Lab Kevin was the Director of Commercialization for Centre of Commercialization of Research at the Ontario Centres of Excellence. He focused on helping high-potential early stage companies build the capacity to become sustainable global competitors by providing management expertise, advice, and investment.
Kevin Carroll is a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of business achievement spanning more than 20 years. An innovator and investor, he has helped shape technology commercialization by bringing together the right teams to grow knowledge-based companies across Canada. Kevin has guided over 200 companies and raised over $100M in private and public seed financing to support the commercialization of Canadian technologies
Working exclusively in Technology businesses, Kevin has extensive knowledge of Information Technology, and a proven track record directing and managing multi-million dollar operations. Kevin has held several senior positions at Nortel, including key roles in IT Procurement, IT Business Operation and Portfolio Management for strategic partners such as AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. Plus, for the last eight years, Kevin has held the role of President for Kevin James Consulting Ltd a small consulting firm based in Ottawa.
Kevin serves on numerous Boards for private, not-for-profit and charitable organizations. He holds a degree in Economics, an MBA and is ITIL certified.
Kevin and his wife Sue have four wonderful children (all hockey players) and reside in Ottawa, Ontario.
Scott Runté, Manager, Business Acceleration, Invest Ottawa
Scott brings more than 18 years of entrepreneurial and economic development agency experience to his role with Invest Ottawa. In his economic development career in Ottawa, Scott has helped manage international innovation and trade development programs in regions such as India, Chile, Germany and Finland. Scott also spent 10 years with an export-driven flexible packaging company where he executed various management roles, including General Manager and Chief Financial Officer. During that time, Scott was heavily involved in the development of biodegradable packaging solutions for organic food waste. He also managed a North American expansion effort that saw him work closely with economic development agencies in Canada and the United States.
In 1995, Scott founded Warren Capital Corp., a management consulting firm that has focused on providing strategic management support to clients in both the not-for-profit and private sectors. Scott has also been an active member of his community as a volunteer with the United Way in Kingston, Ontario. After serving on the United Way Board from 2001 – 2007, including holding the position of Board Chair in 2006 and 2007, Scott has remained active on several United Way committees and community leadership initiatives. Scott earned a Master of Business Administration degree from McMaster University in 1991 and an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from Queen’s University in 1988.
Dane Bedward, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Mr. Dane Bedward is the founder and CEO of NeuroBot Inc. His company is in the business of assisting biopharmaceutical and medical device businesses with strategic guidance and financing. Prior to founding his company, Mr. Bedward was Senior Vice President of Genzyme International and General Manager for Genzyme Eurasia. He maintained responsibility for the International Group’s strategic market development and planning process, including designing infrastructure to bring new products to market. Prior to this role, Mr. Bedward was Senior Vice president and General Manager of the International Business Group for Genzyme’s Biosurgery business unit. He has also served as Senior Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the company’s Americas group and President of Genzyme Canada. Mr. Bedward has extensive experience in sales, marketing, product launch, international subsidiary formation and global commercialization.
Throughout his career Mr. Bedward has worked with other companies such as Nordion, Johnson and Johnson (in Canada and Europe), Flow Laboratories, and McMaster University.
Mr. Bedward serves on the Board of Governors for the University of Ottawa. He has served on the Board of Trustees for Bridgewater State University, as well as the boards of the New England Canada Business Council, the Ottawa Life Sciences Council and Neurobiotec. Mr. Bedward is also presently an Executive Fellow with Mistral Venture Partners.
Mr. Bedward received an Honors B.Sc. degree from the University of Ottawa. He recently moved from Boston, Massachusetts to Ottawa, Ontario. He speaks English, French and Spanish.
Bob Huggins, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Bob is a world recognized web pioneer in the transformation of printed images to Web-based, searchable files. His creation, PaperofRecord.com, is a comprehensive database of newspapers published in their original page images and was sold to Google of Mountain View, California in September of 2006.
