The GROW Accelerator powers entrepreneurs to make the crucial leap from startup to scale-up. With intensive growth coaching and experiences with world-class mentors, participating companies are ready to substantially increase revenues, acquire new customers, attract and retain top talent, and position themselves to attract angel or venture capital investment.
How the GROW Accelerator Works
The GROW Accelerator follows a cohorted model, with each group of companies meeting weekly with their growth coaches, and gathering monthly for honest and informative conversations with business leaders and high-growth entrerpreneurs, as well sharing the opportunities and challenges that each participant has faced. Each cohort concludes with a pitch event featuring investors from across Canada.
How to Get Into the GROW Accelerator
All founders accepted into the GROW Accelerator will have a product in-market, early customer traction and revenue. If you are interested in joining a future GROW Accelerator cohort, let us know!
GROW Accelerator Mentors
Our GROW Accelerator participants are supported by outstanding growth coaches and mentors who offer expertise in starting and scaling, finance, legal, operations, sales and marketing, funding opportunities, and other specialties.
GROWTH COACH
Bob Maloley
Business career spanning 40+ years as a CEO in the Software and Hardware and Healthcare Technology Industries focused on developing national and International markets.
10 Years as a business consultant/advisor to numerous private and publicly traded companies in the technology, healthcare and animal health industries.
Entrepreneur in Residence with TechAlliance of SW Ontario from 2012 to 2018 where he helped several companies transition from start up to growth phase and successful exit.
Continues to remain involved in the technology sector through investments in select local companies.
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Bob Maloley
GROWTH COACH
Bob Maloley
Business career spanning 40+ years as a CEO in the Software and Hardware and Healthcare Technology Industries focused on developing national and International markets.
10 Years as a business consultant/advisor to numerous private and publicly traded companies in the technology, healthcare and animal health industries.
Entrepreneur in Residence with TechAlliance of SW Ontario from 2012 to 2018 where he helped several companies transition from start up to growth phase and successful exit.
Continues to remain involved in the technology sector through investments in select local companies.
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GROWTH COACH
Gary Manning
Gary is a strategic and entrepreneurial thinker, he has designed revenue and technology roadmaps, project managed and commissioned enterprise systems in Manufacturing, Education, Healthcare, Military, and the Media industry. Obsessed with efficiency, following trends and advancements in the digital, ad-tech and technology sector, Gary is always searching for innovative ways to improve the experience of digital products.
Specialties: Innovation, Revenue & Marketing Models, Creation, Business & Technology Strategy, Project Management, Research & Development, Workflow System Design, Startups.
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Gary Manning
GROWTH COACH
Gary Manning
Gary is a strategic and entrepreneurial thinker, he has designed revenue and technology roadmaps, project managed and commissioned enterprise systems in Manufacturing, Education, Healthcare, Military, and the Media industry. Obsessed with efficiency, following trends and advancements in the digital, ad-tech and technology sector, Gary is always searching for innovative ways to improve the experience of digital products.
Specialties: Innovation, Revenue & Marketing Models, Creation, Business & Technology Strategy, Project Management, Research & Development, Workflow System Design, Startups.
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GROWTH COACH
Patrick Poulin
Patrick is an accomplished senior business executive with an entrepreneurial DNA who earned an undergrad in Mechanical Engineering and an Executive MBA from the Krannert School of Business at Purdue University.
He has deep front-line experience in global business development & sales, product design & development, supply chain management, green field plant start-ups, manufacturing operations, and continuous improvement. These areas of expertise were perfected while an executive in large corporate aerospace and while a business owner of a robotic automation firm focused in the global food industry.
Through acquiring his business and later selling to a large multinational, he has a professional level understanding of M&A, funding, and deal making. He has an evolving interest in AI & Deep Learning as well as Cryptocurrencies & Blockchain.
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Patrick Poulin
GROWTH COACH
Patrick Poulin
Patrick is an accomplished senior business executive with an entrepreneurial DNA who earned an undergrad in Mechanical Engineering and an Executive MBA from the Krannert School of Business at Purdue University.
