Ab Freig is an accomplished advisor with over 30 years of business experience, guiding entrepreneurs from the idea stage to developing their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as they embark on starting their business in Canada. With a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial journey, Ab is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into actionable strategies. Ab’s strategic guidance ensures that entrepreneurs have a clear roadmap for success and are well-prepared to navigate the competitive landscape in Canada and globally.

Brent is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience in gaming, liquor, and retail. He advises on public policy, legislative frameworks, and business relationships. Brent led revenue-generating divisions at Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries and directed the Casino Redevelopment Program. Currently, he provides advisory services through Bre Ash Consulting in Government Relations, Governance, and Strategy.

Brian Beveridge is an independent consultant with expertise in digital transformation, emerging technology, and business strategy. Formerly a Partner at MNP, he led their National Technology Consulting practice and advised on blockchain and cryptocurrency. Brian currently advises start-ups and volunteers as a mentor for Futurepreneur Canada and the North Forge Technology Exchange.

Beyond Referrals is a prominent consulting firm in North America specializing in complex, costly, and custom services. Since 2001, Cal has provided guidance to numerous large and mid-size professional services firms in North America, as well as government and private organizations that engage these firms. Cal has extensive experience presenting at various consulting and procurement conferences, university groups, and authoring three business books on professional services transactions.

Dale is an experienced senior executive and CEO advisor specializing in market strategy planning and execution. With expertise in automotive, manufacturing, financial services, and public sectors in Canada and the United States, Dale brings a wealth of knowledge. Currently advising four Canadian CEO’s and two Asian start-up CEO’s entering the Canadian market, Dale is dedicated to leadership, talent development, and building high-performing teams, while actively supporting Manitoba’s business community and its long-term growth.

Dave Smardon is an experienced entrepreneur with a background in technology-based companies. He held positions at Texas Instruments Inc. and Apple Computer Inc. before venturing into the agricultural sector. As the President and CEO of Bioenterprise Corporation, he transformed it into the leading business accelerator in North America’s agricultural industry. Additionally, Dave established Bioenterprise Capital Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on investing in emerging and innovative global agricultural firms.

Over the past 35 years, David has dedicated himself to leveraging technology and process improvements to establish a sustainable competitive advantage for businesses. FineLine Solutions utilized technology to redesign conventional service delivery models, identifying new market segments and offering top-notch services to renowned global brands. Following the sale of FineLine, David extended his expertise to various investment and consulting endeavors. Presently, he actively serves on the boards of multiple charitable and non-profit organizations.

Denise is an experienced Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA) and the president of Denise Zaporzan and Associates. With a background as a CFO, she has over 20 years of executive leadership experience in financial and strategic planning, as well as mergers and acquisitions. Denise launched D by Denise, a Canadian lifestyle blog and brand. She serves on the boards of The Asper Business School Associates, Economic Development Winnipeg, and is an advisory member for MATCH Winnipeg Int’l Women’s Fund.

Gord is a seasoned C-level business leader in the healthcare, biotechnology, and agri-business sectors, with extensive hands-on experience. Throughout his career, he has served on numerous boards of directors, worked with global functional food teams, and collaborated with a diverse range of companies, from start-ups to global Fortune 500 corporations.

Grant is an accomplished sales executive in medical devices and health care technology with 30 years of experience. He is a customer-focused leader, adept at building new business and fostering loyalty. Grant identifies emerging opportunities and drives organizations to the top of their industries. He is an innovative problem solver, shaping technology growth in Canada and the United States. Grant also volunteers with community boards and mentors’ students at the University of Manitoba.

Henry is a senior commercial executive with over 20 years of experience leading cross-functional teams and driving business strategy in the medical device and aerospace sectors. His career has been evenly split between leading technical teams and developing marketing and commercial strategies to expand global sales. Henry is also involved in providing business advisory services for startup ventures, offering expertise in strategy, commercial strategy deployment, and business planning.