He brings to this position more than 25 years experience as a professional in the newspaper publishing, web/content publishing and high technology sectors.
In 2002, Ernst & Young nominated Bob as “Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year”. Bob was also a member of the founding team of the electronic information service Info Globe, of The Globe and Mail, Toronto Canada. There he helped implement electronic “as of release” documents for Finance Canada and negotiated Soviet commercial electronic rights from Nostovi Press of the first commercial statistical trade information to the West for the New York Times Information Services.
Andrew Jackson, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Andrew Jackson has more than 20 years experience in guiding growth in private and publicly held companies from startups to large enterprises. He has held C-level roles in Ottawa and Toronto-based organizations across diverse sectors such as enterprise software, digital media, NFP, and financial services. With a demonstrated track record of creating market-leading products, enabling sales performance, and maximizing corporate valuations, Andrew is an innovative leader with a reputation for developing strong teams and successful professionals.
Andrew’s successes include commercializing first-generation technology at companies such as JetForm, MGI Software, FreeBalance and InSystems. For example, In July 2002 as Chief Marketing Officer for Toronto-based InSystems Corporation, he helped to sell InSystems to a US-based IT provider for $89 US million – 4 times annual revenues at the time. The deal was widely held as ‘deal of year’ in Canadian venture capital circles as evident by the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association’s award to InSystems CEO as 2003′s Entrepreneur of the Year.
Andrew also developed an extensive network in the Canadian investment industry, having been President, CEO, and Member of the Board of Directors for the largest and most widely held MD Financial fund, with an investment market value of $2.92 billion (as of June 30, 2011)
In early 2011, Andrew launched his own advisory firm, Knowmads Inc., where he acts as advisor, “pinch hitter”, catalyst, sometimes-investor and virtual Chief Marketing Officer (vCMO) for ventures aligned with his passions for mobile, design, music, gaming, retail and social media.
Chris Johnson, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Chris is a software and communications executive with 22 years’ experience in financial, operational and strategic management positions. Chris was Founder and CEO of dna13, a SaaS software company sold in early 2010 to PR Newswire. As CEO of dna13 he developed extensive operational and business planning experience having raised north of $11M in venture capital. At dna13, Chris focused on delivering value through a highly metrics-driven approach.
During his tenure at dna13, Chris consulted with some of the world’s largest organizations including; Starbucks, RBC, Scotiabank, AEGON, Scottish Equitable, MasterCard, Manulife/John Hancock, BHP Billiton, Alcan, EnCana, NHL and Wal-Mart. He has spoken on the topic of brand and reputation management across North America, Europe and the Middle East.
Prior to founding dna13, Chris managed a successful communications consulting firm and has played senior management roles in both software and technology organizations. His previous experience includes corporate strategy and communications for Canada’s largest telecommunication firm; Bell Canada. While at Bell, Chris provided corporate strategy and counsel during its deregulation phase and launched numerous PR campaigns designed to broaden the scope and commercial viability of the company. In addition, Chris helped launch Bell Actimedia; a partnership between Sympatico and American Internet giant Lycos Inc., paving the way for the portal’s tremendous success. Bell Actimedia was eventually acquired by Yellow Pages Group and was subsequently purchased by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) and Ontario Teachers’ Merchant Bank.
Chris plays a significant role in the community driven programs. Chris was a former board member of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation. He is active in coaching the developmental soccer program (DSP), football with the East Ottawa Generals and the Ottawa Centre Minor Hockey Association.
Chris is an active sports enthusiast participating in golf, hockey, white-water kayaking and mountain biking.
Chris has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications from Carleton University’s
School of Journalism.
Born and raised in Montreal, he currently lives in downtown Ottawa with his children, Noah and Kai.
Sam Khan, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Sam brings 14 years of experience in management of small medium and large scale enterprise organizations. Sam is lending his knowledge and expertise in IT and web development initiatives and programs to the Launch Lab team.
