BELIEVING IN YOU
FROM DAY ONE.
HQ
Emmanuelle
Coppinger
Managing Partner
2021-Present
Managing Director
2021-Present
Emmanuelle Coppinger
Emmanuelle (Manue) is passionate about new technologies and the ability of startups to improve society. She mentors and sits on the advisory boards of different early-stage startups. Manue is also a community leader. She built the Canadian chapter and has been the Ambassador for Canada of Women in AI (WAI), a non-profit do-tank whose mission is to increase female representation and participation in AI. She spent the last 2+ years at Next AI Montreal as the Director of Ventures, mainly in charge of co-building the program from scratch, startups recruitment, portfolio management, and founders growth. Before that, she founded a travel accessories brand that she ran for 8 years and a non-profit to help promote blood platelets donation towards students. Manue holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School (Paris) and started her career in auditing in France, followed by 3 years in investment banking in Australia. As Managing Director of Front Row Ventures, she will practice her demonstrated passion for mentoring, community building, and venture investments. Manue’s vision for FRV is to make it THE foundational platform to build the next generation of Canadian tech talent. When she’s not pitching to investors or mentoring Canada’s next generation of entrepreneurs and investors, Manue loves to spend some time with her friends & family, travel, cook, and build DIY furniture.
Marc
Dikranian
Chief of Staff
2024-Present
Chief of Staff
2024-Present
Marc Dikranian
Marc est un professionnel de la finance ayant de l’expérience en capital‑investissement et en go‑to‑market. Il a commencé sa carrière au sein du groupe TMT chez Novacap, puis a rejoint l’équipe commerciale d’Unito, soutenue par du capital‑risque, pour contribuer à l’exécution de leur stratégie de mise sur le marché. Aujourd’hui, disposant de compétences complémentaires en finance, développement commercial et opérations, il rejoint Front Row Ventures en tant que Chief of Staff (directeur de cabinet) afin d’accélérer leur prochaine phase de croissance.
Saif
Ali Javed
Investment Operations Lead
2025-Present
Investment Operations Lead
2025-Present
Saif Ali Javed
Saif is the Investment Operations Lead at Front Row Ventures, where he oversees the organizations investment, portfolio, and legal operations across Canada. He first joined FRV as Director of Portfolio Management, where he built a strong foundation for the team and developed a deep appreciation for FRV’s mission, culture, and thesis.
Before rejoining FRV full-time, Saif worked in Business Development at Coveo, where he honed valuable skills and consistently excelled. During his time in university, he held several leadership roles at Enactus Concordia where he co-led a team delivering high-impact social enterprise projects tied to UN SDGs, and founded it’s mentorship program aimed at supporting aspiring entrepreneurs on campus.
With a degree in Economics and Business Technology Management from Concordia University, Saif brings a mix of leadership, strategic thinking, and community-building to his role at FRV. With an immense passion for entrepreneurship and impactful innovation, he is dedicated to shaping the next generation of Canada’s tech ecosystem.
Aislinn
Shoveller
Community Engagement Lead
2025-Present
Community Engagement Lead
2025-Present
Aislinn Shoveller
Aislinn has spent her career in the tech ecosystem, with experience in digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and venture capital platform roles. She has a Masters of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology, and has previously worked for Archangel Network of Funds and Information Venture Partners. At Front Row Ventures, Aislinn is focused on building up the FRV communities and connection to the wider ecosystem.
Management Team
Allyson Hamilton
Director of Legal
2024-Present
York University
Director of Legal
2024-Present
York University
Allyson Hamilton
Allyson is a current student at Osgoode Hall Law School, working towards her Juris Doctor and is a graduate from the Rowe School of Business at Dalhousie University. She received her Bachelor’s of Commerce, majoring in finance and minoring in political science, in 2023. Allyson has experience working in a start-up environment and with a multinational bank through her experiences with Ontopical and Scotiabank. Within these companies she held different roles to help achieve project goals for her team and built new skills to become an effective asset.
Allyson is excited to be a trainee with the FRV legal team to expand her knowledge of the VC environment and learn more about the legal side of investing in growing companies. She hopes to bring her previous experiences to the team and contribute in a way that streamlines deal flow.
Ashkan Gharahgozli
Director of BC Investment
2023-Present
University of British Columbia
Director of BC Investment
2023-Present
University of British Columbia
Ashkan Gharahgozli
Ash is entering his final year at the University of British Columbia, where he is studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering. He has been a founding member of the FRV BC Investment chapter and currently serves as the BC Director of Investments. His experience includes roles in software and mechanical engineering at HealthTech and machinery manufacturing startups. He has held various early- and late-stage investment and portfolio-related positions across multiple organizations.
Emily Yu
Marketing Director
2023-Present
Western University
Marketing Director
2023-Present
Western University
Emily Yu
Emily is a business student at Ivey Business School with a passion for startups, design, and building systems that work smarter. She thrives in fast-paced environments and enjoys working hands-on across strategy, product, and creative projects.
Curious and driven by nature, Emily is always exploring new ways to solve problems and streamline processes. From refining pitch decks to launching websites, she brings a thoughtful, design-minded approach to everything she works on.
Outside of school, she spends her time on design passion projects, playing badminton, and experimenting with new tools and technologies. She’s especially energized by connecting with founders and students who are building bold ideas at any stage.
Emily is always excited to learn, collaborate, and contribute to projects that blend creativity with impact.
Karolina Krygier
Director of Ontario Investment
2024-Present
McMaster University
Director of Ontario Investment
2024-Present
McMaster University
Karolina Krygier
Karolina is a PhD Student at McMaster University studying chemical immunology with a passion in innovation and entrepreneurship specifically within biotech. Her interests in venture capital stem from wanting to improve patients’ lives through supporting groundbreaking and innovative technologies that emerge from startups. She has completed a year with Front Row Ventures as an ONT Investment Associate with an interdisciplinary background in Chemistry, Biology, Forensic Science and Immuno-oncology and continuing to lead the ONT Investment Team as Director of Team 25.
Manorama Joshi
Director of Portfolio Management
2023-Present
University of British Columbia
Director of Portfolio Management
2023-Present
University of British Columbia
Manorama Joshi
Manorama is in her third year of mechanical engineering, specializing in biomechanics and medical devices. A UBC Schulich Leader Scholar (valued at $100,000) and recipient of the prestigious Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Manorama is the Director of Portfolio Support at FRV with previous two years of experience on the team.
Manorama’s other engagements include UBC’s Development and Alumni Engagement team and UBC Uncrewed Aircraft Systems as a mechanical engineer. Her previous roles include being the volunteer coordinator of Calgary based nonprofit Western Mechatronics and Co-VP for UBC’s Women in Science and Engineering committee. As the winner of the 2024 Martha Salcudean Memorial Award in Mechanical Engineering, she is passionate about research and engineering that increases the quality of life of everyday people and how to enable its commercialization into practical applications.
In her free time, you can find her outdoors enjoying nature or in the dance studio choreographing and dancing.
Martin Chaperot
Product Director
2022-Present
University of Montreal
Product Director
2022-Present
University of Montreal
Martin Chaperot
Martin is a Computer Science student at the Université de Montréal. He is passionate about emerging technologies that improve quality of life as well as various applications of artificial intelligence.
Martin grew up in the Silicon Valley and was surrounded by entrepreneurs who were constantly creating new companies. This background gave him the entrepreneurial spark. In secondary school, he created a business geared towards teaching tennis to people in his community. He grew his business throughout secondary school, hired many other tennis instructors and taught tennis to hundreds of people. Since going to college, he has been looking for his next opportunity to make a difference in his environment.
With FRV, Martin hopes to guide students in transforming their amazing ideas into large-scale and successful companies.
In his free time, Martin can be found in a climbing gym or in various cafes developing his next video game project.
Sasha Nicolas Dolgopolyy
Director of Quebec Investment
2023-Present
McGill University
Director of Quebec Investment
2023-Present
McGill University
Sasha Nicolas Dolgopolyy
Software Engineering @ McGill.
Fluent in French, English and Russian, Nic is an entrepreneurial-minded student focusing on solutions applicable to pressing needs specifically in the field of robotics.
Nicolas worked at MDA on the Canadarm3 project and at FRV’s Portfolio Company AWL-Electricity’s team for 1.5 years before joining FRV. He has also interned at Framework Venture Partners as a Venture Analyst.
Sophia Andru
Director of People & Culture
2022-Present
McMaster University
Director of People & Culture
2022-Present
McMaster University
Sophia Andru
Sophia is a third-year Engineering Physics and Biomedical Engineering student at McMaster University. She is completing a 12-month co-op term at a medtech startup in Munich, where she contributes to innovative projects in medical imaging and device design.
Quebec Investment Team
Abboud Beroual
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
Concordia University
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
Concordia University
Abboud Beroual
Abboud is an Aerospace Engineering student at Concordia University with a background in pre-medical sciences. His interests lie in the health, energy, and technology sectors, with experience supporting early-stage ventures in product development, AI, and sustainable infrastructure.
He has contributed to research on carbon-neutral energy strategies and worked on projects ranging from medical diagnostics to HVAC optimization. Outside of academics, he stays active through endurance sports, reading, and various projects.
Alice Godbout
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
McGill University
Alice Godbout
Alice is an Investment Associate in the QC Investment Team at FRV, currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering (B.Eng.) at McGill University in a Co-Op program. She has gained experience through various internships in product management at startups, technology consulting, and business intelligence.
Andrei Bogza
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
McGill University
Andrei Bogza
Andrei is a PhD trainee at McGill University in the department of Microbiology & Immunology. Under the supervision of Dr. Irah King and Dr. Corinne Maurice, his project aims to explore the immunological and metabolic implications of early life parasite infections in malnourished conditions. Before starting his graduate studies, he received a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biomedical Discovery & Commercialization from McMaster University where he got the opportunity to explore the biomedical commercialization space. Now, having joined FRV on the QC Investment Team, he gets the opportunity to blend his passions for research and commercialization to help student founders achieve their goals.
Andrei is also the director of the Grad2VC program, a program within FRV funded by the FRQ to promote the commercialization of graduate student research.
Antonin Landa
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
Université du Québec à Montréal
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
Université du Québec à Montréal
Antonin Landa
Preserving a habitable planet is the driving force behind his interest in science and entrepreneurship. Antonin is heading towards an entrepreneurial career combining scientific research and project management focused on anthropogenic pollution and its consequences on environmental, human and societal health.
He is currently working on metal contamination of aquatic ecosystems in Quebec as a PhD student in Montreal. Mining activities present significant environmental challenges that must not be overlooked.
He is also very involved in scientific mediation through conferences, science communication workshops, and in science diplomacy in Canada through his volunteer position at the Canadian Science Policy Center (CSPC).
Antonin joins Front Row Ventures to develop the skills needed to create a company with the potential to make a difference. He is always ready and eager to exchange ideas with a network of people motivated by investment and environmental protection.
Danielle Schutt
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
Danielle Schutt
Danielle is currently pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Maryam Tabrizian. Her research focuses on developing a novel therapeutic vaccine for advanced-stage melanoma. Before this, she completed a Master of Science in Experimental Surgery at McGill University and earned a Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University.
Now, as a member of the QC Investment Team at FRV, Danielle has the exciting opportunity to combine her passion for research with her interest in venture capital and investing. She is dedicated to helping student founders achieve their goals and create meaningful impact in the venture capital space.
Hai Minh Le
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
Hai Minh Le
Minh is in her first year as a Master’s student in Pharmacology at McGill University with the Kimmins lab, where her project focuses on investigating the mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance. Besides being a student, she is the research lead for the non-profit MycoNurseries which focuses on sustainable fungiculture. As an investment associate of FRV, she hopes to meaningfully engage with the Montreal entrepreneurial ecosystem and make the research commercialization process a little less intimidating to potential student founders. In her own time, she enjoys listening to a wide variety of music genres and analyzing the philosophy of her cats.
Humza Salam
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
McGill University
Humza Salam
Humza is a Master’s student at McGill University in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, specializing in developing novel drug regimens for mycobacterial infections. Currently at FRV, he’s part of the Portfolio Support Team. Humza moved to Dubai for high school as a student-athlete completing the International Baccalaureate program in a vibrant, multicultural setting. Outside of his professional endeavours, Humza is a dedicated athlete, avid Kansas City Chiefs fan, and tech enthusiast. He also enjoys hiking, playing video/board games, and reading in his spare time.
Iris Pouliot
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
ETS
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
ETS
Iris Pouliot
Iris is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at École de technologie supérieure, participating in a co-op program that melds academic learning with real-world application. With a particular interest in cleantech and biotech, Iris is passionate about the intersection of entrepreneurship and investment and is constantly seeking to uncover innovative solutions to pressing challenges.
As part of Front Row Ventures (FRV), Iris aims to leverage her technical expertise to provide valuable insights into the discovery of emerging technologies. Her natural curiosity and affinity for dynamic, ambitious environments drive her enthusiasm and commitment to the FRV team.
In her free time, Iris enjoys exploring different cultures and historical contexts through travel. She also fulfills her artistic side with classical literature, art, and music. She loves to swim and hike and will always say yes to a yoga practice.
Maxime Goulet
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
Université de Montréal
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
Université de Montréal
Maxime Goulet
Maxime is a PhD candidate in chemistry at Université de Montréal, where their research focuses on the intersection of AI, additive manufacturing, and polymer chemistry. Their work strives to help accelerate innovation across different fields by blending computational techniques with materials science to solve complex problems.
Outside of research, they have a strong curiosity for engineering, finance, and emerging technologies. They’re passionate about meeting new people with different perspectives, which allows them to expand their thinking and gain fresh insights. Whether exploring venture capital, diving into DIY electronics, or tracking broader ecomic shifts, they thrive on connecting with others to share ideas and broaden their horizons.
A natural people person, they enjoy collaborating with diverse teams and seeking out opportunities to learn from others. Outside the lab, you’ll find them climbing, working on their next project, or getting lost in bread-making, because there’s nothing quite like spending the weekend turning flour into dough and convincing yourself it’s a revolutionary breakthrough.
Michael Cunningham
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
Michael Cunningham
Michael is a Ph.D. student in the chemistry department at McGill University. Under the supervision of Dr. Masad Damha, his research focuses on the chemical modification of CRISPR systems for the development of gene therapies. Prior to his graduate studies, he received his Bachelor’s degree and a gold medal in medicinal chemistry from Trinity College Dublin.
Outside of the lab and FRV, he plays two of Ireland’s national sports, Gaelic football and hurling, with the Montreal Shamrocks, as well as intramural Ultimate Frisbee with the “legendary” Deuterated Discs.
Michelle Levy
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
Michelle Levy
Michelle is a McGill Bioengineering student pursuing minors in AI and Biomedical Engineering. She is interested in entrepreneurship and venture capital and is excited to get started and learn a ton with FRV.
Sabrina Du
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
Sabrina Du
Sabrina is an undergraduate Honours Neuroscience student at McGill University with minors in Computer Science and Mathematics. Born and raised in Montreal, she grew up alongside this city’s rise as an AI hub and developed a keen interest in brain-inspired computational architectures. Alongside her studies, Sabrina also develops curiosity-driven category search models to benchmark active vision agents at a lab at McGill.
Sofia Mandri
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2024 – Present
McGill University
Sofia Mandri
Sofia Mandri is a second-year Finance student at McGill University with a concentration in Business Analytics. Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a commitment to excellence, she actively seeks growth opportunities that will build her confidence and knowledge base needed to one day become an entrepreneur.
In addition to her career goals, she brings genuine positivity and a passion for uplifting others. She has participated in 4 case competitions where she has won prizes in all of them, including the title of Best Speaker twice and first place. She thrives in social settings and excels when presenting to judges, classmates, teammates, or audiences. She is also involved in multiple clubs at McGill such as DMCC. As a natural leader, she recognizes when to step back and let others lead, especially in areas where she lacks experience.
Victoria Herreck
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
HEC Montreal
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
HEC Montreal
Victoria Herreck
Victoria is a Master’s in Finance student at HEC Montréal, specializing in Corporate Finance and Venture Capital. With a background in health and life sciences through the French Baccalaureate in Sciences, she brings a scientific mindset to the world of business—combining analytical thinking with a deep curiosity for how ideas grow, scale, and make a difference.
Motivated by a desire to understand what it takes to run and grow a successful business, Victoria pursued studies in Finance and Marketing, and later led a high-performing and diverse team at HEC Paris’s Luxury Management program, where her group earned a high ranking for a brand strategy project in collaboration with world-class companies.
Her approach to life and work is shaped by the philosophy of ikigai—finding the intersection between what she loves, what she excels at, what helps others, and what creates value. Passionate about innovation, creative expression, and ventures that leave a positive mark on society, Victoria sees herself as a visionary in the making.
Sharp, articulate, and adaptable, Victoria thrives in interdisciplinary environments and is driven by a bold vision: to play an active role in shaping the future through venture capital and entrepreneurship. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, and gardening.
Violet Xu
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2025 – Present
McGill University
Violet Xu
Violet is a second-year student at McGill pursing a degree in finance. She has previous experience as a marketing intern at a non-profit, and most recently at a battery technology start-up as a business development intern. She is passionate about contributing to the entrepreneurial ecosystem within and outside Montreal, as shown by her involvement in McGill Ventures.
In her free time, Violet enjoys learning new recipes, enjoying nature, and diving into a good book!
Ontario Investment Team
Darshil Patel
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
Darshil Patel
Darshil Patel is a dedicated and driven Ph.D. student at University of Toronto, specializing in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry. With a deep passion for research and innovation, Darshil is committed to advancing the fields of chemistry and biology to improve healthcare solutions. He is also actively involved in the startup ecosystem as a member of Nucleate Canada, where he collaborates with like-minded individuals to foster entrepreneurship and drive scientific breakthroughs. Outside of academia, Darshil enjoys staying active, reading, and woodworking.
David Li
ON Investment Associate
2023-Present
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2023-Present
University of Toronto
David Li
David Li is currently a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, where he transitioned into tissue engineering from a civil engineering background. His research focuses on developing injectable hydrogels for delivering stem cells and therapeutic compounds to the human central nervous system for stroke and spinal cord injury treatment. He has also worked at the National University of Singapore, where he helped develop materials for medical pump devices. As an aspiring founder in the biotech space, David hopes to interact closely with other founders and learn about their journeys.
Outside of school and work, David loves playing sports and trying out new outdoor activities. His favourite sports so far are volleyball, squash, and rock climbing.
Ian Cheong
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Western University
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Ian Cheong
Ian is a passionate student in the Business Management and Organizational Studies program at Western University. On campus, he is actively involved in student clubs such as PBSN and W5, where he enjoys building community and supporting peers.
Driven by a passion for helping others, Ian brings a collaborative mindset to every opportunity. Outside the classroom, Ian enjoys living an active lifestyle, spending time with his dog, and always being on the lookout for nice study spots.
India Tory
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
India Tory
India is an Engineering Science student at the University of Toronto, specialising in Machine Intelligence with a minor in Business. Her interest in venture capital stems from a desire to invest in the future through technology, supporting innovative startups that drive meaningful change. She is particularly excited about the intersection of AI, finance, and emerging technologies, where she sees opportunities to shape the next wave of innovation.
Having lived in London, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, and Toronto, India brings a global perspective and adaptability to her work. Outside of academics, she enjoys golf, football, hiking, and skiing, as well as spending time with friends and family.
Jerin Jose
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Wilfrid Laurier University
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Wilfrid Laurier University
Jerin Jose
Jerin is a second-year Bachelor of Business Administration student studying at Wilfrid Laurier University. His interests lie in business, environmental studies and giving back to his community by leveraging the future of innovation.
Marina Nikolopoulos
ON Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of Toronto
Marina Nikolopoulos
PhD student studying neuro-oncology at UofT.
Megan Hutter
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Western University
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Megan Hutter
Megan is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Western University with experience in biochemistry, medical biophysics, and medical device development. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation, and creating positive change, and is committed to supporting the start-up community. Her dedication stems from her experience as a co-founder of a medical device company.
Molly Jin
ON Investment Associate
2024-Present
Western University
ON Investment Associate
2024-Present
Western University
Molly Jin
Molly is currently a business student at Ivey Business School. She’s an investment associate on the Ontario Investment Team and is interested in the software and fintech space.
Outside of school and work, Molly enjoys reading books, watching Formula 1 races and spending quality time with family and friends.
Nicole Sun
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Queen’s University
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Queen’s University
Nicole Sun
Nicole is an incoming 2nd year Commerce student with a passion for bringing people together. Whether through organizing events, launching side projects, or her work on school clubs, she loves building communities. Her interest in venture capital stems from the opportunity to identify and support high-potential startups, creating meaningful impact. Outside of work, she enjoys video editing, reading, and trying new sports.
Sami Khdair
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
Sami Khdair
Sami is currently a second-year student at the University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce program. Ever since high school, he has always been interested in entrepreneurship and startups. He founded Teenlink, an EdTech startup dedicated to helping youth find part-time job opportunities across Canada. He is also the author of “Superhero Millionaire,” a book focused on teaching high school students about business, entrepreneurship, and personal finance.
In his free time, he likes reading books, learning about emerging technology, and competing as a swimmer. Sami is excited to merge his interests in investing, technology, and entrepreneurship to support Canada’s startup and venture capital ecosystem.
Sophie Lin
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Western University
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Sophie Lin
Sophie is an undergraduate student currently studying Medical Sciences at Western University. Her passion for venture capital stems from her experience in DECA, where she developed an interest in case analysis, as well as her lifelong curiosity for science and innovation. She is particularly interested in the intersection between biotechnology and business, and how scientific ideas can be transformed into real-world solutions.
In her free time, Sophie enjoys weightlifting, trying new foods and knitting.
Suraj Sivaraja
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Waterloo
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Waterloo
Suraj Sivaraja
Suraj is currently in his second year at the University of Waterloo, with a strong interest in private equity, venture capital, and fintech. He has worked in various engagements across many sectors like technology, real estate, financial services, and infrastructure. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, running, swimming, and playing the piano.