He has deep front-line experience in global business development & sales, product design & development, supply chain management, green field plant start-ups, manufacturing operations, and continuous improvement. These areas of expertise were perfected while an executive in large corporate aerospace and while a business owner of a robotic automation firm focused in the global food industry.
Through acquiring his business and later selling to a large multinational, he has a professional level understanding of M&A, funding, and deal making. He has an evolving interest in AI & Deep Learning as well as Cryptocurrencies & Blockchain.
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MENTOR
Heather Macpherson
Heather Macpherson is the Founder and CEO of The Minery Ltd.
Heather builds software to help organizations “get better”. After 20 years of working with all types and sizes of organizations, Heather found herself frustrated with the “manual” workplace – where training, quality improvement, and customer satisfaction were independent of each other. Determined to change this, Heather set out to develop solutions that would make an impact.
Established in 2010, The Minery is best described as a hybrid of technology and consulting services targeted for automotive clients. The company has successfully developed two software solutions focused on performance and human capital management.
Heather leads The Minery team inspiring them to join her in her pursuit to change the workplace!
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Heather Macpherson
MENTOR
Heather Macpherson
Heather Macpherson is the Founder and CEO of The Minery Ltd.
Heather builds software to help organizations “get better”. After 20 years of working with all types and sizes of organizations, Heather found herself frustrated with the “manual” workplace – where training, quality improvement, and customer satisfaction were independent of each other. Determined to change this, Heather set out to develop solutions that would make an impact.
Established in 2010, The Minery is best described as a hybrid of technology and consulting services targeted for automotive clients. The company has successfully developed two software solutions focused on performance and human capital management.
Heather leads The Minery team inspiring them to join her in her pursuit to change the workplace!
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MENTOR
Patrick Gregory
Patrick Gregory is a product executive, consultant and speaker. He started his career as a musician and graphic designer in the 90s. After a brief time in the agency world, Patrick spent 10 years managing user experience and design teams in the financial services industry.
For the last five years, Patrick has developed a unique skillset in building and scaling product teams with start-ups, growth companies and large enterprises. He is currently the Director of Product at interVal, an innovative fintech company putting essential business valuation information in the hands of entrepreneurs. He holds a Masters Degree (MLIS) in Library and Information Science from Western University, Canada.
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Patrick Gregory
MENTOR
Patrick Gregory
Patrick Gregory is a product executive, consultant and speaker. He started his career as a musician and graphic designer in the 90s. After a brief time in the agency world, Patrick spent 10 years managing user experience and design teams in the financial services industry.
For the last five years, Patrick has developed a unique skillset in building and scaling product teams with start-ups, growth companies and large enterprises. He is currently the Director of Product at interVal, an up-and-coming software as a service provider in the automotive technology space. He holds a Masters Degree (MLIS) in Library and Information Science from Western University, Canada.
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MENTOR
David Brebner
David is a strategic “structuralist” and defines the development of the necessary foundations for organizations to succeed. David’s ability to discern the structural solution to complex problems provides the catalyst and support structure to bolster any value creating strategy.
David is a Co-founder and CFO of Mobials, and has numerous investments in a variety of sectors including software, residential mortgages, fintech, and commercial real estate.
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David Brebner
MENTOR
David Brebner
David is a strategic “structuralist” and defines the development of the necessary foundations for organizations to succeed. David’s ability to discern the structural solution to complex problems provides the catalyst and support structure to bolster any value creating strategy.
David is a Co-founder and CFO of Mobials, and has numerous investments in a variety of sectors including software, residential mortgages, fintech, and commercial real estate.
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MENTOR
Lina Bowden
Lina Bowden, FCPA, FCMA, MA is the catalyst behind VERGE Capital, a community-led collaborative that creates local investment for local impact in London and Southwestern Ontario. Since 2012, Lina has been instrumental in the creation of two social finance funds and the engagement of local impact investors and community stakeholders.
Prior to 2010, Lina spent 30 years in financial services, including Partner at Highstreet Asset Management and SVP, Marketing and Product Development with AGF Asset Management.
