The Atlantic Venture Forum, which will be held in just over two months, is rolling out its list of speakers for the conference in Halifax.
The speakers include financing expert David Brennan, innovation leader Jim A. Gibson, SkipTheDishes Co-Founder and CEO Josh Simair, and Techstars Vice-President of Network John Hill.
The sixth annual AVF, which will take place June 28 and 29 at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, is a meeting place for Atlantic Canadian founders and investors from inside and outside the region. The organizers are still looking for applications from startups interested in presenting at the event. Early- and growth-stage companies can apply here by Friday.
Each AVF includes a range of speakers, and so far Critical Path Group, which stages the event, has lined up the following to speak:
David Brennan
With more than 30 years of experience in accounting, finance and investor relations in several industries, Brennan is an expert in raising significant capital and attracting talent. As the current Chief Financial Officer at Ecobee, he has recently completed a capital raise of $50 million, for a total of over $130 million in financing.
Jim A. Gibson
After 30 years in technology, Gibson is an advocate of “paying attention” to what’s coming and providing concrete examples of how we can all be leaders and role models for change. The author of Tip of the Spear will challenge the audience to understand and respond to a new world that sees infinite possibilities meeting serious global problems head on.
Josh Simair
After leaving a career in banking, Simair went on to co-found the largest restaurant delivery network in Canada, SkipTheDishes. Founded in 2012, SkipTheDishes ranked fifth on the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list in 2017 and reporting 10,969.6% revenue growth from 2013-2016. Now in over 30 markets across Canada and the U.S., the on-demand food delivery network was recently acquired by Just-Eat in 2016 for more than $200 million.
The VP of Network at Techstars is charged with supporting and growing a global network of tech entrepreneurs, mentors and investors. In his career, Hill left Michigan State University to become the Higher Education Evangelist at LinkedIn. Then he moved on to Techstars. Hill believes “changing the world” can be more than hyperbole.