Tolu Sami
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Ottawa
ON Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Ottawa
Tolu Sami
Tolu Sami is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, creative, and Economics student at the University of Ottawa with a deep interest in the intersection of design, technology, and venture capital. He is the founder of Beyond Brains, a web design agency helping small businesses craft impactful digital narratives and streamline their operations through automation. Tolu currently serves as VP External at Enactus uOttawa, where he supports social entrepreneurship initiatives, and contributes as a writer to the Telfer Business Journal. Passionate about empowering young creators, he is also building community for creatives, founders, and builders to share their stories and grow together.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Tolu spends his free time sewing and exploring fashion design, staying active through soccer and fitness, and taking long walks in nature. He enjoys reading and carving out time for creative expression and reflection.
Vedant Vyas
ON Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of Guelph
ON Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of Guelph
Vedant Vyas
Vedant is joining FRV as an ONT Investment Associate. He is currently in his third year of Software Engineering at the University of Guelph and has a keen interest in Venture Capital and early-stage investments, specifically in tech. Vedant brings experience working with 4+ tech startups as well as building his own, and in his free time, he can be found on the soccer field, playing the guitar, or learning how to cook.
British Columbia Investment Team
Arman Hundal
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Arman Hundal
Arman is a third-year Data & Health Science student at the University of British Columbia. He’s passionate about the intersection of healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship.
With experience in management consulting, working for a startup, and founding a successful business, he has developed a strong foundation in strategy, operations, and business development. He is particularly interested in innovation within healthcare, life sciences, consumer tech and enterprise solutions.
Outside of work and school, you can find him playing sports, listening to music or hanging out with friends.
Benjamin Siem
BC Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
Benjamin Siem
Benjamin is a fourth-year commerce student specializing in finance. Through Front Row Venture, he has explored his avid interest in venture capital by sourcing, leading, and investing in early-stage startups. Benjamin has completed internships with BlackRock’s Financial Market Advisory Team in New York and Jarislowsky Fraser’s equity research team in Toronto, where he explored the capital markets and his passion for finance. He continues to explore his passion for venture capital through his involvement at FRV and Winner Capital, where he continues to lead deals as an investment associate.
Outside of school, Benjamin can be found playing soccer, trying local restaurants, reading new books, and talking to his family and friends. He is a die-hard Arsenal fan and loves Thai food.
Farrah Chan
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Farrah Chan
Farrah is a fifth-year Bachelor of International Economics student at the University of British Columbia, passionate about early-stage investing with experience primarily in cleantech in Canada. She has developed strong analytical and financial skills through diverse experiences across consulting, data analytics, and investment roles.
She began her career as a Research and Evaluation Analyst at Verapax, a social impact-focused, WOC-owned consulting firm, where she leveraged R Studio and Tableau to generate data visualizations for non-profit clients. This summer, Farrah is working at The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) as a Junior Analyst on the Impact Investing team, where she led due diligence efforts, sourced deals, calculate portfolio returns and helped develop pilot projects for potential investees.
Farrah was also previously the President of Bridges for Enterprise, a pro-bono consulting org for social-impact startups. Providing pre-seed ventures in Nigeria, Cameroon, and India with services such as tailored financial models, revenue projections, and investor readiness documents. She is also involved in the student venture ecosystem at UBC as the previous Head of Membership Engagement for Black Tusk Student Ventures and hope to establish valuable connections with founders and students alike during her time at Front Row Ventures.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Farrah enjoys reading non-fiction on economics, Indigenous stories, world history, and political dilemmas.
Fraser Duncan
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Fraser Duncan
Fraser is a third-year student at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, specializing in Accounting and Entrepreneurship. He is entering his first year with Front Row Ventures and currently resides in his hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia.
He has gained experience at Quandri, a Vancouver-based Series B startup, and previously interned at Mark Anthony Group (makers of White Claw). A passionate case competitor, Fraser has earned multiple podium finishes and went on to co-found and lead a nationally competitive undergraduate case competition organization affiliated with UBC.
Fraser is deeply interested in business strategy and entrepreneurship. Outside of work and school, he enjoys golfing, playing soccer and pickleball, and skiing in the winter.
Hriday Sahni
BC Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
Hriday Sahni
Hriday is a fourth year undergraduate at UBC.
Jack Warner
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Victoria
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Victoria
Jack Warner
Jack is a business student from the University of Victoria interested in finance and venture capital. He is excited to be apart of FRV to support entrepreneurs and innovation in Victoria and throughout the rest of Canada!
Jessica McDonald
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Jessica McDonald
Jessica is an MBA candidate at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, focused on entrepreneurship and innovation.
With over four years of experience in commercial product management across the fast-moving consumer packaged goods and technology sectors, she has a proven ability to drive market strategy and product growth. At Genetec Inc., she developed the go-to-market strategy for a subscription-based product projected to generate over $30 million in annual revenue. While at Goodfood Market Corp., she led product launches informed by market insights. Passionate about venture development, Jessica has worked on technology commercialization projects and financial valuations during her MBA. She supported Vancouver’s startup ecosystem as a business lead for Advanced Agriscience through the Nucleate Activator Program. This summer, Jessica interned with the Growth Banking team at RBCx, supporting startups through venture debt.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing with a minor in Finance from Concordia University. While Jessica is passionate about fostering innovation and helping companies scale, she is also passionate about giving back through volunteer initiatives such as the Santropol Roulant’s Meals-on-Wheels program in Montreal and as Co-President of the MBA Sauder Gives Back club at UBC.
Max Wong
BC Investment Associate
2023-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2023-Present
University of British Columbia
Max Wong
Max is a student at UBC majoring in finance. He currently a third-year investment associate at Front Row Ventures. My portfolio at FRV includes: UVX, Avo and OutreachGenius
In the past Max has worked at IOSG Ventures, a Seed to Series B crypto/web3 venture fund focusing on consumer investments; Betatron Venture Group, a Pre-Seed to Series A fund with a focus on B2B tech SaaS; and a fintech unicorn doing strategic finance. In his free time, you can find him watching movies and playing poker.
Mayako Kruger
BC Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
Mayako Kruger
Mayako is in her final year at UBC studying cognitive systems. She has experience working in communications, product marketing at a voice-AI startup, and product management for a health-tech start up at a venture studio.
Omar Eldesouky
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Omar Eldesouky
Omar Eldesouky is a first-year Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of British Columbia, specializing in finance, technology, and venture capital. He is passionate about fostering innovation and financial accessibility, with a strong background in leadership, communication, and financial analysis.
As the Executive Director of Blooming Education, Omar has spearheaded initiatives to enhance financial and climate literacy, reaching over 400,000 people and collaborating with schools across the MENA region. He also served as a Teen Advisory Board Member at Cashee/FAB, contributing to the development of fintech solutions tailored for youth in the GCC.
Beyond his professional and academic pursuits, Omar is an avid plane spotter, combining his passion for aviation with an appreciation for precision and design. His attention to detail and analytical mindset extend from identifying aircraft types to evaluating fintech solutions and investment opportunities.
Fluent in English and Arabic, Omar brings a global perspective to venture capital and entrepreneurship. At Front Row Ventures, he is eager to identify and support the next generation of disruptive startups, leveraging his expertise in digital banking, fintech, and strategic growth.
Pardeep Ranouta
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
Simon Fraser University
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
Simon Fraser University
Pardeep Ranouta
Pardeep is a fourth-year Data Science student at Simon Fraser University with a strong interest in entrepreneurship and venture capital. She is very passionate about sustainability and tackling the climate crisis, which drives her to keep learning and find ways to contribute to positive change. Looking ahead, she aims to use her skills and knowledge to work on projects that promote climate-focused sustainable innovation and drive meaningful change in the industry.
Pasha Razavi
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Pasha Razavi
Pasha is an undergrad at UBC studying International Relations and Business. He is really excited to be a part of Front Row Ventures. Outside of school, he enjoys skiing, golfing, and history.
Patricia Duong
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Patricia Duong
Patricia is a UBC finance student and Investment Associate at FRV. She is passionate in all things startups, tech, and entertainment – she is currently developing a dance visualization software used for large scale choreographies like the super bowl or concerts/music videos to small independent projects. Patricia is always open to new connections and learning about new industries and other startups.
Alberta Investment Team
Ali Beg
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
Ali Beg
Ali is a fourth-year student at the University of Calgary, studying in the Biomedical Sciences program. I am excited about venture capital as it offers an opportunity to support entrepreneurs in addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Brandon Pattar
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
Brandon Pattar
Brandon Pattar is a third-year PhD candidate at the University of Calgary, studying sex and gender differences in cardiovascular and kidney disease. He has experience working as a research and development scientist in the biotechnology and oil and gas industries. Passionate about translating research into real-world impact, Brandon aims to bridge the gap between innovation and market implementation to improve health outcomes.
Brittany Sauter
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
Brittany Sauter
Brittany is a PhD candidate at the University of Alberta, specializing in the microbiology of invasive species. Their research focuses on the gill microbiome of the European Green Crab, examining how specific microorganisms contribute to the species’ ecological success. By employing innovative techniques, their work aims to inform strategies for mitigating the spread of this invasive species along coastal regions.
They are excited to join Front Row Ventures as part of the Alberta Investment Team and continue supporting student founders on their entrepreneurial journeys. In addition to their research, they currently serve as the Operations Lead for the Alberta chapter of Nucleate Canada, where they help grow early-stage biotech ventures. They also bring experience as an angel investor with Startup TNT’s Life Science Summit. Previously, they contributed to the University of Alberta’s iGEM 2019 team, which developed an on-site detection system for a common bee pathogen tailored to the needs of commercial beekeepers.
Gidev Fernando
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
Gidev Fernando
Gidev firmly believes that financial development is the cornerstone of any successful organization.
Driven by a strong passion for business and a natural ability for understanding financial systems, Gidev brings a level of dedication that fuels their commitment to going above and beyond in their work. With a keen interest in the complexities of business and how to effectively manage them, Gidev joined the Alberta School of Business in 2023 to deepen their knowledge of modern, impactful business practices.
Their ultimate goal is to provide high-quality financial and investment services that help unlock an organization’s full potential.
Heba Iftikhar
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
Heba Iftikhar
Meet Heba! She grew up in the small town of St. Paul, Alberta—home to its very own UFO landing pad. Heba is passionate about increasing healthcare accessibility, a commitment shaped by firsthand experiences with the challenges rural and remote communities face in accessing care. She’s excited to be part of Front Row Ventures, where she sees a meaningful opportunity to support founders working to address disparities in their communities. In her free time, Heba enjoys bouldering, watching K-dramas, and going to concerts.
Kiran Dhillon
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
Kiran Dhillon
Kiran is a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Alberta, specializing in Finance. She is currently a Data Analyst at CGI, where she applies her analytical skills to turn data into valuable insights that support smarter business decisions.
Lujaina Eldelebshany
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
Lujaina Eldelebshany
Lujaina is a Software Engineering student at the University of Calgary with a passion for technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. She has worked on products within the social entrepreneurship space, including developing predictive models for carbon capture startups and financial trading algorithms. With experience in internships, hackathons, and case competitions, she thrives on exploring how innovative technologies can scale into inclusive solutions while actively contributing to their development.
Her interest in venture capital stems from a desire to connect with and support visionary founders building disruptive solutions in AI and fintech. She is joining Front Row Ventures as an Investment Associate, bringing a strong technical background and a keen eye for emerging innovations.
Outside of work, Lujaina is an avid Formula 1 fan who enjoys analyzing race data, designing fashion concepts, and staying active with friends and family.
Noah Smith
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
Noah Smith
Noah is currently attending the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, and will graduate with his Juris Doctor in 2027. Noah previously attended McMaster University, where he completed both his Master of Science (MSc) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees. Noah presently works as a patent analyst at an intellectual property law firm, providing support to early-stage life sciences companies and investors. During his time at McMaster University, Noah co-founded a startup and led his team through a competitive business incubator program.
Ryan Mabley
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
Ryan Mabley
Ryan is a third-year student at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business specializing in finance. Born and raised in Calgary, he has a love for his city and a belief in it’s future. He is currently in his first year with Front Row Ventures.
An entrepreneurial spirit at heart, he has a passion for supporting local startup initiatives through extracurriculars and has co-founded a Calgary-based tech startup in the healthcare education space.
FRV provides an opportunity for Ryan to further ignite his passion in helping student entrepreneurs to recognize their dreams through investment and support, driving long-term positive impact in Canada, for which he is very excited.
Ryan is also an avid hockey player and flames fan, and spends time skiing, playing piano, camping, or spending time with friends and family.
Samantha Faith Cruz
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
Samantha Faith Cruz
Samantha (Sam) is a sophomore studying Business Analytics at the University of Calgary. She first fell in love with the startup and entrepreneurial space after moving to Canada nearly two years ago, sparked by her very first coffee chat at Platform Calgary.
She is currently helping build Ascend Calgary, a co-working community for builders, and conducting research on intersectional entrepreneurship in Alberta—focusing on queer, Indigenous, immigrant, and female entrepreneurs.
Sam is particularly interested in femtech, edtech, and fintech startups. When she’s not busy, you’ll likely find her snapping photos or building with LEGOs.
Taher Aboulnaga
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
Taher Aboulnaga
Taher Aboulnaga is an Investment Associate at Front Row Ventures and a Finance student at the University of Calgary. He brings experience across consulting, tax, and student leadership, having worked in KPMG’s Management Consulting practice and PwC’s Indirect Tax team. Taher has also served as a Teaching Assistant for Business Analytics courses and held leadership roles within the Commerce Undergraduate Society. Passionate about strategy and problem-solving, he has been recognized as a finalist in the Accenture Innovation Challenge and placed second in Deloitte’s Community Case Competition. He is currently pursuing his BComm with a focus on finance and analytics and was named to the Dean’s List for Winter 2024 and 2025. Outside of work he enjoys sports and used to swim professionally.
Veronica Garth
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
AB Investment Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
Veronica Garth
Veronica is an MBA candidate at the University of Alberta, specializing in real estate, innovation & entrepreneurship. With a strong entrepreneurial background, she has successfully founded and managed multiple businesses, including a tourism-based medical company and a real estate brokerage focused on client transactions. Veronica also has hands-on experience in managing and developing real estate assets, with a personal venture dedicated to investing in commercial properties.
Passionate about innovation and growth, Veronica is deeply interested in venture capital and startups driven by visionary founders who aim to create a meaningful, positive impact on society.
Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys spending quality time with family, practicing yoga, reading, traveling, and enjoying modern art.
Portfolio Management Team
Adrisa Agarwal
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
Adrisa Agarwal
Growing up, puzzles were a big part of Adrisa’s life – from sudoku races with her mom and brother to tackling every new challenge her mom could find. These moments sparked a lasting love for problem-solving, which eventually led her to consulting. While studying Psychology and Commerce at UBC, Adrisa spent two years with 180 Degrees Consulting, working on projects for social impact organizations.
Now, with a year of experience as a Portfolio Support Associate at Front Row Ventures, Adrisa continues to bring that same problem-solving mindset to her work. She currently works as an Investment Analyst at a health tech fund in Vancouver, where she supports early-stage companies at the intersection of healthcare and innovation.
She’s excited to keep contributing to FRV’s mission of backing the next generation of entrepreneurs and driving meaningful impact. Outside of work, Adrisa loves spending time with friends over games of all kinds—card games, board games, anything with a bit of strategy—and stays active through dancing and Brazilian jiujutsu classes.
Angelina Huang
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
Angelina Huang
Angelina is an undergraduate commerce student at the University of Toronto with a passion for venture capital and entrepreneurship, particularly at the intersection of media, technology, and investing. She currently hosts a podcast that spotlights founders and emerging trends in the startup and venture capital landscape. With both a business and creative background, Angelina brings a unique and well-rounded perspective to the VC space.
In her free time, Angelina enjoys practicing photography and cinematography, reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
Camille Loubert
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
Concordia University
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
Concordia University
Camille Loubert
Camille is a training associate with the Quebec team supporting the portfolio companies of Front Row Ventures. Currently studying finance at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, she combines her passion for business with a strong understanding of the healthcare sector.
Before turning to finance, Camille studied health sciences and pursued two years of physiotherapy at Université Laval in Quebec. This training provided her with extensive expertise in anatomy, biomechanics, and neuroscience, enabling her to understand the challenges and specific needs of MedTech startups. Her ability to blend technical knowledge with financial skills makes her particularly well-suited to support and advise innovative companies in the medical field.
In addition to her academic skills, Camille is known for her dynamism, analytical mindset, and commitment to helping startups achieve their goals, having worked with two startups in the past. She is passionate about innovation, technological development, and companies that make a real difference. Camille is determined to use her expertise to contribute to the success of the portfolio companies of Front Row Ventures.
Henrique Oliveira
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Henrique Oliveira
Control and Automation Engineer, graduate from the esteemed Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Has over 8 years of professional experience in project and prototype development for the industrial sector, specializing in various additive manufacturing technologies and showcasing a proven track record in designing machines, equipment, and manufacturing parts for industrial applications, as well as consulting and managing engineering teams. Keen interest in exploring the integration of AI, computer vision, and human-machine interfaces to enhance human interactions in real-world applications.
Currently pursues a joint PhD in Design at UFRGS (Brazil) and Electrical Engineering at McGill University (Canada), with research centered around the intersection of computer vision algorithms, natural language processing, and autonomous LLM agents.
Ian Wang
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Ian Wang
Ian is a student in the Interdepartmental Honours Program in Immunology at McGill University. He has always been passionate about exploring the boundaries of human knowledge and about changing the world for the better. He is currently investigating aspects of Alzheimer’s disease pathology in conjunction with Parkinson’s disease.
As a member of the Portfolio Support Team at Front Row Ventures, Ian looks forward to witnessing daring and revolutionary innovations first hand. He hopes to assist and uplift incredible student innovators on their journey.
In his free time, Ian loves trying new recipes, reading, and training Muay Thai.
Jackson McIntosh
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
McGill University
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
McGill University
Jackson McIntosh
Jackson is a third-year student at McGill University, pursuing a major in Finance and a minor in Computer Science.
Passionate about anything tech, VC, or outdoors related. He has previously interned in VC with a focus on B2B SaaS, is an avid case competitor, and loves a good run.
James Guo
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
Western University
James Guo
James is an incoming fourth-year Criminology student at the University of Western Ontario. His passion for innovation and disruptive technologies drew him away towards the pre-law track and onto the path of venture capital. He currently works with the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, where he connects Western’s startup ecosystem with funding, mentorship, and go-to-market resources.
Previously, James helped a student-run startup navigate its initial fundraising rounds and led rebranding strategy for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation as a Senior Project Lead at the Global Research and Consulting Group. He also served as Vice President for the Western Founders Network to help students explore the intersection of business, tech, and entrepreneurship.
Outside of his professional life, he is a Varsity Sabreist for the Western Mustangs, spends his free time playing poker with friends and is also an aspiring DJ by night.
Jeremie Alexander
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
McMaster University
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
McMaster University
Jeremie Alexander
Jeremie is a PhD student interested in leveraging computational approaches to address complex challenges in the field of biomedicine. Specifically, his interests lie in computational methods and technologies to accelerate drug discovery. He also holds a keen interest in the commercialization of biological research and the process of translating a laboratory idea into innovative new ventures.
Kate Lindsay
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Kate Lindsay
Kate is a third-year PhD student in the Department of Medicine at McGill University, specializing in Cardiac MRI. Her research focuses on non-invasive imaging to detect heart disease early in at-risk populations. She enjoys multidisciplinary collaboration and opportunities that connect students beyond the lab. As the Director of Scientific Communications for the POWER Hub (thepowerhub.org), a community advocacy initiative dedicated to women’s heart health in Montreal, Kate helps bridge research and community engagement through grassroots outreach. Outside of science, she enjoys baking, yoga, pilates, and exploring local cafés, and is always up for a good coffee chat.
Nathan Rothschild
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
McGill University
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
McGill University
Nathan Rothschild
Nathan is an undergraduate student at McGill University studying Biochemistry. Building off of his experience on the Quebec Investment Team at Front Row Ventures last year, Nathan has now joined the Portfolio Support team. Nathan has previous experience in the biotech and automotive industries, namely as a Manufacturing Sciences and Data Analytics Intern at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, a Sales Consultant at MetroWest Hyundai and Genesis of Framingham, and as co-founder and CEO of Zyrka, a patent-pending automotive lot management solution.
Naureen Ahmed
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Naureen Ahmed
Naureen is a student at McGill University studying Finance and IT Management. She is passionate about building community in the startup space and supporting founders in their journey. During her free time, you can find her exploring new coffee shops in the city!
Omar Jamal
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
Polytechnique Montréal
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
Polytechnique Montréal
Omar Jamal
Omar is currently pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, where he is deeply immersed in the fascinating world of medtech. He is also intrigued by the dynamics of the venture capital space, especially how it fuels innovation in the tech and healthcare industries. Outside of his academic and professional interests, Omar is a fitness enthusiast; he loves hitting the gym and going for runs to keep himself energized. Additionally, he enjoys diving into the world of blockchain technology, constantly exploring its evolving landscape and potential applications. Combining these interests, Omar is always looking to engage in conversations and projects that sit at the intersection of technology, health, and innovation!
Pauline Audrey Ongchan
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
Portfolio Management Associate
2024-Present
University of British Columbia
Pauline Audrey Ongchan
Pauline is an enthusiastic and driven individual with a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. She thrives in dynamic environments where creativity meets problem-solving. She is on a mission to make a meaningful impact in the world of startups and venture capital, leveraging her skills and experience to support the next generation of innovators and change-makers. When she’s not immersed in the world of startups, you can find her playing ultimate or cooking.