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Lina Bowden
MENTOR
Lina Bowden
Lina Bowden, FCPA, FCMA, MA is the catalyst behind VERGE Capital, a community-led collaborative that creates local investment for local impact in London and Southwestern Ontario. Since 2012, Lina has been instrumental in the creation of two social finance funds and the engagement of local impact investors and community stakeholders.
Prior to 2010, Lina spent 30 years in financial services, including Partner at Highstreet Asset Management and SVP, Marketing and Product Development with AGF Asset Management.
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MENTOR
Lynn Davis
Lynn Davis is the President of Alegria 3 Inc., an Impact Investment and Property Management company. Through her involvement with the South-Western Ontario Angel Group, for which she is Board Chair, she has invested in numerous start-ups with local, national and international reach, and places a strong focus on investing in organizations that have a social or environmental impact embedded into their business DNA. Lynn is an investor in London’s first ever Community Bond, in support of Innovation Works, a social innovation space located in downtown London. She has also invested in the Verge Breakthrough Fund, the first investment initiative of its kind in Canada, which focuses on local investment for local impact. For several years, Lynn has acted as an Executive Mentor to MBA students studying Transformational Leadership at the Ivey School of Business at Western University. The principles of leader character are foundational in Lynn’s decision making process when it comes to her Impact Investments.
From 2009-2015 she worked as the Director of Development at The Grand Theatre, responsible for a $1M fund development budget. During her tenure, she stepped in as the interim Marketing Director responsible for $2M in ticket sales, audience growth, marketing and branding.
Lynn has been heavily involved in the non-profit sector in London for more than 30 years working with and supporting numerous community organizations including, Pillar Non-Profit Network, The Amabile Choirs of London, Canada, Wellspring London & Region Cancer Support Centre, The Grand Theatre, Youth Centre for Change, Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan, Art for Aids International and St. Joseph’s Health Foundation.
Lynn is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with an Honours Degree in English Language and Literature. She is the proud parent of two amazing young adults, an avid traveler, and enjoys renovating houses. Lynn has recently completed a work of historical fiction and looks to include “published author” to her list of accomplishments very soon.
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Lynn Davis
MENTOR
Lynn Davis
Lynn Davis is the President of Alegria 3 Inc., an Impact Investment and Property Management company. Through her involvement with the South-Western Ontario Angel Group, for which she is Board Chair, she has invested in numerous start-ups with local, national and international reach, and places a strong focus on investing in organizations that have a social or environmental impact embedded into their business DNA. Lynn is an investor in London’s first ever Community Bond, in support of Innovation Works, a social innovation space located in downtown London. She has also invested in the Verge Breakthrough Fund, the first investment initiative of its kind in Canada, which focuses on local investment for local impact. For several years, Lynn has acted as an Executive Mentor to MBA students studying Transformational Leadership at the Ivey School of Business at Western University. The principles of leader character are foundational in Lynn’s decision making process when it comes to her Impact Investments.
From 2009-2015 she worked as the Director of Development at The Grand Theatre, responsible for a $1M fund development budget. During her tenure, she stepped in as the interim Marketing Director responsible for $2M in ticket sales, audience growth, marketing and branding.
Lynn has been heavily involved in the non-profit sector in London for more than 30 years working with and supporting numerous community organizations including, Pillar Non-Profit Network, The Amabile Choirs of London, Canada, Wellspring London & Region Cancer Support Centre, The Grand Theatre, Youth Centre for Change, Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan, Art for Aids International and St. Joseph’s Health Foundation.
Lynn is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with an Honours Degree in English Language and Literature. She is the proud parent of two amazing young adults, an avid traveler, and enjoys renovating houses. Lynn has recently completed a work of historical fiction and looks to include “published author” to her list of accomplishments very soon.
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MENTOR
Dennis Ensing
Dennis has a strong and deep background in angel investing, venture capital, and the C-suite of high growth companies, leading areas such as technology development, commercialization and business development. He was one of the founding members of SWO Angels in 2008 and was a member of the Board of Directors until the end of 2015 when he assumed the role of CEO where he continues to contribute to the success of SWO Angels and member investee companies. He is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of Sensory Technologies Inc., one of the SWO Angels member investee companies.
