SFU Technology Business Mentorship Program

The SFU Technology Business Mentorship Program was developed by Bob de Wit for the University-Industry Liaison Office at SFU in 2006. Since that time, 47 ventures have been helped by the program. Many of these participants were able to leverage the advice provided and achieve financing and/or new customers. In some cases, the principals realized that they needed to rethink completely their opportunity and some businesses were wrapped up.

PREVIOUS MENTORS INCLUDE:

Adrian Byram, CTO, Radiant Communications
Andrew McFadyen, GM, Canadian Autoparts Toyota Inc (CAPTIN)
Andrew Csinger, UBC EIR, Founder/CEO of XCert
Bob Campbell, Senior VP, MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates
Brad Palmer, ex-VP, CREO
Brent James, ex-CEO, AbeBooks
Bruce Forde, CEO, Cambian Systems
Danny Robinson, CEO, Strutta
Dave Brown, ex-COO, CREO
Doug Blakeway, CEO, Strategic Technologies Inc
Erik Dysthe, ex-CEO, MDSI
Frank Holler, CEO, BC Advantage Funds
Garry Rasmussen, CEO, Ansera Ventures
Gary Yurkovich, ex-CREO
Geoff Catherwood, BDC Venture Capital
Harold Copping, ex-CEO, TeleFlex Canada
Ian Reid, ex-CFO, Sierra Systems
James Topham, KPMG
Judy Bishop, Bishop & Associates
Laurie Wallace, ex-Datum Founder
Len Grenier, CEO, Cogent Systems
Mark Thomson, VP, Cogent Systems
Mike Brooks, ex-VP, Business Objects
Mike Gardner, CEO, Recombo
Mike Satterfield, Partner, Yaletown Venture Partners
Mike Volker, WUTIF Capital
Paul Lancaster, CFO, Talent Technology Corporation
Peter van Bodegom, CFO, Cogent Systems
Peter van der Gracht, ex-Ignition Point
Phil Holland, Founder, Sutis
Ralph Turfus, Founder, Class Software (now Active Network)
Rich Osborn, CIO, Zynik Capital
Richard Marchant, CEO, Powertech Labs
Rob Murray, ex-Microsoft
Ron Matthews, Visiphor
Rolf Dekleer, Growthworks Capital
Rory Armes, GM, Electronic Arts
Steve Turner, Ventures West
Theresa Carbonneau, ex-CEO/Founder, fSona
Todd Farrell, Growthworks
Tim Collings, Inventor of the V-Chip
Warwick Reid, Chairman, Elan Datamakers

PAST PARTICIPANTS:

2011:
Reef Safe Fish
Paradigm Solutions
Plurilock Security Solutions INc.
LookeeTV Inc.

2010:
Sole Gear Plastics
Crosswind Power
Logico Carbon Systems
Clinicbook
Secodix

2009:
Jigantus
Metroleap
Augurex
Habitat
Medvoxel
Revenue Wire
NuVo Power
Jostle Corporation
Kardium
Alianz

2008:
Waveteq Communications
Nothing Networks
Primisyn Corporation
Clevest Solutions
Vision Acumen
Fuel Vapor Technologies
Wireless Image
Applocation
OTC Solutions
Terazen

2007:
RIP.TV
Axia Software
Spark Robotics
APO Encryption
Quick Mobile
Energy Aware
Visible Strategies
SmartSettle
Dreambank

2006:
ClearVision Technologies
VivraTerra Software
QDevices
Vectis
Mobius Sound Labs
Embedded Automation
MailChannels
Queue Software
ActivPixel

SAMPLE FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPATING CEOS:

“The mentor panel was invaluable. It was not the vague "feel good" advice that you usually come away from a business event with, instead this panel asked us the hard questions, and forced us to dig deep for the solutions….this mentor panel program was the single most useful experience we've had.”
- Rob Milne, CEO, Reef Safe Fish

“When we first began the program, we had been straddling several markets. The panel forced us to re-examine our marketing strategy…This new focus enabled a chain of virtuous events. With the Panel's help, we dramatically improved our ability to read our customer's feedback, improve our product, increase sales, and scale our operation”
- Chilwin Cheng, Paradigm Solutions

“The ‘candidness’ of the panel was refreshing. Because we are so immersed in what we are doing, the hardest thing for us is to convey is the "big picture" to potential investors in a simple and concise manner.”
- Todd Pratt, Fuel Vapor Technologies

“We found the mentor panel very helpful in providing a highly objective and expert review of our business strategy. The diverse range of expertise represented on the panel resulted in a very engaging multi-faceted discussion that covered the key areas of our strategy we were most concerned about. The immediate feedback led to some great discussion and suggestions on how we can refine our go-to-market plan.”
- Simon Backer, CEO, Wireless Image

“The panel was amazingly relevant and useful. I got probably six months worth of boardlevel advice in the space of two hours.”
– Ken Simpson, CEO, MailChannels

“We revised our pitch and shaped it up extensively on the panel’s recommendations. Our lead mentor is awesome he’s already provided some great insights, some marketing assistance and some fantastic client leads and we look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship!”
– Sean Hodgins, CEO, Queue Software

“The mentor panel was very worth while. The immediate impact on our company from the panel feedback is the identified need to develop a better financial model, and a few short term strategic changes in business development that are both important and urgent.”
– Graham Carter, CEO, Axia Software

“I was forced to look at the business from an outside perspective to see how investors might view it – this was certainly eye opening for me. In addition to that, preparing the materials and trying to take our message down to a brief 12 minutes is a concept I will be reusing in my communications.”
– Todd Winship, CEO, Primisyn Corporation

"The mentor panel was a very useful exercise for our company. It has helped our executive management team to identify a significant opportunity to strengthen our IP position and has also helped to strengthen our marketing messaging for our target markets.”
– Toby Reid, CMO, Co-Founder, Sole Gear BioPlastics

“The Time Mentor Panel catalyzed a critical change in Jostle's business plan. Our product is an entirely new approach to solving a wide range of business problems in a simple, broadly applicable way. Therefore it has proven very difficult to position with clarity and precision. The panel was able to help me 'problem solve' this in a creative and (for us) game changing way.”
– Brad Palmer, CEO, Founder, Jostle Corporation