Pranav Vinod
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Pranav Vinod
Some of Pranav’s earliest memories are of watching his dad build a CRM startup from scratch, from sketching ideas at the dinner table to late-night client calls, and eventually, the excitement of a successful exit. Growing up in that environment made entrepreneurship feel less like a career choice and more like a way of life. That early exposure lit a fire in him to pursue a path as an entrepreneur or operator.
At the same time, he found himself drawn to thinkers like Ray Dalio, who emphasized how granular details connect to big-picture insights. That mindset stuck with him. Whether it was diving into data, working in business development, helping shape product strategy, or exploring the venture space, Pranav sought out opportunities that helped him zoom into the details, not just to get things done, but to understand how they all come together to shape the bigger picture.
Over time, he realized that venture capital offers the perfect environment to do just that, to learn what makes startups succeed at the micro level, and apply that knowledge toward building something scalable and impactful at the macro level. He’s excited to support student founders in building successful ventures and, in doing so, contribute to strengthening Canada’s innovation ecosystem at FRV.
When he’s not deep in thought about the venture ecosystem or tuned into his favourite podcasts (like the All-In Podcast), you’ll probably find him trying to nail a John Mayer riff on his guitar, reselling vintage fashion, playing pickleball, tennis or beach volleyball, or binging the latest Netflix limited series!
Tanjin Sultana
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Tanjin Sultana
Tanjin Sultana is a fourth-year Bioengineering student at McGill University, passionate about women’s health and entrepreneurship. In her second year, she founded a project to raise awareness about endometriosis and developed an early detection method to help reduce diagnosis times, an experience that sparked her passion for supporting early-stage innovators.
During a recent internship, she launched an initiative that helped over 100 early-stage founders build and consult on 20+ AI MVPs. She now works with Front Row Ventures’ Portfolio team, backing student-led startups across Canada.
Her research includes developing antiviral coatings through an NSERC award in McGill’s Chemical Engineering department and creating a biosensor for acute kidney injury (AKI) with the Bioengineering department, which was showcased at the SensUs competition in the Netherlands. She also helped launch a McGill incubator in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, connecting students with physicians to tackle real-world health challenges.
Tanjin now serves as Co-President of McGill Biodesign, where she leads teams building prototypes to bring biotech ideas to life. She also founded BuildHer, a community empowering Canadian women to form authentic connections beyond surface-level networking.
Outside of work, she enjoys nature, dumplings, and singing. Feel free to reach out whenever!
Trinity Chung
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Portfolio Management Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Trinity Chung
Since her formative years, Trinity has always been intrigued by the question, “How can I make a change?” This led her to pursue experiences in the healthcare industry at SickKids, The Toronto Endoscopy Clinic, and volunteer work in Ontario Long-Term Care (LTC) centres.
This background in healthcare has driven her deep passion for an impact-based life. Trinity fosters this passion through her work at Propel Impact, Autumn, and with the Portfolio Support Team at Front Row Ventures.
As a recipient of the Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation’s Donald Choi Award of Excellence, she especially values community and uplifting others around her.
Having honed her piano skills, she practices the electric and bass guitar in her free time. She is also an amateur sewist, record collector, and hockey fan.
Product Team
Akshin Makkar
Product Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Product Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Akshin Makkar
Akshin is a student at the University of Western Ontario, pursuing a degree in computer science. Passionate about the startup, technology, and VC space, Akshin has received grants from places such as Emergent Ventures and Long Journey Ventures to fund his previous work in the drone and agricultural space.
During the summer of 2024, Akshin lived in Boston; serving as a resident fellow at Harvard Street Commons – a hacker-house with alumni backed by A16Z, Y-Combinator, and other world class investors.
Luis Decena
Product Associate
2024-present
University of Toronto
Product Associate
2024-present
University of Toronto
Luis Decena
Luis joined FRV’s Data & Product Team in 2024. He is currently studying computer science at the University of Toronto. Having previously worked for Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he honed his skills in programming and data analysis, Luis is eager to explore the startup ecosystem and leverage his experiences to support and grow student-led ventures across Canada.
Neha Rajamani
Product Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Product Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Neha Rajamani
Neha is working as a Product Team Associate at Front Row Ventures and is currently entering her second year at Western University, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree of Business Administration at Ivey Business School. Having taken on multiple leadership roles throughout high school and university, Neha strives to bring positive change and lead initiatives that improve the status quo. Neha possesses a strong interest in the intersection between the venture capital space and technology, and is eager to empower student-led tech startups as an associate.
In addition to her role at Front Row Ventures, Neha works as a Researcher for the Ivey Business Review, conducting in-depth research analyses and working with a team of editors to polish student-written business articles. She also leverages her problem-solving and critical-thinking skills as a Consultant for the Western Management Consulting club.
Outside of her extracurriculars at university, Neha shares a deep passion for the arts and has been learning an Indian classical dance called Bharatanatyam for over 13 years. She also shares experiences as a swim instructor and recreation community centre staff. Beyond her experiences, Neha’s interests include making beaded jewelry, reading books, travelling, listening to business podcasts, and watching Formula 1 and tennis.
Rehman Tariq
Product Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
Product Associate
2025-Present
University of Calgary
Rehman Tariq
Rehman Tariq is a dedicated researcher with a background in biomedical engineering and neuroscience, currently pursuing his Master of Science at the University of Calgary. His research focuses on using artificial intelligence to address critical challenges in medical imaging for multiple sclerosis. Specifically, Rehman employs generative adversarial networks (GANs) to generate synthetic MRI images and integrates MRI data with clinical information to predict treatment responses, aiming to improve personalized care and treatment strategies. He also has industry experience with AltaML, a Canadian company specializing in AI solutions across diverse sectors. In addition to his academic work, Rehman actively contributes to community initiatives as a committee member for MS Canada, where he supports research efforts and awareness campaigns to enhance the lives of those affected by multiple sclerosis.
Tanay Mahendru
Product Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Product Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Tanay Mahendru
Tanay is a fifth-year undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia, specializing in Physics and Data Science. He is passionate about solving challenging problems and executing impactful ideas and products. He is deeply interested in the intersection of business and technology, and is currently learning about product management and the venture capital ecosystem at FRV.
In his free time, Tanay enjoys watching and playing all kinds of sports (cricket, basketball, tennis among others). He is an avid Formula 1 fan, and spends his weekends watching races and dabbling around with sports analytics. He also loves spending time at the beach!
Legal Team
Christopher Young
Legal Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Legal Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Christopher Young
Christopher is currently an HBA/JD dual degree students from Ivey Business School and Western University’s Faculty of Law. As a 1L/HBA2 student, he is currently exploring how law and business intersects! Outside of school, Christopher loves baking, board games, and staying involved with the university community through extra-curriculars!
David Lim
Legal Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Legal Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
David Lim
David is a third-year JD/MBA student at the University of British Columbia. At his previous position at startup accelerator, he was part of a team that managed a portfolio of 12 deep-tech companies preparing for Seed to Series A financing, advising founders on pricing and growth strategies.
This summer, David will join Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto as a temporary articling student.
Outside of school, David enjoys boxing, rugby, and knitting.
Kush Manek
Legal Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
Legal Associate
2025-Present
University of Alberta
Kush Manek
Kush is currently pursuing his Juris Doctor at Osgoode Hall Law School. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, where he majored in Business, Economics and Law and completed a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He brings practical experience from a boutique financial advisory firm, where he worked on M&A transactions and litigation support, as well as from a law firm, where he contributed to M&A, Commercial Real Estate transactions, and general corporate matters.
Kush is thrilled to join the FRV team and deepen his understanding of the Canadian venture capital ecosystem. He looks forward to leveraging previous experiences to assist with empowering student founders across the country.
Zoë Aikman
Legal Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Legal Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Zoë Aikman
Zoë is currently pursuing her BCL/JD at McGill University’s Faculty of Law. She previously completed a Master of Philosophy in Politics & International Studies at the University of Cambridge, where her research focused on how digital infrastructure and AI impact governance and security. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Law & Society from Concordia University, where she graduated as Valedictorian.
Zoë has experience across legal, regulatory, and startup environments. She recently interned with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, where she worked on the Emerging Technologies and Cybersecurity Programme, focusing on the human rights implications of AI in counter-terrorism. She also supported AI governance research at the Center for AI and Digital Policy and contributed to the Atlantic Council’s tech and disinformation research. She is currently interning at Shift Markets, a crypto/fintech startup based in New York, supporting SOC 2 compliance and strategic operations.
Zoë is excited to join the FRV legal team to build on her experience at the intersection of innovation and law. She’s especially interested in how strong legal infrastructure can empower startups to scale responsibly and is eager to support founders navigating early-stage growth.
People & Culture Team
Alex Xi
People & Culture Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
People & Culture Associate
2025-Present
University of British Columbia
Alex Xi
Alex is a third year student at UBC Sauder School of Business with a specialization in Finance and Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource.
Amelie Huynh
People & Culture Associate
2025-Present
Western University
People & Culture Associate
2025-Present
Western University
Amelie Huynh
Amelie is going into her second year studying business at Western University. She’s excited to be a People and Culture Associate this year, building community and creating an inclusive space within venture capital!
Savina Cammalleri
People & Culture Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
People & Culture Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
Savina Cammalleri
Savina is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering with a passion for bridging science and business. With a background in molecular neuroscience and omics technologies, Savina is driven by the potential of life sciences innovation to transform health and society. Outside of research, she actively contributes to the entrepreneurial and academic communities, serving as Director of Social Media for the Biomedical Engineering Association and Executive Programs Director for the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Mentorship Program, where she leads initiatives to foster leadership, mentorship, and professional development.
Having grown up inspired by a family of entrepreneurs, Savina is deeply curious about venture capital, biotechnology startups, and the intersection of science, strategy, and impact. She is excited to bring scientific rigor, creativity, and a people-first mindset to Front Row Ventures while continuing to learn about investing in groundbreaking early-stage companies.
Marketing Team
Ayaka Kruger
Marketing Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
Marketing Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
Ayaka Kruger
Ayaka is a student at the University of Toronto, double majoring in Political Science and Ethics, Society, and Law, with a certificate in Business Fundamentals. Her interests lie at the intersection of policy, governance, and social equity. She is particularly drawn to work that bridges research and advocacy, and is interested in how institutions and legal frameworks can be shaped to better serve communities.
Beyond academics, she has taken on leadership roles in student organizations, coordinated events, and contributed to nonprofit initiatives.
In her spare time, Ayaka enjoys watching Formula 1, cafe-hopping with friends, and traveling. She is always seeking opportunities to contribute meaningfully and engage with work that challenges her perspective.
Janessa Puyo
Marketing Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
Marketing Associate
2025-Present
University of Toronto
Janessa Puyo
Janessa is a BComm student at the University of Toronto specializing in finance and economics. She has been involved in marketing roles at startups in the past and aim on further exploring her interest in the VC scene. Janessa is particularly drawn to sustainability and Cleantech oriented companies and aim at leveraging her experiences as a gateway into fostering positive environmental change. Janessa aims to bring her skills and enthusiasm to FRV and contribute to its mission while gaining valuable experience in the startup ecosystem.
Jennifer Wang
Marketing Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Marketing Associate
2025-Present
McGill University
Jennifer Wang
Jennifer is a second-year student at McGill University, diving into the world of Marketing, IT Management, and Statistics.
She recently completed an exchange semester at the University of Melbourne, a transformative experience that broadened her perspective and sparked new ideas.
She’s all about blending creativity with a touch of tech and data. Curious and collaborative by nature, Jennifer is deeply inspired by personal and collective growth. She loves watching ideas and people grow, and she’s always ready to cheer others on as they bring fresh, innovative thinking to life.
Right now, she’s channeling that creative spark into launching a meaningful sportswear brand with her best friend — coming soon, with a story worth wearing 😉
Outside of academics and entrepreneurship, Jennifer is passionate about photography. She has captured everything from campus events like McGill Ventures and McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship to the energy of sports teams like McGill Dragon Boats Z and Montreal’s 22Dragons. She’s also worked with startup founders, helping them bring their stories to life through compelling visuals.
Alexandre Cardozo
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université de Montréal
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université de Montréal
Alexandre Cardozo
Jonathan (Jonny) Hsu
Directeur de l’Equipe d’Investissement ON
2019-
Université de Waterloo
Directeur de l’Equipe d’Investissement ON
2019-
Université de Waterloo
Jonathan (Jonny) Hsu
Jonathan est inscrit au programme coopératif en sciences et affaires de l’Université de Waterloo, spécialisé en biochimie. Il a terminé des stages coopératifs en tant qu’analyste d’affaires chez BMO et consultant chez CIBC et a un poste à venir au sein de l’équipe de conseil en risque chez EY. Sa passion pour l’entrepreneuriat a commencé lorsqu’il a assumé le rôle de président de la section Enactus Waterloo. Il vise à transférer des capitaux entre les mains d’entrepreneurs ambitieux qui se concentrent sur l’amélioration du monde. Jonathan est le plus passionné par les sources d’énergie durables, l’autonomisation des jeunes et l’éducation. En plus des études et des activités parascolaires, Jonathan aime faire du sport (en particulier le basket-ball), lire et jouer aux échecs. Ayant étudié à l’étranger pendant un trimestre à Singapour, Jonathan aime entrer en contact avec des personnes diverses ayant des mentalités différentes. Il documente ces conversations sur son podcast intitulé « Élargissez votre perspective ».
Juliana Whamond
Associée au développement des affaires
2021-
Université Concordia
Associée au développement des affaires
2021-
Université Concordia
Juliana Whamond
Juliana est membre de l’équipe du revenu chez Front Row Ventures, ainsi qu’une étudiante en 3e année à l’université Concordia, poursuivant une double concentration en affaires internationales et en finance — programme coop.
Juliana se dévoue à l’appui aux entreprises en démarrage au sein de l’écosystème d’affaires canadien, dans leurs parcours vers l’expansion internationale et la réussite. À FRV, elle souhaite habiliter des entrepreneurs étudiants en les aidant à combler l’écart entre innovations et financement.
En dehors de FRV, Juliana est coprésidente de la John Molson International Business Association, et vient tout juste de découvrir son enthousiasme pour les concours de cas. Elle est une passionnée d’arts, de musique et de théâtre, et a hâte de reprendre ses voyages mondiaux une fois ses études terminées.
Ali Fathollahi
ON Associé en investissement
2021–
Université de Western Ontario
ON Associé en investissement
2021–
Université de Western Ontario
Ali Fathollahi
Ali est un étudiant à l’esprit d’entreprise qui se passionne pour aider les autres en résolvant les problèmes des temps modernes. Il termine actuellement son diplôme en sciences de la radiation médicale à l’Université McMaster.
À l’été 2018, avec l’aide de ses co-fondateurs, Ali a lancé sa première entreprise commerciale, un magasin de fitness en ligne. Son équipe a remarqué le manque de vêtements de fitness abordables pour les étudiants sur le marché et a tenté de résoudre ce problème en s’associant à des fabricants de haute qualité et abordables à l’étranger. Grâce à cette entreprise, il a trouvé sa passion pour l’entrepreneuriat. Depuis lors, il a créé une société de conseil numérique et travaille actuellement sur une startup de logiciels.
Grâce à FRV, Ali espère soutenir ses collègues étudiants entrepreneurs tout en en apprenant davantage sur les différents aspects d’une bonne startup.
En dehors de l’entrepreneuriat et de l’école, Ali aime beaucoup jouer au football et au basket-ball. Il est également un fanatique de musique et passe la plupart de son temps libre en tant que producteur de musique, produisant des rythmes R&B et rap pour des artistes locaux.
Robert-Eduard Tizu
Directeur des Affaires Juridiques
2021-
Université de Sherbrooke
Directeur des Affaires Juridiques
2021-
Université de Sherbrooke
Robert-Eduard Tizu
Robert aime la poutine et la technologie. Toujours avec le dernier téléphone en main, il aime sortir dans le monde, rencontrer de nouvelles startups et aider autant qu’il le peut. Habité par un dynamisme hors du commun et un formidable pouvoir de persuasion, Robert sait mobiliser les gens autour d’une cause à laquelle il croit pour obtenir des résultats que personne n’aurait cru possibles. Au cours de ses études en droit à l’Université de Sherbrooke, il s’est distingué par son sens de l’initiative et son implication dans plusieurs groupes et associations, ce qui lui a permis d’acquérir un sens de la gestion et de la résolution de problèmes. Fortement impliqué dans la communauté, il croit fermement à la mission de FRV d’habiliter les étudiants-entrepreneurs à travers le Canada avec à la fois la puissance financière et le capital humain. Son désir d’avoir un impact plus important l’a attiré vers l’entrepreneuriat.
Andrew (Doren) Singh
ON Investissement Associé
2021-
Université McMaster
ON Investissement Associé
2021-
Université McMaster
Andrew (Doren) Singh
Doren est titulaire d’un HBSc. (Cinétique humaine) et MSc. (Sciences alimentaires) de l’Université de Guelph et détient actuellement un doctorat. Candidat (génie chimique) à l’Université McMaster. Ses recherches actuelles portent sur l’amélioration de l’efficacité des véhicules d’administration de médicaments pour aider à traiter le cancer, les maladies ophtalmiques et diverses autres pathologies. Doren est particulièrement passionnée par l’innovation et la mise en œuvre dans les secteurs des sciences de la vie et de la santé.
Doren a une solide expérience en tant que chercheur scientifique et une vaste expérience en tant que consultant. En raison d’une forte passion pour aider les autres, Doren a fondé Pharmasonica Technologies, une start-up biomédicale dans le but d’améliorer la qualité du traitement des patients subissant une chimiothérapie.
Pendant son temps libre, vous pouvez le trouver au gymnase, en train de faire du sport ou de préparer une tempête.
Vaneezeh Siddiqui
ON Investissement Associée
2021-
Université de Toronto
ON Investissement Associée
2021-
Université de Toronto
Vaneezeh Siddiqui
Vaneezeh poursuit une majeure en statistique et une double mineure en informatique et en commerce à l’Université de Toronto. Elle a effectué plusieurs stages à la Banque Royale du Canada et se joindra à RBC Ventures à l’automne en tant qu’analyste de données coopérative. Son enthousiasme pour l’entrepreneuriat l’a amenée à FRV, où elle a hâte de soutenir les étudiants fondateurs et leurs grandes idées audacieuses.
Elle est la fondatrice de l’équipe Women in Science and Computing sur le campus et se passionne pour la création et la direction d’équipes interfonctionnelles pour relever des défis ambigus. Elle a partagé ses expériences de leadership lors d’événements tels que Ivy Hacks et l’Impact Summit, et siège au conseil consultatif d’Accelerate Her Future, un accélérateur de carrière national pour les femmes noires, autochtones et de couleur poursuivant une carrière dans la technologie et les affaires.
Elle est une passionnée de fitness, adore rencontrer de nouvelles personnes et boit beaucoup trop de café.
Valerie Chiu
ON Investissement Associée
2021-
Université de Toronto
ON Investissement Associée
2021-
Université de Toronto
Valerie Chiu
Valerie est membre de l’équipe d’investissement de Front Row Ventures, le premier fonds de capital-risque dirigé par des étudiants au Canada. Elle poursuit actuellement des études en économie et en études environnementales à l’Université de Toronto.
Elle est passionnée par le développement durable et aime explorer la nature multidisciplinaire de la durabilité. En particulier, elle s’est intéressée à l’investissement d’impact et à la finance sociale depuis qu’elle a été initiée aux concepts d’investissement ESG (environnemental, social et de gouvernance) et ODD (Objectifs de développement durable), lors de son premier stage dans une société de gestion d’investissement à Hong Kong. . Les idées de capitalisme conscient et de profit ciblé lui ont parlé alors qu’elle était témoin de l’énorme pouvoir des investissements, non seulement en termes monétaires, mais aussi dans la transformation des aspects environnementaux, politiques, sociaux et autres de la société.
Dans son temps libre, elle aime jouer et écouter de la musique, faire du parachutisme, préparer et déguster du café, découvrir les cafés, voyager et réfléchir au sens de la vie.
Alex Gouchtchina
ON Associée en Investissement
2021-
Université de Waterloo
ON Associée en Investissement
2021-
Université de Waterloo
Alex Gouchtchina
Alex est un étudiant de troisième année à l’Université de Waterloo qui étudie l’analyse financière et la gestion des risques. Au cours de ses précédents mandats coopératifs chez League et d’autres startups basées à Toronto, Alex a exploré plusieurs fonctions, notamment la finance, les opérations de revenus et la stratégie. Dans son rôle à venir en tant qu’analyste dans un fonds de technologie de santé numérique à un stade précoce, elle est ravie d’en savoir plus sur le paysage de la santé et de travailler avec des entrepreneurs incroyables. À l’avenir, Alex espère travailler dans l’investissement d’impact ou aider à développer des entreprises qui proposent des solutions et résolvent des problèmes dans les domaines de la santé, de l’éducation et des technologies propres.
En dehors de son expérience professionnelle, elle aime enseigner l’art dramatique et travailler avec les étudiants. On la retrouve à Waterloo et à Toronto pour animer des ateliers ou diriger des créations collectives. Elle ne dira jamais non non plus à une bonne tasse de thé et est toujours prête à discuter.
Alex est ravi de se joindre à l’équipe d’investissement de Front Row Ventures pour investir dans les extraordinaires étudiants fondateurs du Canada.
Jaclyn Chan
ON Investissement Associée
2021-
Université de Waterloo
ON Investissement Associée
2021-
Université de Waterloo
Jaclyn Chan
Jaclyn Chan est étudiante en informatique et finance à l’Université de Waterloo. Elle a récemment travaillé chez Coinbase au sein de l’équipe Wallet en tant que stagiaire ingénieur logiciel. Elle a déjà effectué des stages coopératifs en génie logiciel Blockchain chez Curvegrid, en capital quantitatif chez CPP Investments et en ingénierie robotique chez nuTonomy. Jaclyn est passionnée par l’augmentation de la diversité et la création d’un accès équitable aux opportunités dans les domaines de l’éducation, de la finance et de la santé. Elle adore voyager dans différentes villes pour participer à des hackathons.