Prior to 2016, Dennis was CEO of TransGaming Inc., now FinDev Inc. (TSX-V: FDI), a digital media company he helped start and take public that was a leader in the exploding cloud-based video game market. In the past 10 years alone he was involved in over $150 million of financing and M&A transactions – an activity he continues today as a Partner with DCF Capital Partners. Prior to that he was also a Vice President in the Corporate Finance practice of Ernst and Young where he provided transaction advisory services to emerging companies. Dennis is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. He is also a CEO member of Peerscale (formerly AceTech).
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Dennis Ensing
MENTOR
Dennis Ensing
Dennis has a strong and deep background in angel investing, venture capital, and the C-suite of high growth companies, leading areas such as technology development, commercialization and business development. He was one of the founding members of SWO Angels in 2008 and was a member of the Board of Directors until the end of 2015 when he assumed the role of CEO where he continues to contribute to the success of SWO Angels and member investee companies. He is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of Sensory Technologies Inc., one of the SWO Angels member investee companies.
Prior to 2016, Dennis was CEO of TransGaming Inc., now FinDev Inc. (TSX-V: FDI), a digital media company he helped start and take public that was a leader in the exploding cloud-based video game market. In the past 10 years alone he was involved in over $150 million of financing and M&A transactions – an activity he continues today as a Partner with DCF Capital Partners. Prior to that he was also a Vice President in the Corporate Finance practice of Ernst and Young where he provided transaction advisory services to emerging companies. Dennis is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. He is also a CEO member of Peerscale (formerly AceTech).
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MENTOR
Brian Foster
Brian Foster is a technology investor and serial entrepreneur. Brian is the Co-Founder of the Roundhouse Accelerator in London, Ontario. The RH Accelerator exists for one purpose – helping business owners, founders and the teams in early stage companies achieve their dreams. Previously, Brian was the Co-Founder and CEO of InnoSoft Canada Inc, one of the fastest growing companies in the North American recreation management software market. InnoSoft was acquired by Constellation Software in 2017. Brian was also one of the Co-Founders of the KW Titans professional basketball team, playing in the National Basketball League of Canada. As CEO of BNW Software, Brian guided BNW’s significant growth, culminating in its acquisition by a US publicly traded company in 2004. Brian serves as a board member and shareholder of a variety of technology-based companies.
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Brian Foster
MENTOR
Brian Foster
Brian Foster is a technology investor and serial entrepreneur. Brian is the Co-Founder of the Roundhouse Accelerator in London, Ontario. The RH Accelerator exists for one purpose – helping business owners, founders and the teams in early stage companies achieve their dreams. Previously, Brian was the Co-Founder and CEO of InnoSoft Canada Inc, one of the fastest growing companies in the North American recreation management software market. InnoSoft was acquired by Constellation Software in 2017. Brian was also one of the Co-Founders of the KW Titans professional basketball team, playing in the National Basketball League of Canada. As CEO of BNW Software, Brian guided BNW’s significant growth, culminating in its acquisition by a US publicly traded company in 2004. Brian serves as a board member and shareholder of a variety of technology-based companies.
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MENTOR
Melissa McInerney
Melissa McInerney is co-founder and CEO of tbk Creative, an internationally recognized and award-winning web design & digital marketing agency. As a strategic and analytical thinker, Melissa is passionate about building the world’s best digital brands and products. To ensure that women are equally represented within the tech industry, Melissa is proud to have helped create a company that is 50% female owned, managed, and operated, a first for agencies in Ontario. She speaks across the country on topics such as workplace diversity, female leadership, digital marketing, brand creation and start-up success.
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Melissa McInerny
MENTOR
Melissa McInerney
Melissa McInerney is co-founder and CEO of tbk Creative, an internationally recognized and award-winning web design & digital marketing agency. As a strategic and analytical thinker, Melissa is passionate about building the world’s best digital brands and products. To ensure that women are equally represented within the tech industry, Melissa is proud to have helped create a company that is 50% female owned, managed, and operated, a first for agencies in Ontario. She speaks across the country on topics such as workplace diversity, female leadership, digital marketing, brand creation and start-up success.
