Judges

  • Jonathan Bixby

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    Jonathan has a wealth of experience in starting, leading and mentoring technology start-ups. As co-founder and Chairman of the Board of IronPoint Technology, the market leader in public-sector content and collaboration, Jonathan led the company from start-up to successful acquisition by The Active Network in thirty months. Jonathan sits on the board of the Vancouver Enterprise Forum, is a founding member of VEF Momentum and sits on the final jury for the New Ventures BC competition. He is a Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40 award recipient.

  • Glenn Entis

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    Glenn Entis, Co-Founder and General Partner – Glenn Entis is a pioneer of computer graphics and digital media with over 30 years of experience in some of the leading companies in the industry. Before co-founding VanEdge Capital, Glenn was Senior Vice-president / Chief Visual and Technical Officer of Electronic Arts’ Worldwide Studios, leading EA's 3000 artists and engineers across EA's 14 studios worldwide. Prior to joining EA in 2000, Mr. Entis was the first and only CEO of DreamWorks Interactive, where he worked closely with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg and oversaw the development of the first titles in the hit Medal of Honor series. DreamWorks Interactive, a joint venture of DreamWorks SKG and Microsoft, was purchased by Electronic Arts in 2000, and Mr. Entis remained with the studio to become the first General Manager of the newly re-christened EALA.

    Prior to DreamWorks Interactive, Mr. Entis was a co-founder (and VP/COO) of the pioneering computer animation studio Pacific Data Images (PDI), guiding that studio's growth from its inception as a computer animation studio in 1982 until he left for the games industry in 1994. PDI was one of the first successful computer animation studios, and in fact thrived through a time that saw the collapse of all of its major competitors. PDI remained independent until DreamWorks Animation acquired a minority share in 1996, followed up by full acquisition in 2000. In partnership with DreamWorks Animation, PDI produced the hit films Antz, Shrek & Madagascar (all films in the series), and it continues to thrive with over 500 employees.

    Mr. Entis is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art (with Honors) and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. After graduation he studied computer graphics under the legendary Dr. Ed Catmull at what was then the center of the CG world, New York Institute of Technology. He has worked as a software engineer at Hewlett Packard and Ampex prior to co-founding Pacific Data Images, and in 1998 he received the Technical Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts (Academy Award) for his design and implementation of PDI's animation software.

    Mr. Entis is an active leader in the computer graphics community worldwide. He was the featured keynote presenter at SIGGRAPH 2007, and continues to be in heavy demand as a keynote presenter at computer graphics conferences, including France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, London, San Diego, Montreal and Vancouver. He is a former Chair of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, is currently President of the Vancouver chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH (the world’s most active chapter), is a member of the Board of Governors of Emily Carr University, and is an Advisory Board member for the Great Northern Way Digital Media Program in Vancouver.

  • Jon Gelsey

    Jon Gelsey

    Jon focuses on acquisition and investment opportunities for Microsoft's operating systems, search, content and advertising business groups. Prior to Microsoft, Jon was an investment manager with Intel Capital. He started his career as a processor architect with Convex Computer Corporation, acquired by Hewlett-Packard.

  • Leonard Brody

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    Leonard is one of Canada’s most respected young technology entrepreneurs. He has helped in raising millions of dollars for startup companies, been through one of the largest internet IPOs in history and has been involved in the building, financing and/or sale of four companies to date. Much critical acclaim has followed him in his endeavours. At Onvia Canada (where he was part of the initial executive) the company was voted Canada’s number one startup in 2000 and subsequently closed a $240 Million NASDAQ IPO. At Marqui (where he was Chief Advisor) the startup was rated as the best new internet company in the country in 2003.

    Photo Credit: sndrspk

  • Sam Znaimer

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    Sam Znaimer joined Ventures West in 1983, and is a pioneer of the Canadian venture capital scene with 25 years of hands-on early stage technology investing experience. At Ventures West, Sam focuses on cleantech and communications investments, and leads the firm’s communications practice.

    Sam’s past investments include Statpower (acquired by Xantrex Technology), OctigaBay Systems (sold to Cray, NASDAQ: CRAY), Convedia (sold to RadiSys, NASDAQ: RSYS) and AudeSi (sold to Wind River, NASDAQ: WIND).

    Sam currently serves as a director of Aegis Mobility, QuIC Financial Technologies, SWITCH Materials and Zeugma Systems, and acts as an Observer with BelAir Networks. Sam is a director of the Wavefront Wireless Innovation Society of BC and is a member of the Nanoworks Alberta Steering Committee. Sam was a founding Director of BC Technology Social Venture Partners where he has advised EMBERS, an economic development group in Vancouver's downtown eastside, and the Potluck Cafe, a social enterprise that provides free, nutritious meals to the "hardest to house" in this economically troubled area.