Outre la technologie et la finance, Jaclyn trouve également le temps d’équilibrer ses passions artistiques en danse, musique et théâtre. Elle faisait partie de l’équipe de cheerleading de l’UW, dans une équipe compétitive a cappella et de l’équipe de performance hip hop de l’UW à l’époque où les choses se déroulaient en personne sur le campus. Ayant grandi à Singapour et à Hong Kong, Jaclyn aime se connecter et apprendre de personnes d’horizons divers. Jaclyn est ravie d’apporter sa passion pour combler le fossé de la diversité dans l’entrepreneuriat et le capital-risque à l’équipe d’investissement de Front Row Ventures.
Richard Waines
ON Investissement Associé
2021-
Université York
ON Investissement Associé
2021-
Université York
Richard Waines
Richard est un étudiant senior à la Schulich School of Business. Il est passionné par la dynamique d’équipe et par la façon dont les principes de leadership simples peuvent avoir un impact important. Cet intérêt s’est développé tout au long de son expérience dans la réserve d’infanterie, où il est commandant en second de section aéroportée. Ses expériences de travail chez EY Private et en conseil à BDC ont toutes été guidées par sa passion pour l’entrepreneur. Il est très curieux de l’innovation dans les secteurs des technologies de la santé, des technologies propres et des technologies agricoles.
En dehors du bureau, on le retrouve à l’extérieur : plongée, alpinisme, canoë, escalade et organisation d’expéditions de groupe plus longues. Il se prépare maintenant pour un sommet du mont Shasta et du mont Robson.
Alexandre Stein
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Université de Montréal
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Université de Montréal
Alexandre Stein
Alexandre est un étudiant en Sciences Économiques à l’Université de Montréal. Il a une passion pour les idées ingénieuses qui ont le potentiel de révolutionner diverses industries et d’aider les entrepreneurs à construire des entreprises prospères ayant un impact significatif sur la société. Alexandre a très hâte d’en apprendre plus sur comment transformer une grande idée ambitieuse en succès d’affaires et est très excité d’être dans une position pour aider des entrepreneurs à laisser leurs marques sur l’écosystème.
Menant à FRV, alexandre a développé une curiosité pour l’entrepreneuriat par ses expériences de travailles et en fraternisant avec des individus qui partageaient le même esprit entrepreneurial. Pendant son temps chez Stikeman Elliott, Alexandre est venu en contact pour la première fois avec Startupfest et il est instantanément tombé en amour avec l’énergie, la curiosité et la stimulation intellectuelle que l’écosystème émet. Depuis ce temps, il cherche activement à faire son chemin dans l’écosystème en agissant en tant que Trésorier de UdeM Entreprend, un comité étudiant cherchant à promouvoir l’entrepreneuriat et à offrir des ressources aux entrepreneurs sur le campus de l’UdeM.
Chez FRV, Alexandre espère aider l’écosystème Canadien en supportant les entrepreneurs et en étant un ambassadeur au sein de son université.
Dans son temps libre, Alexandre adore faire de la planche à neige, jouer au golf et au tennis, courir, cuisiner et passer du temps de qualité avec ses amis et sa famille.
Brian Spivak
QC Associé en investissement
2021-
Université McGill
QC Associé en investissement
2021-
Université McGill
Brian Spivak
Brian étudie la gestion des investissements à l’Université McGill. Il est ravi de combiner sa passion pour les start-ups, la technologie, et l’impact social pour aider les étudiants entrepreneurs à transformer leurs idées en entreprises florissantes.
Avant de se joindre à FRV, Brian a bâti son expérience en investissement comme membre du Desautels Capital Management, où il faisait partie du secteur TMT. L’intérêt de Brian pour les start-ups provient de concours de cas comme le concours international de McGill et le Retail Innovation Challenge, où il a pu travailler avec deux start-up à Montréal. Choqué par l’enthousiasme des fondateurs, il s’est passionné pour les start-ups.
Hors du travail, Brian adore jouer au basketball et aux sports de raquette, cuisiner, et écouter de la nouvelle musique et des podcasts intéressants.
Marc Jeanne-Julien
QC Associé en investissement
2021-
HEC Montréal
QC Associé en investissement
2021-
HEC Montréal
Marc Jeanne-Julien
Marc est membre de l’équipe d’investissement de Front Row Ventures. Étudiant à HEC Montréal, il se spécialise en intelligence d’affaires.
Passionné par la technologie et l’innovation, Marc est motivé par son envie d’avoir un impact positif au sein de l’écosystème d’affaires canadien en aidant des étudiants ambitieux à résoudre des problèmes avec leur startup. En tant que co-fondateur de Kernel, une startup en fintech, Marc connaît certains des défis rencontrés par les étudiants entrepreneurs et a à cœur de partager ses connaissances pour aider d’autres étudiants à innover.
Curieux et toujours désireux d’apprendre, Marc travaille constamment afin d’avoir une compréhension plus précise de l’écosystème technologique en l’approchant toujours depuis différents angles. Ses expériences à Scale AI et en tant que bénévole au Creative Destruction Lab à Montréal, lui permettent d’acquérir des connaissances clés qui sont cruciales pour créer de la valeur lors des projets dans lesquels il s’implique à FRV.
À HEC, il s’implique dans plusieurs associations et a notamment organisé plusieurs compétitions et événements . Plus récemment, il a écrit la série Entre-preneurs après avoir rencontré 29 entrepreneurs afin de partager leur parcours et philosophie à la communauté étudiante.
Marc pratique la batterie depuis plus de 10 ans et est passionné de musique. Il est toujours ouvert à des recommandations de playlists !
Jason Wang
QC Associé en investissement
2021-
Université McGill
QC Associé en investissement
2021-
Université McGill
Jason Wang
Jason est un associé de l’équipe d’investissement à FRV et un étudiant de deuxième année spécialisé en finance et économie de l’Université McGill. Il est ravi de créer un impact pour l’équipe FRV, d’en savoir plus sur l’investissement en capital de risque et de soutenir les étudiants fondateurs dans l’écosystème canadien du capital de risque.
Ayant grandi en Chine, vécu aux États-Unis, puis immigré au Canada, Jason a développé des perspectives multiculturelles et multinationales dans son éthique de travail et son caractère humain. Il regarde toujours au-delà de ses études et s’adapte à différentes idées. Avant FRV, il s’est passionné pour le VC et la blockchain grâce à un stage dans un VC basé à Shenzhen pour Web3 Investments. En travaillant chez TESLA, Jason a également développé des connaissances dans le domaine des véhicules électriques et de l’automobile en général. Combinant des cours complets et une expérience de travail variée, Jason entretient des curiosités à la fois théoriques et pratiques.
Sur le campus, Jason est impliqué dans un ensemble diversifié d’organisations. De la gestion de projets de conseil percutants au groupe TAMID, à la prise de contact avec des organisations pour JHKCBA, à l’organisation d’événements de remise en forme à Fit for a cause, il s’est investi dans un éventail d’opportunités d’apprentissage.
En dehors de l’école et du travail, vous pouvez trouver Jason écoutant de la musique électronique et organisant un concert de DJ avec ses amis. Jason aime également le basket-ball, jouer de la guitare, les voyages sur la route et manger beaucoup de Dim Sum.
Matthew Frances
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Université Concordia
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Université Concordia
Matthew Frances
Matthew est un étudiant en ingénierie de génie logiciel à l’Université Concordia à Montréal. Il est passionné par l’utilisation de la technologie afin de résoudre les problèmes quotidiens des individus. De plus, il adore aider les étudiants ambitieux à obtenir la formation adéquate ainsi que les ressources dont ils ont besoin pour promouvoir leurs idées.
Avant de se joindre à FRV, Matthew a cofondé et dirigé GCES, une association étudiante dont la mission est de développer la communauté entrepreneuriale à l’Université Concordia pour les étudiants en ingénierie et en informatique. Il a également travaillé dans des startups et des entreprises de grande taille dans le monde du web et mobile full stack, où il a appris les étapes de réalisation d’un produit du MVP à la production.
Chez FRV, il anticipe positivement mettre à disposition les meilleures ressources disponibles pour les étudiants entrepreneurs, et ce tout en continuant de développer la communauté entrepreneuriale au sein des universités.
Outre sa passion pour la mise en place de ses dernières idées technologiques, Matthew pratique plusieurs sports notamment le skateboard et la course à pied.
Pier-Luc Nadeau-Labadie
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Université McGill
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Université McGill
Pier-Luc Nadeau-Labadie
Pier-Luc étudie en innovation chirurgicale avec une spécialisation en entrepreneuriat à l’Université McGill. Il détient un baccalauréat en génie biomédical. Ce qui l’attire à Front Row Ventures (FRV) est l’opportunité d’aider les étudiants fondateurs à propulser leurs idées et à voir comment leur solution contribuerait à avoir un impact sur la vie de leurs utilisateurs potentiels.
Avant de se joindre à FRV, pendant ses études de premier cycle, Pier-Luc était fortement impliqué dans divers clubs et sociétés étudiantes, comme sa société de génie et en étant sur le CA du conseil de la compétition d’ingénierie de l’Ontario, lesquels avaient pour objectif d’améliorer l’expérience étudiante de ses pairs. Après avoir obtenu son diplôme, il a commencé un système d’amélioration chirurgicale pour un remplacement valvulaire cardiaque minimalement-invasif. Ayant aimé l’enthousiasme et le potentiel des fondateurs au sein de l’écosystème start-up, il savait que c’était dans cet écosystème qu’il voulait rester.
Désormais membre de l’équipe d’investissement de Front Row Ventures, Pier-Luc a hâte de trouver des étudiants fondateurs prometteurs et de les inciter à voir plus grand et à repousser les limites de leur idée, tout en motivant les étudiants à devenir entrepreneurs.
Lorsqu’il ne travaille pas, Pier-Luc joue au rugby, au hockey ou au tennis dépendant de la saison. Il est également un fan de lire un bon livre dans un parc ou dans un café local.
Thomas Leone
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Université McGill
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Université McGill
Thomas Leone
Thomas est membre de l’équipe d’investissement de Front Row Ventures. En tant qu’étudiant en économie, statistique et informatique à l’Université McGill, son amour pour la technologie et l’entrepreneuriat le poussent à contribuer au développement de l’écosystème technologique canadien.
Avant FRV, Thomas avait développé un intérêt pour le capital-risque grâce à ses études et ses expériences de stage. Il a une expérience de travail en tant que stagiaire en marketing des médias sociaux lors d’un événement de réseautage/collecte de fonds VC, ainsi qu’une expérience en tant que stagiaire en relations avec les investisseurs et en finance dans une startup en phase de démarrage. Sa charge de cours variée et son expérience reflètent son désir d’apprendre constamment et de manière équilibrée.
À McGill, Thomas est un membre actif de plusieurs organisations étudiantes sur le campus. Il a été vice-président des événements et des commandites pour la McGill Students’ Trading Society et est le fondateur/président de l’Association de golf de McGill.
En dehors de l’école et du travail, Thomas est un fervent skieur, golfeur, joueur de hockey intra-muros et fanatique de la NFL/NHL.
Thomas Molina
QC Associé en investissement
2021-
Université de Montréal
QC Associé en investissement
2021-
Université de Montréal
Thomas Molina
Thomas fait partie de l’Équipe d’Investissement de Front Row Venture (FRV). C’est au cours des années passées dans les laboratoires de recherches qu’il s’est rendu compte de l’importance des start-ups en recherche qui amènent de nouveaux outils et permettent ainsi des avancées drastiques et critiques en science. C’est dans le but de soutenir des entreprises visionnaires qu’il a rejoint FRV.
Avant de faire partie de la famille FRV, Thomas réalisait déjà quelques investissements, pour lui-même et de façon automne. Il a notamment investi dans une start-up spécialisée dans les énergies renouvelables et dans l’immobilier via une plateforme de crowdfunding lorsqu’il était en France. Mais ce qui l’a réellement amené à se lancer complètement dans ce domaine financier est le programme QcSE (Programme Québécois d’entrepreneuriat scientifique). Thomas travaille aussi à l’hôpital Sainte-Justine dans lequel il réalise des recherches sur une pathologie musculaire appelée la Dystrophie musculaire de Duchenne et cherche activement un traitement. C’est donc en combinant sa passion pour les investissements et la science qu’il a décidé de rejoindre FRV.
À l’Université de Montréal, Thomas assiste les professeurs de son programme dans leurs cours pour les étudiants de maîtrise. À l’hôpital, il fait partie du comité étudiant et participe activement à la vie du centre de recherche.
En dehors de l’environnement scolaire et professionnel, Thomas est adepte de sport, que ce soit à la télé ou tout simplement par leur pratique tels que le patinage, le cyclisme, la course ou encore le Breakdance.
Antoine Gonthier
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Unversité de Laval
QC Associé en Investissement
2021-
Unversité de Laval
Antoine Gonthier
Antoine est un membre de l’équipe d’investissement de Front Row Ventures, le premier fond de capital de risque géré entièrement par des étudiants. Antoine étudie présentement en finance à l’Université Laval. Il poursuit également un certificat en informatique pour améliorer ses compétences techniques. Antoine est passionné par l’innovation dans le domaine financier.
Dans le passé, Antoine a travaillé chez Petal, une compagnie de logiciels, en tant que stagiaire à la comptabilité. Être exposé au secteur de la technologie et de l’entreprenariat lui a apporté le désir d’aider la prochaine génération d’entrepreneurs. Il est aussi actuellement impliqué sur le campus de l’Université Laval avec le REPFUL en tant que VP Finances.
Dans ses temps libres, Antoine peut être retrouvé dans les sentiers forestiers à courir ou à se dépasser physiquement sur les parois d’escalade avec ses amis.
Tanishq Maheshwari
Associé au développement des affaires
2021-
Université de Waterloo
Associé au développement des affaires
2021-
Université de Waterloo
Tanishq Maheshwari
Tanishq est un étudiant de deuxième année en herbe qui poursuit un baccalauréat en informatique de l’Université de Waterloo et un baccalauréat en administration des affaires de l’Université Wilfrid Laurier. Plus récemment, il a travaillé en tant que développeur de logiciels chez Mappedin, une entreprise axée sur l’amélioration de l’accessibilité de l’intérieur grâce à des solutions de cartographie numérique. Dans le passé, il a eu l’opportunité de travailler dans une startup proposant des accords de partage des revenus pour améliorer le financement équitable de l’enseignement postsecondaire et a fondé une startup visant à éliminer les biais implicites des pratiques d’embauche dans l’industrie de la technologie.
Grâce à Front Row Ventures, Tanishq espère améliorer l’accessibilité et l’équité en augmentant les opportunités et le financement disponibles pour les étudiants fondateurs. En tant que membre de l’équipe des revenus, il est ravi de développer de nouvelles sources de revenus afin de faire évoluer Front Row Ventures pour investir dans un plus grand nombre de startups.
Alexandre Buisson
Associé de Contenu
2021–
Université McGill
Associé de Contenu
2021–
Université McGill
Alexandre Buisson
Alexandre (ou Alex) est un étudiant de troisième année en finance et analyse d’affaires à l’Université McGill.
Son intérêt pour le capital de risque a commencé à son arrivée à Montréal et a découvert sa passion pour la stratégie au fil de sa participation à de nombreux concours de cas. Aujourd’hui, Alex envisage de poursuivre une carrière dans le conseil, bien que cela puisse changer au fur et à mesure qu’il plonge davantage dans le terrier du capital-risque.
Alex pense qu’il vaut mieux passer son temps à l’université en rencontrant autant de personnes que possible – cette conviction a alimenté bon nombre de ses efforts universitaires, le poussant à s’impliquer et à jouer un rôle actif dans le gouvernement étudiant de sa faculté, la vie sociale du campus et les clubs locaux et organisations.
Pendant son temps libre, Alex aime rester occupé en travaillant comme créateur de contenu indépendant, réalisant principalement des vidéos et prenant des photos pour divers clients du monde entier (@alexoonnn sur instagram). Il aime aussi beaucoup écouter (et danser) de la musique, des voyages spontanés et des baignades matinales.
Leslie Ogilvie
Associée en Stratégie
2021-
Université de Guelph
Associée en Stratégie
2021-
Université de Guelph
Leslie Ogilvie
Leslie est associée en stratégie chez FRV. Elle détient un baccalauréat ès sciences en cinétique humaine et est actuellement candidate au doctorat de deuxième année en sciences de la santé humaine à l’Université de Guelph. Elle possède une vaste expérience dans plusieurs disciplines de recherche et ses travaux actuels portent sur les effets pathologiques du cancer de l’ovaire sur la fonction cardiaque. Les expériences de recherche de Leslie ont suscité son intérêt pour une meilleure compréhension de l’innovation et de la commercialisation dans le secteur des sciences de la vie. Leslie est passionnée par la communication scientifique et le développement de compétences professionnelles précieuses en dehors du laboratoire. Elle est ravie d’en savoir plus sur la culture des startups et l’écosystème technologique du Canada grâce à ses expériences avec FRV.
Pendant son temps libre, vous pouvez voir Leslie pagayer, jouer au volley-ball ou dévaler les pentes sur son snowboard.
Jenny Bicong Ge
Associée en Stratégie
2020-
Université Ryerson
Associée en Stratégie
2020-
Université Ryerson
Jenny Bicong Ge
L’expérience unique de Jenny mélange l’analyse des politiques, l’administration des affaires et la science universitaire. Après avoir mené des recherches dans des domaines aussi divers que le génie génétique des plantes, la physiologie animale et le changement climatique, Jenny a développé une passion pour la communication et l’éducation scientifiques. Depuis 2016, elle travaille à l’amélioration du système de santé de l’Ontario au ministère de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée et conseille les décideurs du secteur des sciences de la vie au ministère du Développement économique, de la Création d’emplois et du Commerce. Toujours curieuse de nouveaux domaines, Jenny participe à des hackathons depuis 2018 et adore parler d’innovation scientifique, de technologies numériques émergentes et d’entrepreneuriat. Jenny poursuit actuellement une maîtrise en politique publique et administration à l’Université Ryerson à Toronto. Elle détient également un baccalauréat spécialisé en biologie (mineure en études françaises) et un diplôme spécialisé en administration des affaires (HBA) de l’Université de Western Ontario à London, en Ontario.
Udichi Tomar
Associée en Stratégie
2021–
Université Wilfrid Laurier
Associée en Stratégie
2021–
Université Wilfrid Laurier
Udichi Tomar
Udichi est associé en stratégie chez FRV. Elle est actuellement en dernière année d’économie et de gestion financière à l’Université Wilfrid Laurier. Udichi a développé une grande passion pour la finance et l’entrepreneuriat, ce qui la pousse à contribuer au développement de l’écosystème canadien du CR.
Avant FVR, Udichi a exprimé son intérêt pour le capital-risque en suivant des cours d’entrepreneuriat, en s’impliquant auprès du Laurier Venture Capital Club et en étant analyste au Laurier Startup Fund. Ces expériences lui ont permis d’acquérir une certaine connaissance de l’industrie du capital-risque qu’elle est ravie d’utiliser pour contribuer à FRV et approfondir sa compréhension de l’industrie.
Dans son temps libre, Udichi aime dessiner, jouer au golf, jouer au basket avec des amis et essayer de nouveaux food trucks.
Amay Shenoy
Associé aux talents et opérations
2021-
Université de Western Ontario
Associé aux talents et opérations
2021-
Université de Western Ontario
Amay Shenoy
Amay est un étudiant de troisième année du programme d’Administration en Affaires de l’École d’Affaires Ivey. Il a travaillé dans divers secteurs et a effectué des stages dans le domaine du capital-investissement, de la banque d’investissement et dans une startup technologique.
Amay est passionné par l’entrepreneuriat et le capital-risque en raison de leur nature intrinsèquement instable. En travaillant aux côtés d’étudiants fondateurs dans le passé, il a développé un intérêt pour l’entrepreneuriat étudiant. Amay est impatient de soutenir la prochaine génération d’entrepreneurs canadiens grâce à son rôle chez Front Row Ventures.
Pendant son temps libre, Amay jongle, écoute des podcasts ou fait de longs voyages en voiture.
Amelia Vu
Associée aux Opérations
2021–
Université de Western Ontario
Associée aux Opérations
2021–
Université de Western Ontario
Amelia Vu
Amelia est étudiante en quatrième année de HBA à l’Ivey Business School. Au cours de ses deux premières années à l’Université Western, elle s’est spécialisée en modélisation financière.
L’exposition initiale d’Amelia à l’entrepreneuriat était dans sa première année d’université, en travaillant comme stagiaire en commerce et marketing à Western Heads East – une collaboration d’entreprise sociale entre Western University et leurs partenaires d’Afrique de l’Est.
L’été dernier, Amelia a effectué un stage chez Fintech Sandpit, une start-up fintech basée au Royaume-Uni qui aide les institutions financières à intensifier leurs efforts d’innovation. En tant qu’analyste Fintech, elle a mené des recherches sur divers secteurs verticaux de la fintech dans toutes les régions et a aidé à rechercher des opportunités de financement aux côtés du fondateur et du conseiller stratégique de l’entreprise. Là, elle a cultivé un intérêt pour l’espace fintech et a nourri sa curiosité pour l’écosystème canadien de la technologie et des start-ups – le facteur clé qui l’a conduite à FRV.
Dans son temps libre, Amelia aime lire, tenir un journal et explorer de nouvelles musiques. Quand il fait beau, on peut la trouver en train de faire du jogging tout en écoutant ses podcasts préférés.