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MENTOR
Anna Foat
Anna Foat loves the power of possibility and the passion of entrepreneurs. She’s worked at a startup, grown with one of the most famous Canadian scale-ups and now works for a major financial services firm in Canada advising the chief transformation officer on digital transformation. She earned a BA in English Literature from the University of Waterloo and now teaches Design Thinking at Western.
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Anna Foat
MENTOR
Anna Foat
Anna Foat loves the power of possibility and the passion of entrepreneurs. She’s worked at a startup, grown with one of the most famous Canadian scale-ups and now works for a major financial services firm in Canada advising the chief transformation officer on digital transformation. She earned a BA in English Literature from the University of Waterloo and now teaches Design Thinking at Western.
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MENTOR
Luke Krueger
Luke is a co-founder of Valhalla Private Capital and President of the Valhalla Global Accelerator. Luke launched and serves as President of both Valhalla Angels Vancouver & Calgary.
Luke gained experience in emerging markets working for Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus at the award-winning Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, where he led the formation of several social enterprises. Leveraging that experience, Luke helped launch Valhalla Global Accelerator, where he has executed entrepreneurship and startup investing projects in Southeast Asia and Latin America in conjunction with organizations such as World Bank and US Aid as well as with local government agencies and universities.
Luke is a 4-time founder and active angel investor. He launched his first venture in University and grew it for several years before exiting. Luke is a director of several for-profit and non-profit ventures and is an active advisor to two startup companies. He is a regular trainer, panelist, and keynote presenter at startup conferences around the world focusing on investing in emerging markets.
Additionally Luke is a mentor for Founders Institute, a Startup Canada Expert Advisor, a judge for the BC New Ventures Competition and part of the Calgary Innovation Council.
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Luke Krueger
MENTOR
Luke Krueger
Luke is a co-founder of Valhalla Private Capital and President of the Valhalla Global Accelerator. Luke launched and serves as President of both Valhalla Angels Vancouver & Calgary.
Luke gained experience in emerging markets working for Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus at the award-winning Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, where he led the formation of several social enterprises. Leveraging that experience, Luke helped launch Valhalla Global Accelerator, where he has executed entrepreneurship and startup investing projects in Southeast Asia and Latin America in conjunction with organizations such as World Bank and US Aid as well as with local government agencies and universities.
Luke is a 4-time founder and active angel investor. He launched his first venture in University and grew it for several years before exiting. Luke is a director of several for-profit and non-profit ventures and is an active advisor to two startup companies. He is a regular trainer, panelist, and keynote presenter at startup conferences around the world focusing on investing in emerging markets.
Additionally Luke is a mentor for Founders Institute, a Startup Canada Expert Advisor, a judge for the BC New Ventures Competition and part of the Calgary Innovation Council.
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MENTOR
Grace Bartz
Grace joined BDC in 2019 as part of a strategic initiative by the crown corporation to have a larger impact on technology focused entrepreneurs in Ontario. Grace works exclusively with tech entrepreneurs, providing patient, non-dilutive capital, and helps her portfolio clients access a variety of services to help tech companies reach their growth potential. BDC’s tech solutions are designed to fill the gap between traditional credit requirements and the asset-light nature of tech businesses. Grace Bartz is open to having conversations with any company with ambitions to grow.
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Grace Bartz
MENTOR
Grace Bartz
Grace joined BDC in 2019 as part of a strategic initiative by the crown corporation to have a larger impact on technology focused entrepreneurs in Ontario. Grace works exclusively with tech entrepreneurs, providing patient, non-dilutive capital, and helps her portfolio clients access a variety of services to help tech companies reach their growth potential. BDC’s tech solutions are designed to fill the gap between traditional credit requirements and the asset-light nature of tech businesses. Grace Bartz is open to having conversations with any company with ambitions to grow.