He has a BA Honors in Political Science and a Minor in Business Administration from Carleton University. He has worked with and managed many large enterprise Government of Canada web initiatives. He has experience with many Government of Canada departments such as Environment Canada, DFAIT, Industry Canada, Canadian Heritage, Treasury Board of Canada, and PWGSC. Some other roles and industries he has worked in are telecommunications, life sciences, publishing, and retail.
Sam’s immense experience with Government of Canada projects in Ottawa and international markets are keys to any successful engagement with an organization. Sam brings intimate knowledge of corporate structure, finance, sales and marketing. Sam has also been heavily involved with business development, strategic marketing, forecasting and new revenue streams with all our clients. Sam has experience in entrepreneurship in many different verticals he can draw upon to provide great leadership and business analysis to any start-up or established business that Launch Lab has in its portfolio.
Sam is a talented, results-producing Sales, Marketing & Operations Executive with a proven record of accomplishment in planning and leading comprehensive marketing, sales and organizational strategies in support of aggressive business goals and objectives. Sam’s career has been based in the management and development of Marketing, Sales and Operational Initiatives. His various positions have taken him all over North America and Europe.
Currently he holds the position of Vice President of Operations and Business Development for iSTORM New Media Inc. He is also instrumental in the development and launch of a new startup called Total Hire Inc.
Sandy MacPherson, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Sandy has plenty of large corporate and startup company experience in both Canada and the U.S. Early in his career he was the Senior Marketing Manager for Labatt’s Blue and the SVP General Manager for Mead Johnson Nutrition’s U.S. consumer and medical nutrition business. Leaving the corporate world Sandy became the CEO/COO of several entrepreneurial companies in the medical device, nutraceutical and food safety sectors, raising capital and leading their turn around and transformation to profitability or successful commercialization. Several years ago Sandy founded his own consulting company to help Founders and CEO’s of early stage companies in health and wellness, consumer products and healthy food & beverages with their strategies, commercialization and operating plans.
Ella Mar, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Ella Mar is principal consultant at P2Peak where she supports growing businesses bring strategic planning into the realm of clear manageable action plans and successful execution.
Prior to consulting Ella held senior management positions in Ottawa’s most dynamic technology companies, including Nortel, Entrust, CrossKeys, Espial and Irdeto. Her depth and range of experience – member of exec team that took CrossKeys and Espial public, managing up to a 500 person engineering team, leading marketing, product management, professional services, customer support, sales support, finance and human resources, along with extensive global experience – gives her the ability to work effectively with businesses to identify strategies and opportunities.
Ella has consulted to small and mid-size companies in North America, Europe and Asia. As both Consultant and Board Member she has helped early stage organizations identify their strategy, their go2market and their resulting operational plans.
Andrew Moffat, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Andrew Moffat is the Co-Founder and CEO of Keshet Technologies Inc. Since 2004, Keshet has assisted up-and-coming IT businesses and entrepreneurs with financing and strategic guidance. Prior to Keshet, Mr. Moffat was a founder and the Chief Executive Officer of EDUCOM TS Inc., an independent software vendor, developing solutions for the email archive market space. According to leading industry analysts, EDUCOM was the global leader in its market space, prior to its sale in 2004 to ZANTAZ Corporation, a leading global provider of enterprise-class software and on-demand solutions for Information Retention and Discovery Management. Prior to EDUCOM’S sale, Mr. Moffat led EDUCOM to establish a global network of approximately 70 resellers, representing 100+ certified technicians and 200+ sales people. Mr. Moffat was able to successfully build a global client list of over 800 clients, many of whom are industry leaders in their own right. He strategically aligned himself with industry giants, such as IBM and Microsoft, as well as working with a number of Global 2000 companies.