Farhan Khan
Associé de Soutien Aux Fondateurs
2020-
Université York
Associé de Soutien Aux Fondateurs
2020-
Université York
Farhan Khan
Farhan est un étudiant de quatrième année à la Schulich School of Business de l’Université York, spécialisé en gestion stratégique et finance. Parallèlement aux affaires, il suit une mineure en philosophie. Au cours des dernières années, il a eu l’occasion de se renseigner sur une variété d’industries. Farhan a exécuté des plans de marketing expérientiel pour les CPG chez Diamond Marketing, analysé les services financiers et les sociétés minières chez PricewaterhouseCoopers, et évalue actuellement les cibles d’acquisition SaaS pour Constellation Software. À travers ces expériences, il a appris que sa passion pour la stratégie d’entreprise ne connaît pas de limites et n’a aucun parti pris. En capitalisant sur cela avec son intérêt de longue date pour la technologie et l’entrepreneuriat, il s’est retrouvé dans l’équipe de plate-forme de Front Row Venture. Farhan aide les sociétés du portefeuille de FRV à gérer leur entreprise en toute confiance et à atteindre leurs jalons les plus pertinents grâce à une variété de tactiques. En dehors de l’école et du travail, Farhan fait du bénévolat au Woburn Collegiate Institute en tant qu’entraîneur d’essais simulés et aime également construire des PC.
Adrian Yip
Associé en Stratégie
2021–
Université de Western Ontario
Associé en Stratégie
2021–
Université de Western Ontario
Adrian Yip
Adrian est un étudiant de troisième année du programme spécialisé en administration des affaires de l’Ivey Business School. L’été dernier, Adrian a effectué un stage chez Auxo Management où il a analysé différentes opportunités d’investissement privé, d’acquisition et d’expansion de sociétés de portefeuille. Pendant l’année scolaire, Adrian fait partie de Mustang Capital, un fonds spéculatif géré par des étudiants qui gère les capitaux levés en interne. Là, il est témoin de la force d’étudiants passionnés unis autour d’un objectif et a grandi pour apprécier la nature collaborative de ces initiatives dirigées par des étudiants similaires à FRV.
Dans son temps libre, Adrian aime pratiquer des tours de magie (tours de cartes/tour de passe-passe général), jouer aux échecs, réfléchir à de nouvelles recettes culinaires et discuter de sujets juridiques/politiques avec ses amis.
Abdullah (AJ) Jundi
QC Associé en investissement
2022-
Université Concordia
QC Associé en Investissement
2022-
Université Concordia
Abdullah (AJ) Jundi
AJ est un étudiant en comptabilité à l’Université Concordia à Montréal. AJ a développé une passion pour la technologie et pour aider les jeunes fondateurs à atteindre leurs objectifs entrepreneuriaux.
Avant Front Row Ventures, AJ faisait partie d’une association de conseil en gestion, à Concordia, offrant ses services pour aider les OBNL et les startups à surmonter les obstacles managériaux et opérationnels. Il a également eu l’occasion de faire un stage à la Banque de développement du Canada en tant qu’associé d’été, ainsi qu’un stage en fiscalité à CFLA. L’été prochain, AJ fera partie de l’équipe d’audit à PwC. En tant qu’associé en investissement chez Front Row Ventures, AJ cherche à construire un réseau solide de fondateurs passionnés et de professionnels.
En dehors du bureau, AJ pratique le jiu-jitsu brésilien et fait ses promenades quotidiennes en écoutant ses podcasts préférés. Il aime jouer au hockey, skier et passer du temps de qualité avec ses proches.
Alexandre Ouellet
QC Associé en investissement
2022-
Université Concordia
QC Associé en investissement
2022-
Université Concordia
Alexandre Ouellet
Alexandre est étudiant en finance à l’Université Concordia de Montréal. Il est passionné de finance, technologies émergentes, et de travailler avec des fondateurs.
Avant de rejoindre FRV, Alexandre a travaillé dans une start-up soutenue par Real Ventures en tant qu’analyste marketing où il a appris la dynamique du travail au sein d’une startup. Il a également travaillé comme analyste en investissement alternatif pour un ancien de Concordia basé à Londres. En tant qu’analyste d’investissement alternatif, Alex à analyzer des investissements d’équité prive et des projets de crypto-monnayent. Il est également impliqué à Concordia en tant qu’analyste de sécurités publiques.
Chez FRV, il a hate de se connecter avec les étudiants fondateurs et de les aider à développer leurs entreprises, des entreprises en démarrage aux entreprises mondiales qui changent la vie.
Rebecca Allan
ON Associée en investissement
2022-
Université de Toronto
ON Associée en investissement
2022-
Université de Toronto
Rebecca Allan
Rebecca est une étudiante en dernière année de doctorat en chimie à l’Université de Toronto. Ses précédentes fonctions de recherche à Cardiff et à l’Université d’Oxford l’ont préparée à une thèse axée sur la chimie médicinale, dans laquelle elle étudie de nouvelles thérapies pour les maladies rares et les cancers non traités. Elle est cofondatrice d’une start-up qui applique une plateforme unique pour développer des candidats précliniques pour des maladies rares non traitées. Rebecca espère continuer à contribuer à l’écosystème canadien des sciences de la vie par le biais du capital-risque et de la création.
En dehors du laboratoire, Rebecca aime faire du ski et de la voile, ainsi que s’impliquer dans les activités intra-muros de l’Université de Toronto. Elle aime les cafés indépendants et explorer de nouveaux endroits.
Rebecca a hâte de se joindre à l’équipe d’investissement de FRV pour soutenir les étudiants fondateurs inspirants.
Alex Plesa
ON Associé en investissement
2022-
Université d’Ottawa
ON Associé en investissement
2022-
Université d’Ottawa
Alex Plesa
Équipe d’investissement ON
2022-
Université d’Ottawa
Adam Levesque
Directeur des affaires juridiques
2022-
Université d’Ottawa
Directeur des affaires juridiques
2022-
Université d’Ottawa
Adam Levesque
Adam aime le sport et apprendre sur les dernières technologies révolutionnaires. Il aime découvrir de nouvelles entreprises qui s’efforcent de changer la façon dont nous vivons au quotidien. Adam est motivé et déterminé à réussir dans tout ce qu’il entreprend, que ce soit dans les sports ou dans la poursuite de ses objectifs professionnels.
Étudiant en commerce et en droit à l’Université d’Ottawa, sa curiosité l’a amené à s’impliquer dans plusieurs groupes et associations, ce qui lui a permis d’acquérir le sens de résolution de problèmes et du travail d’équipe.
Ayant côtoyé des entrepreneurs toute sa vie, il croit fermement en la mission de FRV, qui consiste à donner aux étudiants-entrepreneurs à travers le Canada les moyens de concrétiser leurs visions. Le désir de contribuer à façonner l’avenir l’a conduit à l’entrepreneuriat.
Ali Habib
Associé en support au portefeuille
2022-
Université Waterloo
Associé en support au portefeuille
2022-
Université Waterloo
Ali Habib
Start-up | Acteur | Réalisateur | Capital-risque | Capital privé | Comédie
Alex Sun
Associé aux talents et opérations
2022-
Université Queens
Associé aux talents et opérations
2022-
Université Queens
Alex Sun
Alex est un étudiant de troisième année en commerce à l’université Queens et est originaire de Vancouver. À Queen’s, Alex participe au club étudiant Queen’s Private Capital Group et au journal Queen’s Business Review.
Il soutient actuellement les relations avec les alumni aux sein de l’équipe FRV.
Dans son temps libre, vous pouvez trouver Alex profitant du plein air, prenant des photos et regardant la Formule 1.
Arthur de Vaublanc
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université du Québec à Montréal
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université du Québec à Montréal
Arthur de Vaublanc
Brenden Kumarasamy
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université Concordia
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université Concordia
Dan Cohen
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université McGill
Dan Cohen
Eliot Mathieu-Proteau
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université de Sherbrooke
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université de Sherbrooke
Eliot Mathieu-Proteau
Emily Yau
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
Western University
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
Western University
Emily Yau
Eva Terriault
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Polytechnique Montréal
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Polytechnique Montréal
Guillaume Chabot
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
HEC Montréal
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
HEC Montréal
Guillaume Chabot
Ian Johnson
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Wilfrid Laurier University
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Wilfrid Laurier University
Ian Johnson
Ian MacPherson
Directeur en Investissement
2019-
Université Ryerson
Associé en Investissement
2019-
Université Ryerson
Ian MacPherson
Iftekhar Iqbal
Associé Communautaire
2018-2019
Université Concordia
Associé Communautaire
2018-2019
Université Concordia
Iftekhar Iqbal
Jack Morris
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université McGill
Jack Morris
James Quiambao
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
University of Waterloo
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
University of Waterloo
James Quiambao
Janna Agustin
Associé Communautaire
2018-2020
Université McGill
Associé Communautaire
2018-2020
Université McGill
Janna Agustin
Jazna Rossi
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université Concordia
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université Concordia
Jazna Rossi
Joyce Shi
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
University of Waterloo
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
University of Waterloo
Joyce Shi
Kat Svikhnushin
Directeur Communautaire
2017-2018
Université McGill
Directeur Communautaire
2017-2018
Université McGill
Kat Svikhnushin
Laura Connolly
Associé en Investissement
2019-
Queen’s University
Associé en Investissement
2019-
Queen’s University
Laura Connolly
Liat Fainman-Adelman
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Liat Fainman-Adelman
Loic Souetre
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
HEC Montréal
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
HEC Montréal
Loic Souetre
Lucas Sekkat
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université Concordia
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université Concordia
Lucas Sekkat
Makoto Rheault-Kihara
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université McGill
Makoto Rheault-Kihara
Matthew Dickinson
Associé en Investissement
2018-2020
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2018-2020
Université McGill
Matthew Dickinson
Nazuk (Naz) Thakkar
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Nazuk (Naz) Thakkar
Nicolas (Nic) Theriault
Associé en Stratégie
2019-2021
Université Western
Associé en Stratégie
2019-2021
Université Western
Nicolas (Nic) Theriault
Peter Fojtu
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université McGill
Peter Fojtu
Qhalisa Khan
Associé en Investissement
2019-
University of Waterloo
Associé en Investissement
2019-
University of Waterloo
Qhalisa Khan
Rae Liu
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
University of Toronto
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
University of Toronto
Rae Liu
Renaud Dupont
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université de Sherbrooke
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université de Sherbrooke
Renaud Dupont
Sean Monteiro
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Sean Monteiro
Shiyan Boxer
Associé en Data
2019-2021
Université Queen’s
Associé en Data
2019-2021
Université Queen’s
Shiyan Boxer
Simon Chamarro
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université de Sherbrooke
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université de Sherbrooke
Simon Chamarro
Steve Joseph
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Brock University
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Brock University
Steve Joseph
Sunny Wang
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
Western University
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
Western University
Sunny Wang
Théo Fregefond
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS)
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS)
Théo Fregefond
Therence Bois
Directeur en Investissement
2017-2018
Université de Montréal
Directeur en Investissement
2017-2018
Université de Montréal
Therence Bois
Tim Beiko
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université Concordia
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
Université Concordia
Tim Beiko
Ulrike Wachter
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2018-2019
Université McGill
Ulrike Wachter
Victor Gardrinier
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
HEC Montréal
Associé en Investissement
2017-2018
HEC Montréal
Victor Gardrinier
Victor Prats Ladous
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université de Concordia
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université de Concordia
Victor Prats Ladous
Cam Rzadki
Directeur en Investissement
2018-2020
University of Toronto
Directeur en Investissement
2018-2020
University of Toronto
Cam Rzadki
Jason Cho
Directeur Communautaire
2019-2020
Western University
Directeur Communautaire
2019-2020
Western University
Jason Cho
Alexander (Alex) Banh
Associé en Investissement
2019-2021
Queen’s University
Associé en Investissement
2019-2021
Queen’s University
Alexander (Alex) Banh
Cole Bradley
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Ryerson University
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Ryerson University
Cole Bradley
Eric D’Souza
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
York University
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
York University
Eric D’Souza
Bosko Dzepina
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Université McGill
Bosko Dzepina
Dennis Zabeida
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
HEC Montréal
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
HEC Montréal
Dennis Zabeida
Elisha Krauss
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université McGill
Elisha Krauss
Etienne Lee
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
Université McGill
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
Université McGill
Etienne Lee
Kevin Bélanger
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université Laval
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université Laval
Kevin Bélanger
Maanav Sunderaraman
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2019–2020
Université McGill
Maanav Sunderaraman
Maher Akhtar
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Université McGill
Associé en Investissement
2019-2020
Université McGill
Maher Akhtar
Michaela Deneva
Directeur des Équipes d’Impactes
2019-2021
Université McGill
Directeur des Équipes d’Impactes
2019-2021
Université McGill
Michaela Deneva
Niv Turecki
Associé en Investissement
2019-2021
Université Concordia
Associé en Investissement
2019-2021
Université Concordia
Niv Turecki
Philippe Miller
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
Université McGill
Associé Communautaire
2019-2020
Université McGill
Philippe Miller
Eléonore Jarry Ferron
Cofondatrice @ Front Row Ventures
2017-
HEC Montréal
Cofondatrice @ Front Row Ventures
2016–
HEC Montréal
Éléonore Jarry Ferron
Titulaire d’un baccalauréat en comptabilité, Éléonore envisage une carrière en finance d’entreprise. Son été d’études en entrepreneuriat technologique à Stanford lui a fait choisir une voie totalement différente : le capital-risque.
Elle rejoint Pléiade Capital, club étudiant VC, et démarre un Master en Comptabilité Financière. Ses efforts combinés ont payé, Brightspark Ventures l’a débauchée chez EY moins d’un an plus tard.
Au service des entrepreneurs émergents, notre cerveau VC est également dédié aux femmes en technologie avec Technovation Montréal.
Matthew He
Directeur en Investissement
2019-2021
Université McGill
Directeur en Investissement
2019-2021
Université McGill
Matthew He
Matt est le directeur en investissements du Québec, et un senior à l’Université McGill où il poursuit un diplôme en microbiologie et immunologie et en informatique. Il est passionné par les gens, à la fois pour trouver les meilleurs fondateurs de startups et pour constituer l’équipe la plus solide de Front Row.
Avant FRV, il a co-fondé et dirigé Blockchain à McGill, une association à but non lucratif de 30 étudiants qui a apporté l’enseignement et la recherche de Blockchain à McGill. Il a été le premier associé au développement des entreprises de FounderFuel, où il a travaillé en étroite collaboration avec les jeunes pousses pour résoudre les problèmes et accélérer la croissance.
N’hésitez pas à lui tendre la main, les conversations autour d’un café sont toujours les bienvenues!
Subaita Rahman
Directeur de la Croissance
2021-2021
Université de Toronto
Directeur de la Croissance
2021-2021
Université de Toronto
Subaita Rahman
Subaita est une étudiante de troisième année en biologie du génome et immunologie à l’Université de Toronto. Elle est ravie de diriger l’équipe de croissance de cette année et d’aider à développer FRV. Les objectifs futurs de Subaita sont d’aider les gens à démarrer des entreprises de biotechnologie. Elle a des expériences antérieures en marketing pour l’entrepreneuriat de l’Université de Toronto, est actuellement boursière à la DMZ et a cofondé une communauté d’innovateurs en biotechnologie de premier cycle.
Swarit Dholakia
ON Investment Associé
2020–
Université de Western Ontario
ON Investment Associé
2020–
Université de Western Ontario
Swarit Dholakia
Swarit est un jeune nerd de la technologie et des startups de 19 ans en deuxième année d’études en génie logiciel à l’Université Western, intéressé par la résolution de problèmes importants qui ont un impact sur des milliards. Swarit était auparavant l’un des plus jeunes employés de la Banque TD, en tant que stagiaire en science des données travaillant dans les paiements ; est un ancien de The Knowledge Society, un accélérateur humain qui forme des adolescents à résoudre de gros problèmes, à travers lequel il a consulté sur l’engagement avec Walmart Canada et la Fondation Wealthsimple; et a travaillé avec diverses startups fintech de Toronto grâce à son implication dans le groupe de conseil Pro-Bono du Ivey Fintech Club. Chez Front Row Ventures, Swarit s’efforce de développer le flux de transactions et les talents provenant des campus canadiens tout en élevant la position de Front Row en tant que partenaire principal pour les startups étudiantes canadiennes. Swarit est un cycliste de compétition, un triathlète en progression et un passionné de beach-volley. Il aime lire, regarder des documentaires et des films d’action et partage ses réflexions par l’écriture, sur www.swarit.live.
Jennifer Zhang
ON Investment Associée
2020-2021
Université de Western Ontario
ON Investment Associée
2020-2021
Université de Western Ontario
Jennifer Zhang
Jennifer is a second year student at Western University studying Computer Science. She’s passionate about Jennifer est une étudiante de deuxième année à l’Université Western en informatique. Elle est passionnée par tout ce qui concerne les startups technologiques, la finance et l’impact social. Tout au long de ses études secondaires, elle s’est fortement impliquée dans des startups et en a lancé deux. Au cours de la dernière année, elle a travaillé sur AcornTalent, une plateforme de recrutement en science des données. Sur le campus, elle est directrice des événements au Western Artificial Intelligence Club et travaille sur un système de commande de camions de restauration à code QR avec son partenaire dans le cadre du programme d’accélération du W5 Club. Les expériences professionnelles passées de Jennifer consistent principalement en conseil en science des données dans des startups en science des données/IA. Elle espère entreprendre davantage de projets technologiques et en apprendre autant sur le capital-risque et la finance que possible. Dans son temps libre, elle aime lire, voyager, aller à des concerts de musique et faire de l’escrime.
Peter Zhang
Associé des Partenariats
2021–
Université McMaster
Associé des Partenariats
2021–
Université McMaster
Peter Zhang
Technicien, fin gourmet, tout le reste. Passionné par les technologies de rupture et la fintech.
Nicolas Bouvier
Associé au Développement des Affaires
2020-2021
Université McGill
Associé au Développement des Affaires
2020-2021
Université McGill
Nicolas Bouvier
Nicolas est membre de l’équipe de développement des affaires de Front Row Ventures, le premier fonds de capital-risque dirigé par des étudiants au Canada. Actuellement étudiant en génie des matériaux à l’Université McGill, il est motivé par la technologie, avec un vif intérêt pour la résolution de problèmes créatifs et innovants.
Ayant vécu dans cinq pays différents au cours des 20 dernières années, Nicolas chérit les environnements éclectiques. Son travail chez « Marbré », une organisation étudiante à Montréal spécialisée dans la logistique d’événements musicaux, a démontré sa capacité à coordonner des équipes diversifiées tout en produisant continuellement des résultats.
Avant FRV, il a développé son esprit d’entreprise chez ‘Devialet’, une start-up française spécialisée dans les enceintes haut de gamme. Ce stage dans l’écosystème startup parisien a conduit Nicolas à assumer des rôles plus entrepreneuriaux à Montréal comme celui de directeur financier de « Marbré ».
Lorsque Nicolas n’est pas au travail ou à l’université, vous pouvez le trouver en train de produire sa dernière chanson ou de jouer au tennis avec ses amis et sa famille.
Aman Mathur
Investment Associate
2020-2021
University of Waterloo
Investment Associate
2020-2021
University of Waterloo
Aman Mathur
Aman is a Systems Design Engineering student at the University of Waterloo with a background in front-end development, product design, and product management across multiple industries. At Waterloo, Aman has also helped organize Hack the North, Canada’s biggest hackathon.
He recently completed an internship at Cognite, an industrial digitalization startup in Oslo. Currently, he is a PM intern at Autodesk helping ship products in the construction tech industry. In the past, he has also been a part of the Toronto startup ecosystem at Senso.AI and Polar. Aman has had a chance to work at companies of many scales and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to build successful products.
In his free time, Aman enjoys playing basketball, practicing mindfulness, and reading about the latest product trends. Aman is excited to be a part of the Front Row Ventures team and help grow the Canadian student tech ecosystem.
Chloe Hung
Business Development Associate
2020-2021
Queen’s University
Business Development Associate
2020-2021
Queen’s University
Chloe Hung
Chloe is entering her third year at Queen’s University and pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the Smith School of Business. Chloe is motivated to amplify solutions that tackle complex problems in an impactful way. After interning at a tech startup last summer, Chloe was inspired to build her computing skills and join Canada’s first student-run AI incubator, inQUbate. This summer, Chloe is interning at Good & Well, and impact investment firm.
Chloe is eager to continue exploring student entrepreneurship and venture capital at FRV. In her spare time, you can find Chloe taking photos of people and life, drinking a cup of coffee, or jogging in the neighbourhood.
Claire Sun
Marketing Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Marketing Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Claire Sun
Claire is a member of the Marketing Team at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. She studies Economics and Mathematics at McGill. With passion in areas related to digital marketing and venture capital, she has been keen to explore and implement creative strategies to grow and manage personal and professional brands.
Prior to FRV, she has worked as VP Marketing for Global China Connection, a nonprofit organization that connects future leaders from all nations and assists them in developing skills and friendships necessary to succeed both in China and internationally, where she gained first-hand experience in content creation and brand management.
Meanwhile, she also pays great attention to economic inequalities and international development and has been eager to bring new technology that can help with solving these issues.
Ece Ozer
Partnerships Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Partnerships Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Ece Ozer
Ece is a member of the Partnerships Team at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. She studies Economics and Political Science at McGill University and is passionate about creating and building new communities.
Having worked in a tech start-up, Ece recognizes that a strong team is the baseline of every innovative product’s success. With this in mind, she focused on community-building and networking throughout her undergrad. This inspired her to initiate McGill’s first public-speaking club, Speak to Lead, through which she has helped numerous students develop their public speaking and leadership skills.
Prior to FRV, she worked as a Student Brand Ambassador for the multinational test company, Kaplan Test Prep, where she still helps students access free resources and provides guidance on graduate school applications.
When she’s not working, you can find Ece running at the park or watching “The Office” over and over again.
Emily Stotland
Investment Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Investment Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Emily Stotland
Emily is an engineering student at McGill University and a current member of the Investment Team at Front Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund.
Emily’s experiences range from healthcare research and engineering design, to working in trading and consulting. Emily is specifically passionate about the interdisciplinary nature of venture capital, and how an investment thesis can be catered to provide social impact and financial return simultaneously.