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MENTOR
Bernie Batt
Bernie Batt is a performance enhancement professional for companies big and small. Trained in Deloitte Vancouver’s restructuring group, Bernie has leveraged this knowledge to build companies for success. Bernie worked at a variety of public companies in change management, reporting and analytics capacities. Most recently, Bernie was the Finance Director for Leo Burnett Chicago, an iconic advertising agency famous for the creation of the Marlborough Man, the Green Giant, and Tucan Sam. Bernie is a founder and CFO of KEY Learning, which is a Vancouver-based educational consulting practice. Bernie is a member of and an analyst for the Southwestern Ontario Alliance. As an analyst, Bernie’s charge is to aid young companies to find seed financing and bringing high quality deal flow to a group of Angel Investors.
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Bernie Batt
MENTOR
Bernie Batt
Bernie is a financial executive and an entrepreneur. Having served as a senior analyst for the Vancouver Financial Advisory practice of Deloitte & Touche, Bernie’s, expertise lies in due diligence, business restructuring, and analysis. He is a founder and executive of an educational consulting start-up in Vancouver, Key Learning Group, which has been a successful recipient of Angel funding.
Throughout his career, Bernie has specialized in implementation of enterprise-level financial systems and processes. He has applied this skill set as the Assistant Controller of SouthGobi Resources (TSX:SGQ, HKEX:1878) and as a financial consultant for Goldcorp (TSX:G, NYSE:GG). Most recently, Bernie served as a Finance Director, for Leo Burnett (EPA:PUB), the iconic Chicago advertising agency, where he formed and trained a department of 49 accountants and analysts. Bernie is a Chartered Professional Accountant, and holds a Bachelors of Commerce degree from the Sauder School of Business at UBC. Currently, Bernie is the president of Point Grey Commercial Advisors, a company which holds and services commercial real estate investments in Southwestern Ontario. Bernie is a member and angel investor with the Southwestern Ontario Angel Group.
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MENTOR
Paul Hogendoorn
An incurable entrepreneur, Paul has co-founded or helped to launch numerous ventures over his 30+ year career, including most-recently FreePoint Technologies, an award-winning provider of software for the IIoT to manufacturers worldwide. Paul is a keynote speaker and published writer for multiple magazines and newspapers where he shares his passions: to encourage the next generation workforce to pursue a career in manufacturing and to support manufacturers in North America to remain competitive through the adoption of new IIoT technologies.
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Paul Hogendoorn
MENTOR
Paul Hogendoorn
An incurable entrepreneur, Paul has co-founded or helped to launch numerous ventures over his 30+ year career, including most-recently FreePoint Technologies, an award-winning provider of software for the IIoT to manufacturers worldwide. Paul is a keynote speaker and published writer for multiple magazines and newspapers where he shares his passions: to encourage the next generation workforce to pursue a career in manufacturing and to support manufacturers in North America to remain competitive through the adoption of new IIoT technologies.
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MENTOR
Agnes Olendrzynska
Agnes Olendrzynska helps technology companies grow exponentially with creative financing solutions, and connections to investors, advisors, and professionals specific to each company’s needs.
Since 2013 as a Commercial Account Manager at RBC, Agnes has supported tech businesses in each stage of operation, from four owners in a basement, to international corporations with 250+ employees, and she has even guided a few exits worth over $150 million. She understands the various challenges faced by business owners at each stage, from ideation and commercialization to expansion and maturity.
After six years out west, Agnes moved back to her hometown of London, Ontario in 2019.She is very excited to leverage her experience and assist high growth tech companies locally. She is always open to having coffee and a chat with startups of any size.
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Agnes Olendrzynska
MENTOR
Agnes Olendrzynska
Agnes Olendrzynska helps technology companies grow exponentially with creative financing solutions, and connections to investors, advisors, and professionals specific to each company’s needs.
Since 2013 as a Commercial Account Manager at RBC, Agnes has supported tech businesses in each stage of operation, from four owners in a basement, to international corporations with 250+ employees, and she has even guided a few exits worth over $150 million. She understands the various challenges faced by business owners at each stage, from ideation and commercialization to expansion and maturity.
After six years out west, Agnes moved back to her hometown of London, Ontario in 2019.She is very excited to leverage her experience and assist high growth tech companies locally. She is always open to having coffee and a chat with startups of any size.