Mr. Moffat is committed to working closely with the community. His experience includes: supporting programs through the YWCA, having served on the board of directors of OCRI, CATA, Ottawa Software Cluster and SCOAP (a Division of CATAAlliance). Through his leadership, dedication, and creativity, Mr. Moffat made a positive impact on the information and communications technology industry while serving in the Canadian Forces. Since his retirement, he has continued to work with Governments and industry on how to leverage information technology to assist in restructuring business processes, distribute accountability, exploit information management, and empower users.
John Moore, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
John has over 18 years of experience in Marketing, Online Business Solutions, Web Site Design, Search Engine Optimization and Custom Application Development.
He has been an owner, President and CEO of iSTORM New Media and inSITE Communications for 16 years. He has spent the last 12 years focused on helping clients grow and maintain their online businesses, with both a local and international focus. John has a strong technical background in Web site development and design, Data mining and modeling, Database and market analysis, Customized marketing software development, Advertising services, tracking and analysis, Market analysis and market planning, Search engine optimization, Partner integration and support, Multi-lingual support and marketing, Customer Support Services, Technical support and large scale hosting solutions.
John’s company, iSTORM New Media, has a proven track record for delivering web solutions that are on time, on budget and on target. Since 2000, they have helped their clients generate over $200 million dollars online via online marketing, custom applications, social media, targeted ad buys and offline promotion. He has helped his clients have grow, maintaining relationships that extend over the entire life of the company. His focus is on the flow of campaigns to maximize both conversion and ROI for his clients. John views everything he does as building blocks to a much longer relationship.
His business travels have taken him from Malaysia to LA, Vancouver to Quebec City, New York and London to Malta, but now lives in Kingston with his family.
Christine Pietschmann, Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Christine brings a unique mix of skills and experience to her role as an Entrepreneur in Residence with Invest Ottawa. With a blend of technology, HR strategy, and business capability, Christine can quickly understand and contribute to new ventures and ideas.
Having spent most of her career as an entrepreneur, she understands the tangible and intangible challenges of starting and building a business. After selling her interest in two companies she co-founded in 2000, Christine embarked on a five-year foray into large company leadership roles. This experience deepened and fortified her understanding of how to get things done in sizable organizations and helped her to create a healthy network within corporate Canada.
Christine is a natural coach and describes her EIR role as being a catalyst. She intuitively senses constraints and helps leaders to see and cut through what is holding them back.
Since 2009, she has been primarily focused on running her consulting practice and serving as an active advisor to a number of technology startups.
Bernhardt Zeisig, MSc., Entrepreneur in Residence, Invest Ottawa
Bernie Zeisig is a Managing Partner at Mistral and brings over 18 years of venture investing experience and 30 years of company building experience in both the United States and Canada. He has participated in over 60 rounds of financing and has built a proven, trusted network for deal flow, deal management and realization.
Most recently, Bernie was a Senior Managing partner at Cycle Capital where he led the team’s investment focus and strategy, and led a number of investments in the Clean -Tech sector including American Aerogel, Energate Inc., and LED Roadway lighting.
Previously, Bernie was a Senior Partner at VIMAC Ventures. He joined VIMAC in 1998 and rose from Associate to Principal to Partner, largely due to his investment record and efforts in developing the firm’s Canadian franchise. By 2001, the firm was the most active and respected US-based venture investor in Canada.
Bernie is a frequent speaker on cross-border investment issues and has often advised on policy matters. Bernie holds BAs in Economics from both Carleton University, Canada and Université de Chambery, France, and an MSc in Entrepreneurial Studies from Stirling University, Stirling Scotland.
Marco Fiori, Portfolio Manager, Invest Ottawa
As Portfolio Manager, Marco handles the intake of all the companies coming into Invest Ottawa and assists in all matters with the portfolio. Marco has a multi-disciplinary background having worked in various fields over the past ten years.
Highlights include concept to full execution of two start up private companies that were listed on the TSX Venture Exchange in 2006. As an active investor in private and public companies, Marco has assisted in investor relations, private placements and corporate branding. Previous experience includes database and CRM integration, design work and corporate creation for the development of young start ups as well as project management, marketing and communications.