At McGill, Emily is actively involved on campus as TA to several math courses and in clubs such as NOBE and EIG which aim to bridge the gap between the worlds of engineering and business. In her spare time, Emily can be found at the dance studio training with her team or playing volleyball!
Evan Dimentberg
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Laval University
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Laval University
Evan Dimentberg
Evan is a member of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. He is a medical student at Laval university in Quebec City and pursuing an entrepreneurship profile. Evan is passionate about innovation, especially in the health care sector.
Evan worked as a private tutor, swim instructor and lifeguard throughout cegep, before joining FRV. He also has experience working in an ambulance as an EMT in Tel Aviv, Israel. Evan spent several years volunteering at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Montreal and leading campaigns for the Movember foundation. His passion for innovation stems from his time working in the McGill Musculoskeletal Lab where he was exposed to the up and coming field of medical technology research.
In his spare time, Evan can be found on the slopes, on the ice, or at the gym with some friends.
Harsh Shah
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Western University
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Western University
Harsh Shah
Harsh is a 4th year HBA student at the Ivey Business School. In his first two years at Western University he studied Medical Science.
Harsh first became involved in business in his first year at Western, spending 8 months competing in The Hult Prize. There he leveraged novel metal extraction technologies to design a social enterprise that would alleviate devastating health risks and the poverty of informal sector workers in the electronic waste recycling industry.
Most recently, Harsh has completed an internship at Barclays as an investment banking summer analyst. Prior to that, Harsh worked as a venture capital summer analyst at Trellis Capital, where he evaluated dozens of companies and worked with founders. Here he developed his passion for startups, tech-enabled and technology businesses, and investing.
In his spare time, Harsh can be found playing poker, reading books on psychology, and binge watching tv shows.
Irene Zhu
Data Associate
2020-2021
Western University
Data Associate
2020-2021
Western University
Irene Zhu
Irene is entering her fifth year doing a double degree at Western Integrated Sciences with Biology, and Nutrition & Dietetics. She has previously worked for a variety of non-profits and conducted research in biomedical engineering, materials chemistry, and completed her thesis on classification of genomic signatures using Machine Learning with Digital Signal Processing.
Having learned about the disadvantages of the Canadian market (as opposed to the US) by working on a Canadian medical device project, Irene is motivated and excited to support and grow the Canadian start-up ecosystem, starting at the student level with FRV.
Jalena Lee
Operations Associate
2020-2021
Carleton University
Operations Associate
2020-2021
Carleton University
Jalena Lee
Jalena is a rising sophomore at Carleton University pursuing an undergraduate degree in computer science. As an advocate for increased diversity and inclusion in the tech space, she has been involved in various initiatives to create opportunities and access for marginalized groups.
She’s currently at Shopify building the infrastructure to support merchants as a Software Engineering Intern. By interacting with entrepreneurs everyday and having been a founder herself, Jalena is no stranger to the challenges that founders face. Through Front Row Ventures, she hopes to energize and empower founders to create the change that they’re passionate about!
In Jalena’s free time, she enjoys impulsive trips, exploring hidden food gems, and dragon boating.
Jane Huang
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Western University
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Western University
Jane Huang
Jane is a third year law student at the University of Western Ontario.
She completed her Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto in 2018. Jane has developed a growing interdisciplinary skill-set and network through her work experiences in technical support, business administration, health policy research, and law. Over the years, she has participated in a variety of legal advocacy competitions and has advised student founders on IP strategy through Ivey Business School’s New Venture Project. She will be completing her articles at Miller Thomson LLP Toronto in 2021. Outside of law school, Jane is learning Python and won her first hackathon with her team’s skin cancer detection app this January at SheHacks IV. During her undergrad, Jane completed research and volunteer placements at The Hatchery, SickKids Hospital, and the UofT Joint Centre for Bioethics. Jane speaks Mandarin Chinese and French.
Jean-Philippe Delisle
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Laval University
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Laval University
Jean-Philippe Delisle
Jotham Chow
Platform Associate
2020-2021
University of Waterloo
Platform Associate
2020-2021
University of Waterloo
Jotham Chow
Jotham is in his last year of Biomedical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He has previously worked at RBC Ventures and iGan Partners in developing new digital products, investment strategy and deal sourcing. Jotham has also previously researched and designed medical devices and developed intelligent pain assessment systems at several medical device companies and hospitals. He has also competed at nationals for fencing, is an avid dragon boater and bakes in his free time.
Katherine Gotovsky
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Wilfrid Laurier University & University of Waterloo
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Wilfrid Laurier University & University of Waterloo
Katherine Gotovsky
Katherine is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Most recently, Katherine worked as a product manager at Caresplit – a VC-backed startup – to bring their MVP to launch. Prior to her role there, she worked as a management consultant at KPMG, where she led a digital transformation project for a large government client, and as a software engineering intern at Canada’s largest bank.
Katherine is passionate about femtech. Recognizing the lack of technological innovations in femtech, she conceived of and built Aphea, an app that empowers women with specialized health insights. In her free time, she also launched an incubator program for aspiring developers, designers, and product managers who had lost jobs due to covid-19; the program has launched three successful tech products to date.
Katherine is excited to bring her passion for entrepreneurship & venture capital to the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures, and to invest in extraordinary student founders.
Kevin Wu
Investment Associate
2020-2021
York University
Investment Associate
2020-2021
York University
Kevin Wu
Kevin Wu is a fourth year student studying at the Schulich School of Business. He is passionate about the intersection of technology and social change, which he’s explored through his experiences at Paddle HR, McKinsey, and Flo. At Paddle HR and McKinsey, Kevin was immersed in creating solutions for “the Future of Work” and at Flo, he worked to improve access to essential goods for rural communities.
Manan Madhok
Investment Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Investment Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Manan Madhok
Manan is a Pharmacology and Computer Science student at McGill who has the desire to capitalize on that skillset and support founders with their entrepreneurial endeavours.
Starting out as a through and through “science geek”, his original passion was to go into research, however upon getting a taste of it he realised his core mindset was around translating that research into business opportunities. In this era of technology he picked up a computer science minor to develop his appreciation for this field and support his goals.
Prior to FRV, he gained an understanding of the startup ecosystem through his involvement with the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, he built on this knowledge with hands-on experience at one of FRVs very own portfolio companies, InVivo AI.
When he’s not immersing himself in the startup ecosystem, Manan can be found on the soccer field or with a guitar in hand.
Olivier Beaulac
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Université de Sherbrooke
Investment Associate
2020-2021
Université de Sherbrooke
Olivier Beaulac
Olivier holds a DEC in mechanical engineering and is currently studying administration, business technology management and entrepreneurship.
With a relentless entrepreneurial spirit, Olivier has always been involved in many projects. Among other things, from a very young age he began to manage clients with his neighbourhood business, which endures to this day. Also, during the past year, he co-founded, along with 4 other colleagues, a technology start-up, Devocean. With this rich experience, Olivier developed a solution-mode thinking, as well as a strong work ethic.
Now part of the Front Row Ventures investment team, he wants to help, to the best of his knowledge, every entrepreneurial spirit he has the chance to work with.
Moreover, when he doesn’t talk about entrepreneurship, you can find him in the winter skiing or snowshoeing or in the summer biking & hiking.
Robert Saad
Content Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Content Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Robert Saad
Robert is a member of the Content Team at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. He is a Mathematics and Management student at McGill University and aspires to use his capacities in problem solving and passion for the tech and startup worlds as means to develop strategies that will bring value and support to society.
Coming from a diverse cultural background, Robert developed a strong desire to help people of his community. He started by founding a non-profit organization, the Interact Club of Guadeloupe, where he improved his leadership skills as a president.
Prior to FRV, he expanded his knowledge of the Montreal startup ecosystem by being an active member of the McGill Dobson Center for Entrepreneurship, the center of entrepreneurial activities at McGill University.
When Robert is not working, you can find him reading a book, playing team sports, or playing drums.
Sean McNally
Investment Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Investment Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Sean McNally
Sean is finance student at McGill University and a current member of the Investment Team at Front Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund.
Sean’s experiences range from financial literacy and journalism, to working in investment banking and private equity. He is passionate about the opportunity venture capital has to build out a better Canada.
At McGill, Sean is actively involved on campus as the Director of Internal Affairs with the McGill Investment Club and working on stock pitches as part of the Honours in Investment Management program.
In his spare time, Sean can be found running or listening to podcasts.
Jaya Bonelli
QC Investment Associate
2020-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2020-
McGill University
Jaya Bonelli
Jaya is part of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures. She studies Math, Philosophy and Computer Science at McGill University, and is super interested in allying entrepreneurship and ethics, startups and social good.
She originally thought she’d later go into research, either in Math or AI. But she soon realized that what she wanted to help breed innovation at a larger scale, and in a more radical and direct way. That’s why she turned towards entrepreneurship and the startup world, and after interning at a venture capital firm in Paris over the summer, she decided to join FRV’s investment team in March 2020. It’s atypical ways of thinking that draw her in, and she really likes startups that demonstrate out-of-the-box creativity.
Otherwise, in her free time, Jaya enjoys anything art/cinema/music-related, bouldering, going on adventures in Montreal, and sipping sangria on terraces!
Minalou Kunze–Roelens
QC Investment Associate
2020-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2020-
McGill University
Minalou Kunze–Roelens
Minalou is an Investment Team Associate at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. As a Managing for Sustainability, Finance and Data Analytics undergraduate student at McGill, she is committed to driving innovation forward, pushing industry boundaries and challenging the status quo.
Eternally curious and hungry for new experiences, Minalou took two gap years before starting her undergraduate degree, working and studying in the Dominican Republic and China. Today, she feeds that same curiosity through her involvement at the student level, working on enabling diverse student initiatives, and surrounding herself with creative, ambitious minds. Combined with her time spent at fintech start-up, Moka, and interest in Impact Investing, her interest in the VC world grew, driving her to join the Front Row Ventures team.
In her free time, Minalou can be found scavenging Montreal to uncover its best secrets, in the form of art galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Saud Pirzadah
Director of Business Development Team
2020-2022
McGill University
Director of Business Development Team
2020-
McGill University
Saud Pirzadah
Saud is a member of the Business Development Team at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. Currently studying Economics at McGill University, he’s passionate about people, strategy, and innovative tech.
Coming from a diverse background, Saud has lived all around the world and has a desire to help build the community around him. Having worked at two startups, he finds great joy in taking on the challenges that arise from fast-paced environments. This passion for innovation and business is also emphasized in his work as Senior Consultant at McGill Design Consultancy, and Vice President at McGill’s Speak to Lead.
Prior to FRV, Saud has worked in strategy roles ranging from investor and business development at an augmented reality startup, to overseeing the Montreal expansion for 1st Gen – a record label.
When he’s not working, you can find Saud rooting for his favorite basketball team and listening to podcasts.
Thierry Kirouac-Marcassa
QC Investment Associate
2020-
ESG UQAM
QC Investment Associate
2020-
ESG UQAM
Thierry Kirouac-Marcassa
Thierry is pursuing a bachelor degree in accounting at ESG UQAM. He is passionate about technology, startup and venture capital. He was part of the national cycling team for two years and raced internationally at a high level. He competed at the world championships in Qatar and Pan American championships in Mexico. Been part of this environment helped him develop team spirit skills and a highly competitive mindset.
As part of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures, his goal is to help entrepreneurs students to grow their businesses. He believes in the mission of FRV which is to find and support student entrepreneurs. He also wants to grow the startup culture on campus. In his free time you can find Thierry on his bike or at a tech event.
Tianshi Yuan
Content Associate
2020-
McGill University
Content Associate
2020-
McGill University
Tianshi Yuan
Tianshi is a member of the Content Team at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. He currently studies Finance at McGill. While at McGill, he wants to explore the different channels that can bring value and impact to society.
Tianshi has a passion for entrepreneurship and social media. He started an Instagram page called @lurescout to learn the ins and outs of optimizing Instagram. He experimented with three different streams of automation and has practiced optimizing posts for more reach and engagement.
Furthermore, Tianshi values being proactive and involved on campus. He believes that students should learn equally as much outside the classroom as they do within.
When he is not working on social media, outreach or getting involved, you can find him at the gym, fishing, or reading a book.
Sanskriti Akhoury
Data Associate: Webmaster
2024-
University of Waterloo
Data Associate: Webmaster
2024-
University of Waterloo
Sanskriti Akhoury
As a dynamic and innovative individual with a passion for technology and entrepreneurship, I thrive on bringing creative ideas to life through strategic planning and execution. My journey in the tech industry has been marked by a diverse skill set and a commitment to pushing boundaries.
With a solid foundation in software engineering, bolstered by certifications in Agile methodologies and SQL, I have honed expertise across an array of programming languages and development tools. From JAVA to Python, React to MongoDB, I embrace the versatility required to tackle any project with finesse.
My entrepreneurial spirit found expression through co-founding ventures like InLoop and Under the Toque, where I played a pivotal role in crafting digital solutions that garnered both recognition and revenue. Whether spearheading the development of a gaming platform promoting news literacy or orchestrating the creation of an online resource for immigrants, I excel in leading multidisciplinary teams and driving projects from conception to fruition.
As I continue to pursue my studies in Software Engineering at the University of Waterloo, I am excited to embark on new challenges, expand my horizons, and contribute to the advancement of technology and innovation.
Fun fact: I’m a competitive vocalist and was on American Idol S6
Abderraouf Nechadi
Investment Associate
2023-
Polytechnique
Abhi Ravipati
Investment Associate
2023-
Western University
Fedwin Chatelier
Director of Data & Product
2024-
Polytechnique Montréal
Director of Data & Product
2024-
Polytechnique Montréal
Fedwin Chatelier
Fedwin is a software engineering graduate from Polytechnique Montréal, currently pursuing a master’s degree in engineering with a focus on applied AI. With a robust background in both academia and industry, Fedwin has demonstrated exceptional expertise and versatility.
During their tenure as a software advisor at PolyFinances, Fedwin worked on innovative projects that applied engineering principles to finance. They were responsible for conducting market and firm analysis within the technology sector for the investment portfolio, showcasing their analytical acumen and strategic thinking.
In academia, Fedwin has made significant contributions as a teaching assistant for multiple courses, where they have taught and mentored over 200 students. This role honed their skills in communication, planning, and fostering an unbiased, fact-driven approach to problem-solving.
Fedwin’s interests lie at the intersection of AI, human factors engineering, and finance. This diverse interest spectrum has led them to join FRV as Director of Data/Product, where they are actively exploring the startup ecosystem. Fedwin aspires to leverage this experience to build their own startup and make impactful contributions to the financial sector, particularly in venture capital.
Through these experiences, Fedwin continues to expand their knowledge and skills, aiming to drive innovation and excellence in their future endeavors.
Anjali Dhaliwal
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
Simon Fraser University
Star Lewis
Legal Associate
2023-
Queen’s University
Legal Associate
2023-
Queen’s University
Star Lewis
Star is a Juris Doctor candidate at Queen’s University with a passion for innovation, strategic thinking and creating positive change.
Through various outreach initiatives and volunteering efforts, Star actively contributes to empowering youth. Committed to her community impact, she serves on the Board of Directors for Tropicana Community Services Organization, the Youth Advisory Committee at the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, and Junior Achievements Canada.
Driven by a deep enthusiasm for both law and business, she holds the position of Vice President at the Queen’s Venture Law Society, while also being an active member of the law school’s Alumni Committee.
As a lifelong learner, Star joined Front Row Ventures as a Legal associate to gain insights into various aspects of entrepreneurship and the start-up ecosystem. She is also a 2023 Venture For Canada Fellow.
Joyce Li
Ontario Investment Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Ontario Investment Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Joyce Li
Hi! I am a first-year student at the University of Toronto interested in forging networks with business professionals and creatives! I focus primarily on podcast creation and design (check out Liberate Business). I’m always looking for opportunities to help others and develop my project management skills. Thanks for taking the time to learn about me! Spread positivitea! (coffee works too 🙂
Tasmia Abbas
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
McGill University
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
McGill University
Tasmia Abbas
Tasmia is a fourth-year student at McGill University studying finance and organizational behaviour. In her first year, she interned with several social impact startups, in M&A, and the venture capital arm of a family office. The following summer she interned with a subsidiary of Constellation Software and went on exchange to Israel to compare the Canadian and Israeli startup ecosystems. She previously interned with BDC and White Star Capital’s venture capital teams, and is currently working at a WSC portfolio company called Carbon6, where she supports the M&A function.
Outside of work, Tasmia is involved with impact-oriented organizations. When she was 17, she founded LeadersFluent, an organization dedicated to aiding current or prospective Canadian business students excel academically and professionally. The following year, she founded Cultivaze Consulting, a pro bono consulting non-profit organization focused on helping startups in the social impact space better target and understand Generation Z consumers.
In her free time, you can find her at a pilates studio, thrift shopping, or trying new restaurants.
Jasmine Gao
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
Queen’s University
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
Queen’s University
Jasmine Gao
Jasmine Gao is entering the third year of her Bachelor’s in Commerce at Queen’s University. She helps lead the school’s flagship technology product incubator and student entrepreneurship think tank. Last year, she was a member of Front Row Venture’s Ontario Investment team — she’s excited to be transitioning to the fund’s Portfolio Support team this year.
Sunghoon Kim
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
Queen’s University
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
Queen’s University
Sunghoon Kim
Sunghoon is a 4th year Commerce major at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business. He is currently completing a summer internship as an Associate Consultant for Curinos, a NYC-based consultancy providing advisory for leading financial institutions. Sunghoon has experience making impact in strategy-based roles, most notably at Tesla’s New Markets team in San Francisco and Deloitte Consulting in Toronto.
Sunghoon co-founded a startup in the summer out of high school that he scaled to five-figure revenue, which led to his passion for innovation, social impact, and entrepenuership. Sunghoon hopes to satisfy his interests in the startup sphere and associated investments through working with both founders and the investment team at Front Row.
Sunghoon enjoys cooking Korean cuisine, taking photos around Toronto, and playing basketball in his free time.
Daniel Zhang
Portfolio Support Associate
2024-
University of Waterloo
Portfolio Support Associate
2024-
University of Waterloo
Daniel Zhang
Daniel is a second year student at the University of Waterloo pursuing a degree in Financial Analysis and Risk management. He has a strong passion for the world of startups and is driven by the impact that can be made through tech as well as the thriving community.
In addition to Front Row Ventures, Daniel runs a startup called Jobby that works with industry leaders to turn them into thought leaders. He has had the pleasure of producing videos for the President of Volkswagen, CMO of Calendly, and CEO of HP. Through working on startups like Jobby, Daniel has developed a broad skill set with experience in management, sales, strategic consulting, software automation, and hiring.
Outside of his studies and ventures, Daniel spends his free time going to the gym, rock climbing, and reading books on topics like psychology, business, and philosophy. He hopes to deepen his immersion in the VC ecosystem and continue meeting like-minded, passionate entrepreneurs.
Cadence Kiss
QC Investment Associate
2023-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2023-
McGill University
Cadence Kiss
Cadence will be returning to the QC Investment Team at FRV for her second year. She is entering her fourth year at McGill University, where she studies Finance and Strategic Management. Cadence has experience in various strategy consulting and technology roles at SAP, PwC and BDO. She enjoys working in fast-paced team environments to solve complex problems.
For several years, Cadence raced and trained all around the world as a competitive ski racer. These experiences have fostered her love for travelling, hiking, and adventuring.
Alexander Schmidt
BC Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Alexander Schmidt
Alex brings deep venture capital expertise through his experiences at Front Row Ventures, PwC, and Active Impact Investments. He has led due diligence on numerous deals, including sourcing, pre-screening and analysing 1 of PwC Holdings’ 7 total portfolio companies (ONEKEY).
Outside of VC, Alex has worked as a Financial Analyst Intern at IBM, competed in numerous finance case competitions, founded a sustainability club and completed the Buildspace program. He enjoys running, weightlifting, Muay Thai boxing and cooking outside of his professional life.
Christina Chen
Director of Partnerships
2022-
Western University
Director of Partnerships
2022-
Western University
Christina Chen
Christina is a second-year student studying Management and Organisational Studies at Western University. Through her involvement in extra-curricular activities and internships, her interest in VC arose. As the point of contact for campus partnerships, Christina enjoys building the FRV network and sparking the interest of the new generation of student founders!
Abdullah (AJ) Jundi
QC Investment Associate
2022-
Concordia University
QC Investment Associate
2022-
McGill University
Abdullah (AJ) Jundi
AJ is an accounting student at Concordia University in Montréal. AJ has developed a passion for technology and helping young founders achieve their entrepreneurial goals.
Prior to Front Row Ventures, AJ was part of a management consulting association, at Concordia, offering its services to help NPOs and startups overcome managerial and operational obstacles. He’s also had the opportunity to intern at the Business Development Bank of Canada as a summer associate, and as a tax intern at CFLA. In the upcoming summer, AJ will be part of the Audit team at PwC. As an Investment Associate at Front Row Ventures, AJ looks to build a strong network of passionate founders and field professionals.
When outside of the office, AJ practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and takes his daily walks listening to his favorite go-to podcasts. He loves playing hockey, skiing, and spending quality time with his loved ones.
Adam Levesque
Director of Legal
2022-
University of Ottawa
Director of Legal
2022-
University of Ottawa
Adam Levesque
Adam loves sports and learning about the latest revolutionary technology. He enjoys learning about new companies that are working towards changing the way we live our everyday lives. Adam is motivated and determined to succeed in anything he takes part in, whether it be in sports or working towards his professional goals.
Studying Business and Law at the University of Ottawa, his curiosity has led him to be involved in several groups and associations, which has allowed him to acquire a sense of problem-solving and teamwork.
Being around entrepreneurs his whole life, he strongly believes in FRV’s mission to empower student-entrepreneurs across Canada to help make their visions become a reality. Wanting to help shape the future has led him to entrepreneurship.
