
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.


#21 - Simba Wakatama - Loblaws x OneEleven Pitch Event
Simba Wakatama of OneEleven invites Startups & Scale Ups to present to Loblaws Group Limited:
Loblaw Companies Limited is seeking top startups in AI, supply chain management, ESG, and efficiency to pitch their solutions for a chance to be integrated into their family of brands. 🚀This exclusive opportunity is brought to you by OneEleven🗓️
Apply by October 15th:
OneEleven is home to a community of high-performing technology scaleups. Membership in OneEleven unlocks unparalleled access to a highly-curated peer network, investment capital, best-in-class partners, on-demand services, and strategic support designed specifically to help businesses successfully navigate periods of substantial growth.

#20 - AJ Noronha - General Partner @ GX Ventures
Introducing AJ Noronha General Partner @ GX Ventures Fund!

#19 - Jessica Wong - Yorkseed Venture Community

#18 - Meir Rabkin | BlueVision Capital Fund II
Meir Rabkin is the Managing Partner of Blue Vision Capital - A Climate, Energy, Agtech, and Blue Economy $150M Global VC Fund
Blue Vision Capital is a venture capital firm that aims to deliver outsized financial returns by fulfilling an unmet need in the mobilization against climate change.
Our individual actions have a global impact—once combined.
To connect with Meir

#17 - Rafiq Ahmed | Dipalo Ventures
Fund Website: https://dipaloventures.com/
Fund Manager: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmedrafiq/

#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/

#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

#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:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeepkline/

#9 - Ashley Francisco | Head of Startup Developer Ecosystem | Google Canada

#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.
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:

#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/