Lisa Craymer, Portfolio Facilitator, Invest Ottawa
As the Portfolio Facilitator at Invest Ottawa, Lisa Craymer is responsible for the initial client intake process, managing a portfolio of start-up companies, and providing administrative support to Business Advisors and Entrepreneurs in Residence.
Prior to Invest Ottawa, Lisa worked with the Parliamentary Precinct Branch of Public Works and Government Services Canada providing project management and procurement services to the House of Commons, Senate, and Library of Parliament. She assisted with a variety of building restoration projects, such as the Rehabilitation of West Block, Rideau Committee Rooms, and the Modernization of La Promenade Building.
Lisa is a graduate of Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business, with a specialization in Marketing. Upon graduating, Lisa dedicated her time to the Carleton’s Canadian Genealogy Survey Project as a Marketing Research Assistant.
Vahid Dabbaghi Sadr, Market Analyst, Invest Ottawa
Vahid is a Market Analyst for Invest Ottawa. In his role on the Business Analysis team, he is responsible for and assists portfolio clients in their commercialization effort through technology validation, opportunity analysis, market analysis, and competitor analysis and business intelligence support.
Prior to joining Invest Ottawa, Vahid assumed a student consultant role at Carleton Foundry program-Canada’s first crowd source based technology transfer office- and participated in the Talent Bridge program. In both Foundry and Talent Bridge programs, Vahid regularly conducted research and analysis to identify and engage resources that could provide support for Ottawa’s SMEs in areas of business strategy, marketing and business communication.
Vahid is a proud graduate of the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree with dual concentrations in International Business and Managing People and Organization.
Todd Riopelle, Business Analyst, Invest Ottawa
Todd Riopelle is a Business Analyst with Invest Ottawa. In his role on the Business Analysis team, he is responsible for opportunity, competitor and market analyses for portfolio clients in their effort to commercialize technology.
Prior to joining the Invest Ottawa team, Todd worked with the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and the Canada Economic Development Agency for Quebec Regions. In both positions, Todd regularly conducted business research and analysis with a focus on the defence and aerospace sector.
Recently, Todd graduated from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University where he completed the Bachelor of International Business with a minor in French. During his third year Todd studied in Lyon, France where he had the opportunity to travel, live and work in a foreign culture.
Anna Samsik, Business Analyst, Invest Ottawa
As part of the Business Analysis team, Anna is responsible for opportunity, competitor and market analysis for portfolio clients in their effort to commercialize technology.
Prior to joining Invest Ottawa, Anna had the opportunity to work in Canada and Europe as part of a marketing and communications team with a global IT company.
Anna is a graduate of a Masters program in International Business from the Grenoble Graduate School of Business in France. Anna is also a graduate of the Eric Sprott School of Business with a focus on International Marketing and Trade. Anna has over eight years of experience in research and analysis, and is fluent in French, Spanish, and Polish.
Barbara Darlow, Business Advisor- Finance, Invest Ottawa
Barb joined Invest Ottawa in July of 2011 after having spent over 25 years in senior financial management roles in the Information and Communications Technology sector in Ottawa. Her expertise centres around raising capital from venture investment, public capital markets, financial institutions and other sources. Her industry experience includes telecommunications, semiconductors, optical systems and network components, having been CFO at such organizations as West End Systems, Sedona Networks, SiberCore Technologies and Metconnex Inc.
As CFO Barb was also involved in the management of all Finance and Administration functions, including Human Resources, IT, Legal and Shareholder Relations. She’s driven many different transactions in her career, from information systems implementations to an IPO on the TSX in 1994. Barb graduated in 1982 from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), and became a CMA in 1987. For the past five years she has also been the proprietor of a growing retail business in Arnprior, Ont.