Adrian Yip
Strategy Associate
2021-
Western University
Strategy Associate
2021-
Western University
Adrian Yip
Adrian is a third-year student in the Honors Business Administration program at the Ivey Business School. Last summer, Adrian completed an internship at Auxo Management where he analyzed different private investment, acquisition and portfolio company expansion opportunities. During the school year, Adrian is a part of Mustang Capital, a student-run hedge fund that manages internally raised capital. There, he witnesses the strength of passionate students united under a goal and has grown to enjoy the collaborative nature of these student-led initiatives similar to FRV.
In his free time, Adrian enjoys practising magic tricks (card tricks/general sleight of hands), playing chess, brainstorming new culinary recipes and discussing legal/political topics with his friends.
Afton Wylynko
QC Investment Associate
2022-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2022-
McGill University
Afton Wylynko
Afton is part of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures. She is a first-year student at McGill University in the Joint Honours in Economics and Finance program from the Faculty of Arts. She is eager to combine her business knowledge with her passion for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Before FRV, Afton was president of her high school’s finance club and gained initial exposure to the business world through hosting discussion panels and information sessions on various finance topics. Once coming to McGill, she joined the McGill Investment Club as a junior analyst in the consumers sector, where she got initial exposure in analyzing companies. In these roles, Afton developed her interest in seeing business grow and began her search to determine what makes a strong business. At FRV, she hopes to learn more about the process that founders go through to transform ideas into reality and how it is that FRV can help them.
Outside of work Afton enjoys running up Mont. Royal, playing rugby and hockey with her friends, watching documentaries, and spending quality time with family and pets.
Alex Gouchtchina
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
Alex Gouchtchina
Alex is going into her final year at the University of Waterloo studying math and finance. She started her career in start-ups at 16 and fell in love with entrepreneurship, building and scaling companies. She’s seen almost every operational function from business development to FP&A, spent an internship shadowing a CEO and was the 3rd employee at a pediatric telehealth company. After learning more about the venture ecosystem and being excited to help founders on the other side of the table, Alex joined Esplanade Ventures, a digital health-tech fund and learned how to go deep on one vertical. Since then, she’s worked at Foundation Capital building the early investor network and is currently completing an internship on the venture team at Inovia Capital. In her spare time, she teaches children’s theatre, loves to read and connect with inspiring people!
Alex Plesa
ON Investment Associate
2022-
University of Ottawa
ON Investment Associate
2022-
University of Ottawa
Alex Plesa
ON Investment Team
2022-
University of Ottawa
Alex Sun
Talent & Operations Associate
2022-
Queen’s University
Talent & Internal Operations Associate
2022-
Queen’s University
Alex Sun
Alex is a third-year student at Queen’s University studying commerce and is from Vancouver. At Queen’s, Alex is involved in the Queen’s Private Capital Group and also the Queen’s Business Review.
He is currently supporting alumni relations with the FRV team.
In his free time, you can find Alex enjoying the outdoors, taking photos and watching Formula One.
Alexandre Buisson
Content Associate
2021–
McGill University
Content Associate
2021–
McGill University
Alexandre Buisson
Alexandre (or Alex) is a third-year student studying Finance and Business Analytics at McGill University.
His interest in venture capital began when he got to Montreal and discovered his passion for strategy throughout his participation in numerous case competitions. Today, Alex is planning to pursue a career in consulting although this may change as he dives further into the venture capital rabbit-hole.
Alex believes that time at university is best spent by meeting as many people as possible – this belief has fueled many of his academic endeavours, pushing him to become involved and have active roles in his faculty’s student government, campus social life, and local clubs and organizations.
During his free time, Alex likes to stay busy by working as a freelance content creator, mainly making videos and taking photographs for diverse clients around the globe (@alexoonnn on instagram). He also thoroughly enjoys listening (and dancing) to music, spontaneous trips, and morning swims.
Alexandre Cardozo
Investment Associate
2018-2019
Université de Montréal
Investment Associate
2018-2019
Université de Montréal
Alexandre Cardozo
Alexandre Ouellet
QC Investment Associate
2022-
Concordia University
QC Investment Associate
2022-
Concordia University
Alexandre Ouellet
Alexandre is a Finance student at Montreal’s Concordia University. He is passionate about working with passionate founders and understanding their groundbreaking technologies.
Prior to joining FRV, Alexandre worked at a Start-up backed by Real Ventures as a marketing analyst where he learned about the intricacies of working within a startup. He’s also worked as an alternative investment analyst for a Concordia alumni based in London. As an alternative investment analyst, Alex sourced private equity deals and cryptocurrency defi projects. He is also involved at Concordia, doing work as an equity analyst.
At FRV, he is eager to connect with student founders and help them grow their businesses from early-stage ventures to life-changing global companies.
Alexandre Stein
QC Investment Associate
2021-
Université de Montréal
QC Investment Associate
2021-
Université de Montréal
Alexandre Stein
Alexandre is an Economics student at Université de Montréal. He is passionate about exploring new ways of disrupting industries and helping entrepreneurs build prosperous ventures that have a significant impact on society. Alexandre is very eager to learn more about how to transform a big ambitious idea into a successful business and is excited to be in a position to help entrepreneurs make their mark on the ecosystem.
Leading up to FRV, Alexandre developed a curiosity for entrepreneurship through his past work experiences and by fraternizing with like-minded entrepreneurial spirits. While working at Stikeman Elliott, Alexandre first encountered Startupfest and instantly fell in love with the energy, curiosity and intellectual stimulation that the startup ecosystem radiates. Since then, he has actively tried to make his own way into the ecosystem by acting as Treasurer of UdeM Entreprend, a student committee working to promote entrepreneurship and provide resources to entrepreneurs on campus.
With FRV, Alexandre hopes to help grow the Canadian ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurs and being an active ambassador within his university.
In his free time, Alexandre enjoys snowboarding, golf, running, a lot of cooking and spending quality time with friends and family.
Ali Fathollahi
ON Investment Associate
2021-
Western University
ON Investment Associate
2021-
Western University
Ali Fathollahi
Ali is an entrepreneurial-minded student who is passionate about shaping tomorrow through supporting disruptive ventures. He is currently finishing his Business Administration degree at Western University. Ali has demonstrated his love for strategy and entrepreneurship through experiences working as a consultant at KPMG and starting his ventures in the past. He is most curious about innovation in the Foodtech, Fintech, and Prop-tech sectors.
Through FRV, Ali hopes to support fellow student entrepreneurs while learning more about the various aspects that go into a good startup.
Outside of entrepreneurship and school, Ali greatly enjoys playing soccer and basketball. He is also a music fanatic and spends most of his free time as a music producer, creating beats for local artists.
Ali Habib
Portfolio Support Associate
2022-
University of Waterloo
Portfolio Support Associate
2022-
University of Waterloo
Ali Habib
Startups | Acting | Film Making | Venture Capital | Private Equity | Comedy
Amay Shenoy
Talent & Operations Associate
2021-
Western University
Talent & Operations Associate
2021-
Western University
Amay Shenoy
Amay is a third-year student in the Honors Business Administration program at the Ivey Business School. He has worked in a variety of industries and completed internships in private equity, investment banking and at a tech startup.
Amay is passionate about entrepreneurship and venture capital due to its inherently disruptive nature and by working alongside student founders in the past, he has developed an interest in student entrepreneurship. Amay is eager to support the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs through his role at Front Row Ventures.
In his free time, Amay can be found juggling, listening to podcasts or going on long road trips.
Amelia Vu
Operations Associate
2021–
Western University
Operations Associate
2021–
Western University
Amelia Vu
Amelia is a fourth-year HBA student at the Ivey Business School. In her first two years at Western University, she majored in Financial Modelling.
Amelia’s initial exposure to entrepreneurship was in her first year of university, working as a Business and Marketing intern at Western Heads East – a social venture collaboration between Western University and their East African partners.
Last summer, Amelia completed an internship at Fintech Sandpit – a UK-based fintech start-up helping financial institutions scale their innovation efforts. As a Fintech Analyst, she conducted research on various fintech verticals across regions and helped seek funding opportunities alongside the company’s Founder and Strategic Advisor. There, she has cultivated an interest in the fintech space and further nurtured her curiosity for the Canadian tech and start-up ecosystem – the key factor driving her to FRV.
In her free time, Amelia enjoys reading, journaling, and exploring new music. When it’s sunny, she can be found jogging around while listening to her favorite podcasts.
Amira Igouzoul
QC Investment Associate
2023-
University of Sherbrooke
QC Investment Associate
2023-
University of Sherbrooke
Amira Igouzoul
Passionate by health science, Amira has a master’s degree in genetics and cell biology at the University of Bordeaux, France. This year, she joined Pre Véronique Giroux’s Lab at Université de Sherbrooke, Quebec, as a Master student to work on the impact of cancer stem cells in treatment resistance in esophageal cancer.
Amira is curious and always ready for new adventures. She is very implicated in student life, for example, she is vice-president of student’s initiatives committee of the ThéCell network. Amira has always had an interest in start-ups, so she enrolled in QcES initiation to entrepreneurship program and joined FRV to be able to support young and ambitious Canadian entrepreneurs.
Beside her implications, Amira loves spending time with friends and family, she enjoys travelling and outdoor activities.
Andrew (Doren) Singh
ON Investissement Associate
2021-
McMaster University
ON Investissement Associate
2021-
McMaster University
Andrew (Doren) Singh
Doren holds a HBSc. (Human Kinetics) and MSc. (Food Science) from the University of Guelph and is currently a PhD. Candidate (Chemical Engineering) at McMaster University. His current research focuses on improving the efficacy of drug delivery vehicles to help treat cancer, ophthalmic diseases, and various other pathologies. Doren is particularly passionate about innovation and implementation in the life science and healthcare sectors.
Doren has a strong background as a scientific researcher and ample experience as a consultant. As a result of a strong passion for helping others, Doren founded Pharmasonica Technologies, a biomedical start-up with the goal of improving the quality of treatment of patients undergoing chemotherapy.
In his spare time, you can find him at the gym, playing sports, or cooking up a storm.
Anna Li
Data Associate
2022-
McGill University
Data Associate
2022-
McGill University
Anna Li
Anna is a Data Associate at Front Row Ventures and completing her undergraduate degree in Bioengineering at McGill with a concentration in computational biology. She is passionate about combining her passion for new technologies to make an impact in the Canadian VC ecosystem.
Through her role as a bioinformatician in an academic research space, Anna grew aware of the importance of bringing the hard work done by student to market. She believes in the role of VC in bridging the gap between academia and the startup space.
Beyond work, Anna loves to snowboard, hike, and explore the endless selection of food spots in Montreal.
Ansh Makkar
Strategy Associate
2022-
Western University
Strategy Associate
2022-
Western University
Ansh Makkar
Ansh is a second-year student at Western University studying Management and Organizational Studies.
Prior to FRV, Ansh had developed an interest in venture capital through his studies and internship experiences. With experience working in consulting and private equity, he was able to witness and work alongside large and mature companies, stirring his passion to be more involved with early-stage Canadian talent.
In his free time, Ansh enjoys playing basketball, listening to old school albums, and spending time with friends.
Antoine Gonthier
QC Investment Associate
2021-
Unversité de Laval
QC Investment Associate
2021-
Unversité de Laval
Antoine Gonthier
Antoine is an investment associate at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. He is a student at Laval University in Finance. Trying to improve his technical skills, he is also pursuing a certificate in computer science. Antoine is passionate about innovation, especially in the financial sector.
Antoine previously worked at Petal, a software company developing solutions to facilitate and accelerate the healthcare process, as an accounting intern. This opportunity gave him exposure regarding technological sectors and entrepreneurship ecosystems, which sparked the desire to help the next generation of entrepreneurs. Antoine is also involved at Laval University as the Vice-President of finances for the REPFUL, a student association emphasizing financial planning.
In his spare time, you can find Antoine trying to push his physical limits by either running trails or climbing new tough routes.
Apaar Vijay
Portfolio Support Associate
2021-
University of Western Ontario
Portfolio Support Associate
2021-
University of Western Ontario
Apaar Vijay
Apaar is a member of the Platform Team at Front Row Ventures, focused on helping the fund’s portfolio companies with their strategic and operational goals. Currently studying Finance at Western University, Apaar is passionate about innovative tech, startups, and business strategy. Apaar was previously involved with VendorPM, an early-stage startup out of Toronto, helping meet their early business development goals and raise their Series A. In Summer 2020, he was also part of the Ryerson DMZ incubator program where he led strategy for a consumer fintech product. On the investment side, Apaar interned at a private equity fund where he worked on middle-market buyouts in the North American region. On campus, he is involved with his school’s investment fund and a number of entrepreneurial clubs as well. When he’s not working, you can find him rooting for the Toronto Raptors, watching the latest Marvel movie on the block, or playing soccer with his friends!
Arthi Gunasalen
Talent and Operations Associate
2022-
University of British Columbia
Talent and Operations Associate
2022-
University of British Columbia
Arthi Gunasalen
Second-year student at University of British Columbia, working on the Talent and Operations Team at FRV.
Arthur de Vaublanc
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Université du Québec à Montréal
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Université du Québec à Montréal
Arthur de Vaublanc
As a student majoring in International Business at ESG UQAM, Arthur is versatile in many subjects. With his pronounced interest towards entrepreneurship, he wants to pursue a master’s degree in Entrepreneurial Finance in Europe.
Always passionate about new technologies and tech companies, he wants to get more involved in the startup ecosystem of Montreal. He wants to become an entrepreneur, and he is motivated to help founders when the opportunity arises. Front Row Ventures is a concrete way to achieve his goal of being part of the startup ecosystem, improving his skills in venture capital, and providing help and advice to student-entrepreneurs.
Aryan Singh
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
University of Waterloo
Ashraf Abouchacra
ON Investment Associate
2021-
Queen’s University
ON Investment Associate
2021-
Queen’s University
Ashraf Abouchacra
Ashraf is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Queen’s University pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the Smith School of Business. Over the past few years, he’s had the opportunity to learn about different industries through various extracurricular activities and internships. He has completed internships at Deloitte and PayPal, and is currently interning with Convictional, an e-commerce startup.
As a Director at the Queen’s Social Investment Initiative, he helped grow Canada’s first university-based impact investing organization, where he provided pro-bono advisory to companies on the front-line of the impact investment industry. In his free time, Ashraf enjoys playing and watching soccer, and discovering new music. Ashraf is eager to learn more about venture capital and is excited to help Front Row Ventures reshape Canada’s tech and startup culture.
Azar Chatur
Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Benita Nkansah
ON Investment Associate
2022-
McMaster University
ON Investment Associate
2022-
McMaster University
Benita Nkansah
Benita is a second-year Commerce student at McMaster University specializing in Accounting and Finance and pursuing an Innovation minor. She has worked with multiple financial institutions including TD and Scotiabank has an upcoming position on the Growth and Transition Capital team at BDC.
Benita enjoys looking for ways to get involved and integrated in the venture capital space. Over her summer term at TD, Benita participated in an ideation challenge with 3 other team members developing a venture capital fund to support underrepresented entrepreneurs. In the future, Benita will continue to support talented founders and bridge the gap between opportunities. Beyond her professional life, Benita enjoys meeting new people and picking up hobbies. Benita spends a lot of time enjoying nature through hikes and walks. In addition, she works on developing new skillsets as a musician who plays the flute and piano.
Benita looks forward to joining FRV’s Investment team to support innovative and inspirational student founders.
Bonnie Chin
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
University of Waterloo
Brenden Kumarasamy
Investment Associate
2018-2019
Concordia University
Investment Associate
2018-2019
Concordia University
Brenden Kumarasamy
Brenden is obsessed for his love to help others and spreading positivity in the world. Whether it’s volunteering at a charity event or coaching business students on how to present in front of C-level executives, he invests everything he has into every single person he believes in.
He is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Accountancy and is an intern at PricewaterhouseCoopers, an accounting firm. He has also cracked hundreds of business cases and presented solutions in front of judges ranging from Fortune 500 executives to university professors and knows how to get a crowd excited about his ideas.
Front Row Ventures’ business savvy student partner is a TechCrunch addict who spends his days watching videos about technology and brings value to entrepreneurs and business minds alike through his research and acumen.
Brian Spivak
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
Brian Spivak
Brian is a third-year student at McGill University studying in the Honours in Investment Management program. He is excited to combine his passion for start-ups, technology, and social impact to help student entrepreneurs transform their ideas into flourishing businesses.
Prior to FRV, Brian built his investment experience through Desautels Capital Management, where he was a member of the TMT sector and as a group managed $3 million. Brian’s interest in startups originated from case competitions like McGill’s International Case Competition and the Retail Innovation Challenge, where he got to work with Montreal start-ups to grow and overcome various challenges. Blown away by the founders’ excitement, he quickly grew passionate about start-ups.
Outside of work, Brian loves to play basketball and racket sports, cook and bake, and listen to new music and interesting podcasts.
Cameron Macdonald
Director of Impact Teams
2020-
McMaster University
Director of Impact Teams
2020-
McMaster University
Cameron Macdonald
Cam is entering his third year as a director of the impact teams and will be finishing his fifth year of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University. He is passionate about supporting early-stage university start-ups and has a specific curiosity in medical technology and drug delivery systems.
Camila Gutiérrez
QC Investment Associate
2022-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2022-
McGill University
Camila Gutiérrez
Camila Gutiérrez is a fourth-year Materials Engineering student at McGill University. She is looking forward to combining her love of new technologies and community outreach to form connections with up-and coming startups, and help student entrepreneurs bring their ideas to their full potential.
As an Engineering student, Camila is constantly learning about different technologies, and how they can benefit society. This interest of hers intersected with her love of the arts when she began working at Acrylic Robotics, an art-tech startup that allowed her creative side to flourish and to work with an exceptional team, all while being exposed to the thrills of an early startup. From there, she knew she wanted to stay in the entrepreneurial sphere for its exciting pace, exchange of novel ideas, and amazing people met along the way. As an individual who is also highly involved in her own student community, she hopes to not only enrich her love of new technologies while working at a VC, but also to establish valuable connections with both team members and student entrepreneurs.
In her free time, Camila enjoys many creative pursuits including graphic design, drawing, and making clothes. She also loves learning new languages and snowboarding.
Charles Baron
QC Investment Associate
2022-
HEC Montréal
QC Investment Associate
2022-
HEC Montréal
Charles Baron
Charles is part of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures. He is completing a Masters in Finance at HEC Montreal. Passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation, Charles is the co-founder of Lifeline Technologies a Montreal based startup which enhances client experience, drives footwall and increases customer spend. During his experience, he has been part of the Montreal startup ecosystem participating in both the EntrePrism and MT Lab incubators. Charles is excited to share his insights as a student-entrepreneur.
At FRV, Charles plans to help students along their entrepreneur journey by helping them grow their ideas into actual sustainable businesses.
Fun fact about Charles is that he used to be a division 1 NCAA tennis player and now passionately competes in a retiree’s league on Sundays.
Christina Jiang
Community Associate
2022-
Western University
Community Associate
2022-
Western University
Christina Jiang
Christina is a second-year student studying Business at Western University. She is passionate about exploring the intersection between business, technology, and social impact. Her budding ambition for startups and entrepreneurship began in her first year as a Growth and Marketing Intern at Jemi– a YC-backed startup based in San Francisco aiming to provide the tools for creators and entrepreneurs to build their brands.
As a Community Associate, Christina is excited to dive deeper into the Canadian Startup and Venture Capital Ecosystem and continue to amplify student founders’ potential.
Aside from academics and extracurriculars, Christina enjoys dancing, exploring new cafes, and listening to music.
Cole Stotland
Data Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
Data Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
Cole is a third year student at the University of Toronto studying Industrial Engineering. Cole has been passionate about technology his whole life, and loves to stay up to date with current tech trends. This passion is what lead Cole to the startup word, as he enjoys learning about fascinating new ideas provided by startups. In his free time, you will find Cole at the hockey rink, basketball court, or at home playing Rocket League.
Constantin Bretonneau
Investment Associate
2023-
University of Montreal
Crystal Correa
Marketing Associate
2021-
York University
Marketing Associate
2021-
York University
Crystal Correa
Graduated from the University of Mumbai with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting & Finance along with acquiring the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA, UK) qualification.
Currently pursuing a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from York University School of Continuing Studies (graduating in April 2022).
~3 years of experience in the Early-stage Start-up, Venture Capital and Private Markets sector.
At Lead Angels Network, for the Western India Region, headed the processes of Deal Sourcing and Research, Deal Structuring and Implementation (preparation of term sheets, assistance in Due Diligence, finalization and negotiations of the Share Subscription and Shareholder Agreements) i.e. end to end process coordination.
Led fundraising of cumulatively ~CAD 620,000 for two early-stage consumer companies.
At The Rainmaker Group, assisted the team in Pre-Investment document creation (Pitch Decks, Data Analysis, Capitalization Tables, etc.), vetting of term-sheets and Post term-sheet legal documentation for funding rounds of ~CAD 35 Million on an average.
Joined an early-stage tech-backed marketing start-up – Wobb as their Growth Lead and played a key role in growing revenues over 10X within a year.
At Wobb, actively led tasks including but not limited to Sales, Client Retention, Market Research and participated in other tasks like Product Testing and Reviewing, Product Iteration ideas, Finance, HR and Investor Relations.
Dan Cohen
Investment Associate
2017-2018
McGill University
Investment Associate
2017-2018
McGill University
Dan Cohen
Dan is currently working on his master’s in computational and visual neuroscience at McGill, but is most passionate about applying technology to problems in healthcare. He’s currently a co-founder at InVivo AI, where he and his team are using machine-learning to streamline the pharmaceutical drug development process.
Previously, Dan worked as an analyst at Lumira Capital where he sourced, analyzed, and performed due-diligence on early-stage companies in the biotherapeutics, medical device, and digital health sectors.