    Sam received an A.B. (cum laude) in chemistry from Harvard University and a M.Sc. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lately Sam has been brushing up his media production skills, acting as a production assistant on the infamous Clay Murder animation series.

  • Markus Frind

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    In 2003, Markus Frind, a Canadian resident, launched a new online dating venture called PlentyofFish. He coded the site himself, with knowledge from his education and jobs at various dot com companies. The unique selling point of PlentyofFish was that it was 100% free. Frind would depend on revenue from Google Adsense, affiliate programs, and ads to drive his revenue.

  • David Cohen

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    David Cohen is the founder and Exective Director of TechStars.

    David has a soft spot for technology startups and enjoys helping innovative early stage technology companies succeed. He also has a passion for Colorado and believes it’s a fantastic community for any startup. The TechStars program combines these passions with capital, connections and real-world experience to provide a unique opportunity for early stage startups.

    David is a founder of several software and web technology companies including Pinpoint Technologies (now ZOLL Data Systems) of Broomfield, Colorado. While at ZOLL Data Systems, David was also the CTO. The company was acquired by ZOLL Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: ZOLL) in 1999. You can read about it in No Vision, All Drive [Amazon]. David was also the founder and CEO of earFeeder.com, which was sold to SonicSwap.com in 2006.

    David is also an active startup advocate, advisor, board member, and technology advisor who comments on these topics on his blog at ColoradoStartups.com. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Center for Innovation at Metropolitan State College of Denver, and is a member of the selection committee for Venture Capital in the Rockies.

    David’s hobbies are technology, software/web startups, business history, and tennis. He is married to the coolest girl he’s ever met and has two amazing kids who always seem to be teaching him something new.

    You can find David on Twitter @dgcohen23.

  • Jonathan Ehrlich

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    Jonathan Ehrlich was Chief Operating Officer and President of Live Current Media from October 1, 2007 until Feb 2009. From November 2003 to September 2007, Mr. Ehrlich was EVP, Online, at Indigo Books & Music in Canada where he build the business from $35m to $101m Prior to joining Indigo, from January 2002 to October 2003, Mr. Ehrlich was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Mosaic Venture Partners. From October 1998 to December 2001, he was a Co-Founder and Vice President of Marketing for MobShop Inc.Marketing for MobShop Inc, a pioneer in Online eCommerce. MobShop was funded by GE Capital, Visa International, Mayfield Fund and Marc Andreessen. From July 1996 to October 1998 Mr. Ehrlich was Director of Business Development at CYBERplex interactive media and from November 1991 to November 1993 he was an account executive of MacLaren:McCann advertising. Mr. Ehrlich holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and a BA in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. He has acted as a guest lecturer/featured presenter at Harvard Business School, Haas School of Business, and the University of Michigan Business School.

  • David McIntyre

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    David McIntyre is a Senior Director of Business Development at DTS, where he focuses on corporate strategy, M&A, and new business development. Prior to joining DTS, David was a Vice President at Ventures West where he focused on software, internet and wireless investments.

    Prior to joining Ventures West, David was a Product Manager and employee #5 at QDesign (acquired by DTS in 2004) where he was responsible from everything from QA and tech support to new product management and being demo guy.

    David has been involved with the boards of a number of technology companies and organizations that most recently include: Aegis Mobility, DabbleDB, Marqui, EQO, the Vancouver Enterprise Forum, and the British Columbia Technology Industry Association.

    David did his graduate work in computer applications in music at McGill University and holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computer Science from McGill.

  • Jenny Yang

    Jenny Yang

    Jenny is a startup advisor and reformed venture capitalist. Jenny develops actionable business and finance strategies for brave entrepreneurs with big ideas. Until September 2008, Jenny was Senior Director at BDC’s Venture Capital group where she led and managed BDC’s investments in young technology companies. Prior to BDC, Jenny was a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Co. where she worked with and provided strategic counsel to executives of Fortune 500 companies. Jenny also has extensive experience in the telecom industry having worked in Nortel’s Wireless Product Marketing group where she helped to grow the wireless infrastructure business in Greater China. Prior to Nortel, Jenny was an engineer with Telus. Jenny is an active supporter of the Canadian technology community and currently serves on the board of the Vancouver Enterprise Forum.

    Jenny holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from UBC and an MBA from INSEAD. She speaks fluent Mandarin and conversational French.