Anil Dilawri, Business Advisor- Communications, Invest Ottawa
Anil is the Managing Director of Save it like Sully – a professional presentation training and coaching company. Anil has worked with many leaders from various industries including technology, government, non-profit, oil & gas, financial services, healthcare, and mining.
Anil provides strategic communications coaching to Invest Ottawa clients looking to deliver important investor, customer, or partner presentations.
Prior to Save it like Sully Anil held senior positions in investor relations, research & development, product marketing, communications, and consulting with Hill & Knowlton Canada, March Networks, and Cognos Inc. (now IBM).
Elza Seregelyi, Business Advisor, Invest Ottawa
In her role with Invest Ottawa, Elza works with a variety of partners to bring relevant and timely training and development opportunities to clients. She also facilitates the participation of Ottawa companies in the VentureStart program, and supports new program development.
Elza began her career as an engineer with Bell-Northern Research. Her commitment to promoting science and technology careers later led her to build the Education Interaction department within Nortel. Under her leadership, the team’s efforts were publicly recognized with several local and national awards for innovation and impact. Upon leaving Nortel in 1999, Elza started her consulting business specializing in the development and management of collaborative initiatives involving the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
Elza holds a Bachelor of Engineering and Management (Eng. Physics ‘87) from McMaster University and an M.B.A. from the University of Ottawa. She was a member of the first class to complete the Graduate Diploma in Social Innovation at the University of Waterloo (2012). Elza has served on the Boards of several local and national not-for-profit organizations in the education and science promotion sectors.
Our Partners
John Fielding, Director, Business Development, OCE Centre of Excellence for Photonics
John Fielding joined Ontario Centres of Excellence in September of 2006 as a Business Development Manager. Today, John is the Director of Business Development for the Centre of Excellence for Photonics heading up a team responsible for industry and academic engagement and business development. John has over 24 years experience in the high technology industry with Bookham Technology, Nortel and Mitel dealing with many aspects of semiconductor and optical components fabrication including Life Cycle Management, cost analysis, new product / technology introduction and process engineering. Most recently John held senior management positions dealing with mergers and acquisitions ranging from small, less than 100 persons to large several billion dollar investments.
Daniel Saikaley, Industrial Technology Advisor, NRC – IRAP
Daniel is an electrical engineer with 23 years of business and information and communications technology sector experience. Daniel graduated Magna Cum Laude honours with an electrical engineering degree, conferred by the University of Ottawa. Prior to joining the National Research Council (NRC), Daniel spent 15 years in the private sector with Nortel Networks in progressively responsible positions within various business lines. Daniel joined the NRC in 2005 to work on NRC’s Technology Cluster Initiatives and was instrumental in solidifying NRC’s case for the renewal of these initiatives. In 2008, Daniel joined IRAP as an Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA), followed by a one year assignment to the IRAP Director General’s Office where he had a significant impact on the IRAP program by helping to raise IRAP’s profile with Central Agencies and Ministers. In 2010, Daniel returned to his ITA role and continues to work with SMEs from across the country by helping them access national and international opportunities as well as private and public funding.
Daniel has a strong array of business and technical experience as well as strong interpersonal skills. His various S&T focused functions have provided him with both an excellent knowledge of end-to-end business processes (including all aspects of technology development and commercialization) as well as strong client relationship management skills.
Laurie Davis, Founder, Capital Angel Network
Laurie graduated from the University of Alberta with a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation, he joined Bell-Northern Research (BNR), where he specialized in the development and introduction of new products. He held increasingly more senior positions within BNR, and later Nortel Networks, ultimately becoming Vice-President responsible for a number of new products.
Laurie was initially involved in the development of voice switching products. In the early 90′s he took a leadership role in Nortel’s entry into the optical networking business, holding positions in both Canada and the United Kingdom. Since the mid 90′s he was been involved in data communications, initially with frame relay and ATM networks, and later with IP networking.
For the past several years, as a member of Purple Angel and as a founder of the Ottawa Angel Alliance, Laurie has been an active angel investor.
