The opening session of Entrevestor Live will provide an update on the current state of the Atlantic startup community, focusing on investment, staffing and diversity.

We’ve nailed down the six sessions for our half-day, hybrid conference on Oct. 20, and this week we’re unveiling the full programs. We’ve already revealed the three fireside chats with leading founders, and today we’re happy to announce our first panel will look at where we stand in #StartupAtlantic at this key time.

Entrevestor Live is a showcase for some of the most successful startups in Atlantic Canada. Our three-hour conference will feature 10 East Coast companies that collectively have raised about $200 million. But before they take the stage, I will moderate a panel of these experts on what’s happening in our community:  

Patrick Keefe

General Partner,

Build Ventures, Halifax

Keefe and his partner Rob Barbara launched Build Ventures in 2013 to invest in seed-stage companies in Atlantic Canada. The company, which closed its second fund recently, has built up a portfolio of about 20 companies, generally making investments of $1 million to $3 million.

Alfred Burgesson

Founder and CEO

The Tribe Network, Halifax

A former member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, Burgesson founded The Tribe Network to help Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs who are Black, Indigenous or People of Colour. The network works with BIPOC innovators and entrepreneurs across Atlantic Canada, helping them to build their networks and instructing them in building businesses.

Cathy Simpson

CEO

TechImpact, New Brunswick

Cathy Simpson heads TechImpact, a New Brunswick-based organization dedicated to growing the tech industry in Atlantic Canada. She has served as Chair of the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation since 2015, and was a founding member of Propel.

During this panel, we’ll look at the latest developments in the startup community. Are we witnessing greater diversity among founders and startup staffs? How is investment holding up as interest rates rise and asset values fall? Are Atlantic Canadian startups still facing a labour squeeze even as tech firms are laying off staff in larger centres?

The members of this panel are perfectly positioned to discuss the outlook for Atlantic Canada in these difficult times. This session will set the stage for an afternoon of invaluable discussions on how Atlantic Canadian companies are scaling.

Chaired by Propel CEO Kathryn Lockhart and held in partnership with Volta, Entrevestor Live is designed to make the best use of your time and money – a three-hour time commitment, and a price of no more than $80. Whether you want to show up in person at Volta or attend virtually, please click the link above and purchase your ticket.