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At Best Startup Canada we track over 100,000 Canadian startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top British Columbia based Director operating in the Financial Services space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.ca.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Alexis Shahriar Assadi
Director and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Income Capital Corporation
Alexis Shahriar Assadi is an entrepreneur and private lender. He operates a group of companies that lend funds to real estate projects and businesses across Canada.
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About Assadi Private Capital Inc., Pacific Income Capital Corporation: Pacific Income Capital Corporation is the general partner of Pacific Income Limited Partnership.
Jerel Davis
Managing Director of Versant Ventures
Jerel Davis is a Director of Blueline Bioscience and an Investment Professional with Versant Ventures. Jerel joined Versant from McKinsey & Company where he was an Associate Principal. During his six years with McKinsey, he advised healthcare corporations in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical device, and molecular diagnostics. He has worked in a number of healthcare markets globally including the US, Europe, China, Russia, and India. Jerel was a post doctoral researcher at Stanford University until 2005 and a researcher at Amgen from 1999-2000. Jerel is currently a board observer at Inception and Quanticel. Jerel received a PhD in Biological Sciences from Stanford University where he studied Genomics and Population Genetics. Jerel earned a BS in Biology and Mathematics from Pepperdine University.
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About Blueline Bioscience, Versant Ventures: Versant Ventures caters to the healthcare sector with early and later stage venture, private equity, and debt financing investments.
Peter Smyrniotis
Director of Victory Square
Peter Smyrniotis is a director of Victory Square Technologies and CEO of Vancouver based Blockchain Assembly, a Victory Square Technologies portfolio company. Peter is an entrepreneur, investor and consultant, and has over 25 years experience in the technology industry, having developed skills, competencies and expertise in a number of areas and industries, both private and public. These include blockchain technologies and services, enterprise software & hardware, security, gaming, payment processing, e-commerce, business development, strategic sales, channel & partnership, cloud brokerages, and augmented reality. Further Peter is actively involved in the technology sector, advising companies on sustainable growth and scaling commercialization activities.
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About Turnium Technology Group Inc., Victory Square: Victory Square creates, funds, and executes on ideas in sports, health, and entertainment.
Ryan Ternier
Director of Technology of InvestX Capital
Ryan Ternier is the Director of Technology at InvestX Capital.
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About InvestX Capital: InvestX is the private equity marketplace for registered dealers to provide access to retail accredited investors.
Mark Achtemichuk
Vice President & Managing Director of CMLS Financial
As part of the commercial management team, Mark Achtemichuk is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with institutional placement partners. Having previously led the mortgage analytics group, he now oversees that group’s development as well as commercial and corporate marketing. Mr. Achtemichuk has more than 18 years of experience in the financial sector. Prior to joining CMLS in 2010, Mr. Achtemichuk operated his own firm where he counseled real estate development clients regarding various financing and strategic initiatives. He has held several senior positions, including with a Western Canadian developer and at KPMG’s Transaction Services practice in the United States. Mr. Achtemichuk is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia.
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About CMLS Financial, GreenPower Motor Company: CMLS Financial provides independently owned mortgage services.
Emma Williams
Director of Marketing of Breathe Life
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About Breathe Life: The digital distribution platform for life insurance carriers
Steve Petterson
Executive Director of Calgary Social Value Fund
Steve is focused on building the Canadian social investment ecosystem. He is the founder of the National Social Value Fund, a manager at Canvas Impact, and a manager for Social Innovation Academy.
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About Calgary Social Value Fund: Calgary Social Value Fund is a student-led investment fund that supports local Calgary-based social purpose organizations.
Samir Shah
Director of Cosigned
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About : Non-recourse, secured small business acquisition loans for new high school graduates.
Mike Matsuo
Director, Business Member Relationships of Vancity
Mike has over twenty five years of experience in the financial services industry with Vancity Credit Union. He has spent the majority of that time in various leadership roles throughout the organization. Mike is currently VP of Community Business and Investment at Vancity. Over his career, Mike has been appointed to large scale projects relating to IT and operational efficiency. He has experience leading others in retail and business lending and has been involved in the Surrey community over the past several years. Mike is a longtime Richmond resident who is involved in local community events. He is the Chair of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation board and supports the Seafair Minor Hockey Association and other events in his hometown. Mike’s contributions to KPU and other community-based organizations are driven by his commitment to actively enriching the communities in which he works and resides.
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About Vancity: Vancity is one of Canada’s largest credit unions, with $17.1 billion in assets, more than 492,000 members and 57 branches throughout Metro
Frank Lyons
Director, Product Development of TIO Networks
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About TIO Networks: TIO Networks is a telecom, wireless, cable, and utility network operator that also offers bill payment services.
Caterina Papadakos
Director for Western Canada of Espresso Capital
Caterina brings over ten years experience in international business development and finance. Caterina joined Espresso Capital from BMO Bank of Montreal where she held the role of Director, Technology and Innovation, leading the bank’s tech program in Vancouver including market development and financing. Caterina was BMO’s regional representative for the Deloitte Technology Fast50 program and selection committee. Before BMO, Caterina completed an MBA at the University of British Columbia and held the position of International Business Development Manager at Trade and Invest BC with a focus on Europe, India, and the Americas. In that role, she worked with companies on their export development and foreign investment attraction strategies in addition to being the World Bank Group’s Private Sector Liaison Officer for British Columbia.
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About Espresso Capital: Espresso Capital offers lines of credit and term loans to enable entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
Steve Thomson
Director, Strategic Projects of Mifos Initiative
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About Mifos Initiative: The Mifos Initiative is an open source foundation that stewards the development of the Mifos Platform for Financial Inclusion
Steve Thomson
Director, Strategic Projects of Mifos Initiative
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About Mifos Initiative: The Mifos Initiative is an open source foundation that stewards the development of the Mifos Platform for Financial Inclusion
Evans Jia
Managing Director of Upmost Capital
Evans Jia is investment advisor at Upmost Capital based in Vancouver, dedicated in making angel investment in China and North America. Evans is passionate about consumer internet and mobile related ventures. With over 20+ years of experience in marketing, product and user experience design, Evans co-founded leading online real estate platform Anjuke acquired by 58.com in 2015, and online travel business Zizaike in 2011. Prior to that, He has five year marketing experience as Advertising and Marketing Research Manager with Johnson & Johnson, and led Eachnet/eBay China product/user experience team since 2000. Evans quit his undergraduate education of Industrial Electronical Automation at Shanghai University of Engineering Science in 1992. He continued professional education by acquired Chartered Certificate in Marketing in 1998, and completed Advanced Management Program in China Europe International Business School in 2006.
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About Upmost Capital: Upmost Capital is Venture investment business, focusing on early stage consumer internet and mobile market.
Lisa Taniguchi
Director of Design of WealthBar
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About WealthBar: Online Financial Advice for Canadians
Dale Evans
Marketing Director of My Canada Payday
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About My Canada Payday: Online and storefront payday loans and cheque cashing.
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