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MENTOR
Frank Erschen
Well-known business planning & pitch coach Communitech, DMZ, Guelph Accelerator, Invest Ottawa, Atlantic Canada (Venn, Propel, Volta), YuKonstruct,, … Developed The Artful Science of Pitching® based on Fundraising success (raised >40M in C-level roles) Angel investing (GTAN Angel of the Year 2011) Investment evaluation (Laurier Start-up Fund inv. committee) Educator, advisor, director (NACO Academy, lecturer, many boards) “Canada’s best pitch coach” (Founder Institute) “Startup whisperer” (Communitech) Advised/guided/coached/reviewed >>1000 companies Supported by experience as a corporate executive, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Strategy Officer, Board Chair, director, consultant and in roles on both the sell-side and buy-side.
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Frank Erschen
MENTOR
Frank Erschen
Well-known business planning & pitch coach Communitech, DMZ, Guelph Accelerator, Invest Ottawa, Atlantic Canada (Venn, Propel, Volta), YuKonstruct,, … Developed The Artful Science of Pitching® based on Fundraising success (raised >40M in C-level roles) Angel investing (GTAN Angel of the Year 2011) Investment evaluation (Laurier Start-up Fund inv. committee) Educator, advisor, director (NACO Academy, lecturer, many boards) “Canada’s best pitch coach” (Founder Institute) “Startup whisperer” (Communitech) Advised/guided/coached/reviewed >>1000 companies Supported by experience as a corporate executive, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Strategy Officer, Board Chair, director, consultant and in roles on both the sell-side and buy-side.
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MENTOR
Alan MacKinnon
Alan is a native Londoner and was a founding partner of Protek, a southwestern Ontario Information Technology Services company. Founded in 1983, the company grew from 2 to over 50 employees. Protek was recognized as one of Canada’s Fastest Growing companies in Canada for three consecutive years in the late 1990’s. Protek was acquired by TUC Brands, a technology managed services company in 2012. In 2015 Alan joined CoreSolutions Software, a specialty software development organization as Director of Sales. CoreSolutions was acquired by FreePoint Technologies, a leading IIoT solution developer focusing on improving results for manufacturers through machine monitoring and employee engagement.
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Alan MacKinnon
MENTOR
Alan MacKinnon
Alan is a native Londoner and was a founding partner of Protek, a southwestern Ontario Information Technology Services company. Founded in 1983, the company grew from 2 to over 50 employees. Protek was recognized as one of Canada’s Fastest Growing companies in Canada for three consecutive years in the late 1990’s. Protek was acquired by TUC Brands, a technology managed services company in 2012. In 2015 Alan joined CoreSolutions Software, a specialty software development organization as Director of Sales. CoreSolutions was acquired by FreePoint Technologies, a leading IIoT solution developer focusing on improving results for manufacturers through machine monitoring and employee engagement.
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MENTOR
Jeff van Heumen
Jeff is a trained polymer chemist with a PhD specialization in polyurethane chemistry. During his career, Jeff has held several R&D-related positions in the automotive industry. From his PhD and R&D roles, he has five patents and over 15 publications. Later, Jeff was a research consultant in the public accounting sector. In a subsequent role, Jeff provided CFO and VP product support for a small, private, Waterloo-based non-destructive testing company that was later acquired. More recently, Jeff joined Ontario Centres of Excellence as a Business Development Manager supporting London and surrounding region.
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Jeff van Heumen
MENTOR
Jeff van Heumen
Jeff is a trained polymer chemist with a PhD specialization in polyurethane chemistry. During his career, Jeff has held several R&D-related positions in the automotive industry. From his PhD and R&D roles, he has five patents and over 15 publications. Later, Jeff was a research consultant in the public accounting sector. In a subsequent role, Jeff provided CFO and VP product support for a small, private, Waterloo-based non-destructive testing company that was later acquired. More recently, Jeff joined Ontario Centres of Excellence as a Business Development Manager supporting London and surrounding region.
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GROW Accelerator Cohort 1 Participants
Questions about GROW?
Do you have questions about the GROW Accelerator? Let us know at hello@techalliance.ca!