Jeff is a seasoned Business Development professional with expertise in emerging healthcare technologies. His experience spans medical imaging, medical devices, and healthcare enterprise software. Jeff has an international background, having launched Asia Pacific operations for IMRIS’s MR based Intra-operative Imaging solutions in Beijing. With a strong track record in securing funding and acquiring reference customers for startups, Jeff brings valuable expertise to the table.

John Heppenstall is a successful business and marketing professional specializing in B2B strategy and execution. With a career spanning four decades, he has established and sold four innovative businesses. Hep was nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year in 1996. He has taught international marketing at the college level and authored two books on marketing and competing in the digital age.

A life science executive with “hands on” experience. Specializing in in bringing domestic and international Life Science Technologies to commercialization, including pharmaceuticals; immunoassay; nanotechnology; medical devices; metallurgy, vaccines and ergonomics. A history of accomplishments in biotech development, clinical development, strategic partnering, regulatory issues, and fundraising. This experience is combined with extensive expertise in the international markets. He has experience in building talented and successful teams in both small start-ups and mature mid-sized organizations.

Laurie is an accomplished retail executive with over 35 years of experience. As the sole owner of an independent fur and leather house, he caters to diverse communities across Canada and the far North. Additionally, Laurie has ten years of volunteer experience with prominent hockey associations, enhancing his communication, conflict resolution, and organizational skills.

Masih is a highly skilled business development executive who possesses extensive expertise in early-stage ventures, having successfully established multiple high-performing sales teams within both corporate and startup enterprises. Alongside his accomplishments, he co-founded Laccuna, a cutting-edge fully managed data science as a service platform aimed at assisting clients in extracting valuable insights from their data. Masih provides business advisory services catered to small and startup ventures.

Matt is a serial entrepreneur specializing in scaling impact-driven startups, with successes like PremiseHQ and ioAirFlow. He supports global companies via Leverage Point Consulting and Catalyste+, offering expertise in investor readiness, market commercialization, strategy, and culture. Formerly with North Forge and Economic Development Winnipeg, he’s a TEDx speaker and CPRS award recipient. Matt holds an MBA from Asper School of Business.

Mike is an accomplished Sales & Finance Specialist focused on helping businesses grow and thrive. He has worked directly with Technology & Digital Media Companies to assist them in meeting their strategic and financial needs. Additionally, he has spent time working in the Winnipeg Start-Up Space in a variety of different Sales, Operations & Marketing roles. Formerly with RBC, he was a Future Leaders of Manitoba Award finalist. Mike holds an MBA from the Asper School of Business.

Mike is a seasoned executive with extensive experience at IBM and Accenture. He excels in leadership, sales, and delivery, serving Canadian and North American markets. With expertise in relationship management, program management, and team building, Mike has successfully led large client engagement teams. In his recent role at Accenture Calgary, Mike oversaw all aspects of business operations, including business development, client relationships, employee engagement, and recruiting.

Ryan is a seasoned executive leader with over 20 years of experience in business and technology. He has a diverse background in the telecom, IT, and technology sectors in Canada. Ryan is recognized for delivering strong organizational performance and innovative programs while prioritizing relationship management and team-oriented approaches. In addition to his professional role, Ryan sits on numerous industry and philanthropic Boards including the Manitoba Technology Accelerator and Chair of Tech Manitoba.

As a startup advisor and business development consultant, Saeed is driven by his passion for guiding startups. Saeed’s journey began in the Oil & Gas industry. The leap into entrepreneurship came with the founding of TranQool, a healthcare startup that was acquired by HumanaCare in 2018. Saeed is the co-founder of EdgeCollab, a startup support hub, and advises startups in reputable startup accelerators such as Manitoba Technology Accelerator.

Ted is an IT operations leader who specializes in setting corporate protocols, ethical codes of conduct, and identifying sales growth opportunities. He is the founder of Cordova Pacific Capital, a consulting firm that focuses on marketing, sales strategies, product development, branding, and change management. Ted has co-created three Irish eLearning companies and a genomics company with a whole genome sequencing database library.