At Front Row Ventures, Dan wants to help student entrepreneurs get their healthcare and life-science ventures off the ground. If you’re doing something exciting in the space, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Deveena Bharat
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Wilfred Laurier University
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Wilfred Laurier University
Deveena Bharat
Deveena is pursuing the Business Administration & Computer Science Double Degree at Wilfrid Laurier University. She has completed two co-op work terms with StandUp Ventures, a seed-stage institutional venture fund that invests in B2B SaaS companies led or co-led by women. Working at StandUp has ignited her passion for getting capital to underrepresented founders, and she’s so excited to continue doing that at Front Row.
Outside of work, you can find her with a good book, trying out new recipes, or playing with her two adorable dogs.
Eléonore Jarry Ferron
Co-Founder @ Front Row Ventures
2017-
HEC Montréal
Co-Founder @ Front Row Ventures
2016–
HEC Montréal
Éléonore Jarry Ferron
With a bachelor in accounting, Éléonore contemplated a career in corporate finance. Her summer studying tech entrepreneurship at Stanford made her choose a totally different path: venture capital.
She joined Pléiade Capital, a VC student club, and started a Master’s in Financial Accounting. Her combined efforts paid off, Brightspark Ventures poaching her from EY less than a year later.
Helping out rising entrepreneurs, our VC brain is also dedicated to women in tech with Technovation Montreal.
Eliot Mathieu-Proteau
Investment Associate
2018-2019
Université de Sherbrooke
Investment Associate
2018-2019
Université de Sherbrooke
Eliot Mathieu-Proteau
Eliot has a constant desire to help others and build a better world. Being creative and unifying, Éliot loves to get involved in the community to find new ways to improve society. Curious by nature, Éliot is particularly fond of learning by collaborating with others. Outside of work, you will find Éliot at a networking event, a gym or simply over a coffee with his friends.
Currently studying law and MBA, Éliot is passionate about business and technology. Involved as an intern in a startup raising major financing rounds, Éliot wants to share the knowledge acquired in this organization with student entrepreneurs in order to help them build a successful business.
Recognizing the significant challenges of student entrepreneurship, Éliot is motivated by Front Row Ventures’ mission to amplify the potential of student entrepreneurs to transform their bold ideas into cutting-edge startups.
Emilie Attiogbe
QC Investment Associate
2022-
Université Laval
QC Investment Associate
2022-
Université Laval
Emilie Attiogbe
Emilie Attiogbe is a doctoral student in biology and her research focuses on human skin reconstruction at the Experimental Organogenesis Laboratory of Laval University – LOEX. The ultimate goal of her research project is to use reconstructed skin in the laboratory to test pharmaceutical products and clinical treatments while reproducing the immune system of native skin. A curious person by nature, Emilie is always looking for new challenges. She loves to share science with the community and is involved in a variety of science outreach activities. She is also involved in a network in the province of Quebec that brings together biologist students.
“I want to share my passion for science with the general public, and I think that the representation of women in science from different ethnic backgrounds is very important to generate interest among young girls.”
Outside of school, she enjoys exploring different types of gastronomy and Latin dance.
Emily Yau
Community Associate
2019-2020
Western University
Community Associate
2019-
Western University
Emily Yau
Entering her fourth year, Emily is currently pursuing her Honors Business Administration degree at the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University. She’s passionate about all things entrepreneurship, from ideation to 10x growth.
Throughout her university career, she has been involved with multiple student-run organizations with the goal to inspire young people to pursue careers in tech and entrepreneurship. Her past work experience includes Business Development and Marketing roles in high-growth startups including Toronto-based social ordering app Ritual and fintech rewards app Drop. In her free time, you’ll find Emily writing for her fashion and lifestyle blog, binging TV shows, or working on her personal design and research projects.
Emma Létourneau
Community Associate
2022-
McGill University
Community Associate
2022-
McGill University
Emma Létourneau
Emma is a Community Associate at Front Row Ventures and is part of the Business Development Team. She is currently studying Art History and Communications at McGill University in Montreal. Emma is passionate about anything art or creativity related, from conceptualizing an idea into a project, to designing logos and visual identities for organizations.
Emma is also involved in McGill’s Fine Arts Commission, where she occupies the role of Commissioner and Graphic Designer. This student organization creates opportunities for student artists to showcase and promote their art, and for student communities to engage with art and creativity. Emma is also a published Contributing Writer for Arts Help, a NPO striving to highlight artistic initiatives that work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Within FRV, Emma strives to learn the ropes of the Canadian Startup Ecosystem, create valuable partnerships and meet curious, ambitious and passionate students.
Outside of school and work, you can catch Emma playing sports, doing music, painting or laying in any Montreal park while drinking her favourite coffee.
Emma Martin
Investment Associate
2023-
McGill University
Enzo Simier
Business Development Associate
2021-
HEC Montreal
Business Development Associate
2021-
HEC Montreal
Enzo Simier
Enzo is a Business Development Associate in Quebec and a second-year student at HEC Montreal pursuing a degree in Finance and Economics. He is passionate about biotech, finance, politics, economics and the development of public and monetary policies.
He is originally from France near the Swiss alps. He loves hiking and discovering new cultures and landscapes.
Enzo’s entrepreneurship passion is fueled by a desire to help the development of the Quebec and Canadian ecosystem. He strongly believes technology is our best bet to solve the biggest issues we are facing today.
Farhan Khan
Founders Support Associate
2020-
York University
Platform Associate
2020-
York University
Farhan Khan
Farhan is a fourth-year student at the Schulich School of Business at York University specializing in strategic management and finance. Alongside business, he is minoring in philosophy. Over the past few years, he’s had the opportunity to learn about a variety of industries. Farhan executed experiential marketing plans for CPGs at Diamond Marketing, analyzed financial services & mining companies at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and is currently evaluating SaaS acquisition targets for Constellation Software. Across these experiences, he’s learned that his passion for business strategy knows no bounds and has no bias. Capitalizing on that with his long-time interest in technology and entrepreneurship, he has found himself on Front Row Venture’s Platform Team. Farhan helps FRV’s portfolio companies manage their business with confidence and reach their most pertinent milestones through a variety of tactics. Outside of school and work, Farhan volunteers at Woburn Collegiate Institute as a Mock Trial Coach and also enjoys building PCs.
Fariha Imran
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
Fariha Imran
Fariha is an MBA student at the University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management. She has over five years of experience in corporate and open innovation. She has had the privilege of running innovation projects for a wide range of clients, including Unilever, Rolls-Royce, Rabobank, Cargill and the Asian Development Bank. She also had the opportunity to source and coach hundreds of startups across the Asia Pacific region. She is currently working as a Senior Business Development Representative at Volley, a Toronto-based early-stage startup.
This experience gave her valuable insight into startup ecosystems and fueled her passion for startups. Fariha aims to use her passion, her experiences and her role at Front Row Ventures to connect startups to resources, grow startup communities and connect tech ecosystems in and outside Canada.
Fariha graduated from the Singapore Management University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Sciences in Economics and a second major in Political Science. In her personal time, Fariha loves reading, walking, cooking and exploring new eateries. She is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and also enjoys learning other forms of dance.
Eva Terriault
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Polytechnique Montréal
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Polytechnique Montréal
Eva Terriault
Currently pursuing a bachelor in computer engineering at Polytechnique, Eva’s expertise lies in the technical world. Her various experiences as an intern and a student allowed her to explore and deepen her knowledge of robotics and embedded systems fields. Among other implications, she is the leader of a robotics student club developing an autonomous drone to participate in the International Aerial Robotics Competition every year.
It’s her desire to make a bigger impact that attracted her to the entrepreneurship and VC world. She hopes to help kickstart companies that will have a huge and positive impact on society.
Felicity Meyer
QC Investment Associate
2022-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2022-
McGill University
Felicity Meyer
As a current master’s student in McGill University’s Department of Bioresource Engineering, Felicity analyzes the urban metabolism of cities to provide actionable support towards sustainable development. Her current project focuses on life cycle assessment of construction materials and the potential of mass-timber building in Montreal.
Prior to studying at McGill, Felicity was the first scientific hire at two early-stage startups: first developing novel polymers for implantable medical devices and next, pairing analytical chemistry with data science to measure nutrients in fresh produce. Before returning to graduate studies, she was the Lab Operations Manager at a newly constructed 84,000 ft2 (7,800 m2) biotech accelerator in beautiful Boston, Massachusetts, US.
Felicity holds a B.S. in Chemistry and B.S. in Physics from Simmons University.
Frédérique Decelles
Portfolio Support Associate
2021-
University of Sherbrooke
Portfolio Support Associate
2021-
University of Sherbrooke
Frédérique Decelles
Frédérique is currently majoring in accounting at Sherbrooke University and a member of the Portfolio Support team at Front Row Ventures.
Always passionate about innovation and business, Frédérique is very eager to learn more about how to support startups in their growth. She is dedicated to helping students tackle the challenges of founding a business.
Prior to FRV, Frédérique has always made it a goal of hers to get involved in business. Through her school classes and research she has developed a deep interest in technology and how it impacts society. She is now interested in the development of the Canadian tech ecosystem.
More recently Frédérique has invested in real estate to start building a capital base. As she would eventually like to be part of the process of helping passionate entrepreneurs an even bigger way.
In her spare time Frédérique is always looking for new challenges through her passion for skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, climbing or hiking. You can usually find her out searching for new places to discover.
Gauthier Daridon
Business Development Associate
2021-
McGill University
Business Development Associate
2021-
McGill University
Gauthier Daridon
Gauthier is a Revenue Associate in Quebec and a fourth-year student at McGill University seeking a degree in Materials Engineering. He is very excited in learning more about the Canadian venture capital ecosystem to make a real impact that will help students launch the start-up of their dreams.
Originally being from France, Gauthier has lived in numerous countries such as Japan, Germany and the United States. These experiences forged Gauthier to become the person he is now: easily adaptable and knowledge thirsty. Currently working on a few side start-up projects with friends, Gauthier truly understands the needs of young entrepreneurs and wants to help them achieve their goals.
Outside of FRV, Gauthier is actively involved in club activities. From being Co-President of the National Organization for Business and Engineering (NOBE), to being VP logistics of the biggest engineering career fair at McGill (TechFair), Gauthier loves the challenges these positions bring and tackles them day by day. In addition to that, Gauthier loves playing sports such as soccer, tennis or lacrosse with his friends to free his mind.
Do not hesitate to reach out to Gauthier as he is always motivated and interested in listening to new business opportunities.
Godwin Chan
Business Development Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
Business Development Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
Godwin Chan
Godwin is a PharmD Candidate at the University of Toronto and a Revenue Associate at Front Row Ventures. He has a passion for all things healthcare, content creation, and entrepreneurship. Godwin’s future goal is to build and invest in health tech companies.
Aside from these roles, he is the Marketing & QA Lead for PharmAssess, a pharmacy tech startup that empowers pharmacists to execute advanced clinical services with ease and confidence. Godwin also hosts his own podcast called Digital Introverts, a show where introverts share their success and failure stories and discuss how they thrive in the digital age. Additionally, he is participating in the On Deck Health Fellowship, a continuous remote program for founders, operators, and investors in health tech to learn, network, and grow together.
Outside of school and work, Godwin enjoys reading, writing, chess, poker, Kpop, basketball, and travelling.
Guillaume Chabot
Investment Associate
2018-2019
HEC Montréal
Investment Associate
2018-2019
HEC Montréal
Guillaume Chabot
Guillaume is a final year student at HEC Montréal pursuing a major in corporate finance and a minor in innovation management. Passionate about Fintech, he had the pleasure to pursue an incubation program at the District 3 Innovation Center to develop a Fintech proof of concept as well as interning in a consulting firm in the digital banking transformation team.
As a global citizen (Canadian, French, Vietnamese), Guillaume was fortunate to spend a semester in Hong Kong where he was involved in the Fintech community there. He is driven by meeting new people as well as talking about new ideas to which can change the way people use their banks.
In the near future, he hopes to work as a venture capitalist to help bright and crazy entrepreneurs willing to change the world with new ideas involving emerging technologies.
Gurakam Pabla
Revenue Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
Revenue Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
Gurakam Pabla
Gurakam is a member of the Revenue Team at Front Row Ventures. He is a first-generation student pursuing a Bachelor of Mathematics with co-op from the University of Waterloo, specializing in Financial Analysis & Risk Management.
He currently sits on the Board of Directors of a $9.2M endowment fund and recently completed an internship at CI Global Asset Management on the award-winning 9-person CI Multi-Asset Management team which is responsible for managing $46.8B of assets.
Prior to joining, Gurakam was a volunteer financial analyst at St. Michael’s Hospital, where he saw first hand the impact that finance and technology had on people’s lives. Through Front Row Ventures, he hopes to empower and support technological trailblazers that solve complex problems, create meaningful change, and ultimately propel society forward while helping others.
Being an avid sports enthusiast and athlete, he also one day hopes to run a sub 3-hour marathon, complete an Ironman, and see Canada win the FIFA World Cup.
Hawa Keita
Business Development Associate
2022-
McGill University
Business Development Associate
2022-
McGill University
Hawa Keita
Hawa is part of the Business Development Team at Front Row Ventures. She is currently studying for her MBA at McGill University and leads the program Africa Initiative at Concordia University. She has a strong interest in using business to create innovative solutions for social and environmental issues.
Previously she has worked in the sectors of Portfolio management and International Development. For the last 3 years, she has been the executive director of CEED, an international non-profit organization focused on youth where she was recognized as one of the top 30 leaders under 30 leaders in sustainability in Canada by Corporate Knights. She also sits on the board of directors at the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montréal, one of the largest youth chambers of commerce in the world.
In her spare time, Hawa enjoys arts particularly painting, music and dance.
Henry Wu
ON Investment Associate
2022-
University of Waterloo
ON Investment Associate
2022-
University of Waterloo
Henry Wu
Henry is a 3rd year mechanical engineering student at the University of Waterloo. He had the chance to explore a variety of opportunities through his internships, from building SaaS products at a startup to designing parts on the Cybertruck.
His passion for entrepreneurship began during the pandemic in Taiwan, where he proposed and led the pivot of a hardware startup shortly after joining. The experience motivated him to take a gap year in the Bay Area to further explore the realm of startups and venture capital. Currently, he is working at a nanotechnology startup in Waterloo.
Depending on which city Henry is in, you can find him rock climbing, surfing, snowboarding, or playing rugby and football on the weekends. He also cannot live without a skateboard and a guitar.
Himasha Rao
Strategy Associate
2022-
University of Alberta
Strategy Associate
2022-
University of Alberta
Himasha Rao
Himasha is a Biological Sciences student at the University of Alberta. She is passionate about accelerating innovation in areas like clean energy and biotechnology. Prior to joining Front Row Ventures, Himasha worked as a Junior Economic Development Officer for WBEDT, where she helped launch the first-ever innovation hub in the region, StartUpYMM. She also served as Vice President Academic for University of Alberta’s Interdisciplinary Science Students Society.
Himasha’s interest in startups and entrepreneurship bloomed after joining the University of Alberta’s Engineering Incubator, ICE, as a cohort member. Following this, she gained exposure to the venture capital industry through taking part in national case competitions like VCIC.
As a part of Front Row Ventures, Himasha is excited to help expand the organization and bring the spirit of entrepreneurship to student founders on a national level. She hopes to develop optimistic, inclusive, and creative startup ecosystems across university campuses.
Ian Johnson
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Wilfrid Laurier University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Wilfrid Laurier University
Ian Johnson
Ian is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in Business with a concentration in Finance at Wilfrid Laurier University. He first became interested in Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital when traveling to Israel in the summer of 2017. Ian’s past experiences include assisting clients with their marketing practices at a boutique management consulting firm and helping Waterloo-based startups grow their businesses with the Laurier Consulting Club.
At Front Row Ventures, Ian wants to help student entrepreneurs pursue their passions and make an impact on their local and global communities. He is most passionate about businesses in the medical diagnostic and FinTech spaces.
Ian MacPherson
Director of Investments
2019-
Ryerson University
Director of Investments
2019-
Ryerson University
Ian MacPherson
Ian is a 3rd year computer science student at Ryerson University with several years of startup experience under his belt.
His first exposure to the tech industry came when he joined Joist, first in a sales position, then later in an IT role. Ian found mentors to foster his passion for programming, and later joined Tread, a construction technology company, as an early team member.
On his own time, Ian has been a software consultant on several projects, launched a mobile game, and has worked as an actor on several network television shows and independent films.
Iftekhar Iqbal
Community Associate
2018-2019
Concordia University
Community Associate
2018-2019
Concordia University
Iftekhar Iqbal
Iftee is a third-year undergraduate student at Concordia University, studying Marketing. He’s an international student from Bangladesh.
He had been part of a social enterprise, Footsteps Organization, back in Bangladesh where he was one of the Directors and Head of IT. He had worked in various social ventures and charity events to give back to the community. While at Concordia, Iftee is currently VP External of a non-profit student organization at school called CASA Cares.
Coming from a developing country, he always had the excitement to learn more about technology and the new tech advancements happening around the globe. He likes to read a lot of articles and watch videos on tech to enhance his knowledge about new inventions.
Beyond this, Iftee always had the passion of event planning and execution. He likes bringing people together to enjoy and have a good time, whether through social events or professional one’s.
Isabelle Gan
Investment Associate
2023-
Western University
Jack Morris
Investment Associate
2017-2018
McGill University
Investment Associate
2017-2018
McGill University
Jack Morris
Jack is currently pursuing a degree in McGill’s Joint Honors Economics and Finance program with a minor in Computer Science. He has worked for his parents’ small cattle business in California his whole life, which has given him direct insight into both the challenges and benefits of running a business.
Growing up near the heart of Silicon Valley instilled in him a passion for innovative businesses addressing significant problems. Outside of his parents’ business, he has worked for law firms, political organizations, and is part of Canada’s first student-run venture capital firm.
Jaclyn Chan
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
Jaclyn Chan
Jaclyn Chan is a computer science and finance student at the University of Waterloo. She most recently worked at Coinbase on the Wallet team as a software engineer intern. She has previously completed co-op terms in Blockchain Software Engineering at Curvegrid, Quantitative Equity at CPP Investments and Robotics Engineering at nuTonomy. Jaclyn is passionate about increasing diversity and creating equitable access to opportunities in education, finance and healthcare. She loves traveling to different cities to compete in hackathons.
Aside from tech and finance, Jaclyn also finds the time to balance her artistic passions in dance, music and theatre. She was on the UW Cheerleading Team, in a competitive a cappella and UW Hip Hop Performance Team back when things were in-person on campus. Having grown up in Singapore and Hong Kong, Jaclyn loves connecting with and learning from people from diverse backgrounds. Jaclyn is excited to bring her passion for bridging the diversity gap in entrepreneurship & venture capital to the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures.
James Quiambao
Investment Associate
2019-2020
University of Waterloo
Investment Associate
2019-2020
University of Waterloo
James Quiambao
James is a Computer Engineering student at the University of Waterloo. He worked on products at Top Hat, Human Capital (formerly Nav Talent), and SAP. James previously led the largest student run technology, Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference (CUTC). Leading a team of 25+ students from across the country, a $1xx,xxx budget, and over 300 attendees. James most recently took a semester off to focus on writing and reading. He writes everyday on his blog.
James Xu
Data Associate
2021-
Duke University
Data Associate
2021-
Duke University
James Xu
James is a Data Associate at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-let venture capital fund. He was born in Palo Alto and raised in Singapore, where he lived for 10 years before moving to Canada.
James is currently a sophomore at Duke University studying economics and computer science. At Duke, he is a member of the Software Engineering team at Duke Applied Machine Learning and is interested in using technology to solve real world problems.
With Front Row, James aims to support the Canadian startup ecosystem through the lens of data analysis. In his free time, James enjoys reading, food, and keeping up with the latest news.
Janna Agustin
Community Associate
2018-2020
McGill University
Community Associate
2018-2020
McGill University
Janna Agustin
Janna is in her fourth year as an undergraduate student at McGill University, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Computer Science.
Like many, the interest she developed in tech and entrepreneurship happened somewhat accidentally. Having been drawn into the challenge of coding in her first year, she became involved in hackathons, learned more about entrepreneurship, and soon she discovered the rapidly growing startup scene in Montreal. She is grateful to have since learned from the abundant resources of talent and experience in this rapidly growing ecosystem.
Janna is especially interested in ventures that are driven by missions of social impact. She is a people person at heart, and loves to learn from those who are passionate about what they do. On her own time, she makes music and reads novels.
Jasmeen Raghubans
Operations Manager
2021–
York University
Operations Manager
2021–
York University
Jasmeen Raghubans
Jasmeen is a third-year student in the Bachelors of Business Administration program at the Schulich School of Business. Last summer, Jasmeen interned in corporate development, was a financial analyst for IBM, and worked for a sustainability oriented startup. She oversaw two investment opportunities for potential acquisition, created financial reports, and took on many hats as a startup intern. During the school year, Jasmeen is a part of the Ripple Venture’s fellowship program. She deepens her understanding on how to create venture backable companies and be more involved in the venture capital ecosystem.
In her free time, Jasmeen enjoys HIIT workouts, hiking, reading books, and watching The Office.
Jasmine Bal
Talent & Operations Associate
2022-
University of Waterloo
Talent & Operations Associate
2022-
University of Waterloo
Jasmine Bal
Jason Wang
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
Jason Wang
Jason is an Investment Team Associate at FRV and a second-year Honours Finance and Economic student from McGill University. He is excited to create impact for the FRV team, learn more about Venture Capital Investing, and support student founders in the Canadian VC ecosystem.
Having grown up in China, lived in the US, and then immigrated to Canada, Jason has developed multicultural and multinational perspectives in his working ethics and human character. He always looks beyond his studies and adapts to different ideas. Before FRV, He became excited about VC and Blockchain through an internship at a Shenzhen-based VC for Web3 Investments. Working at TESLA, Jason also developed some knowledge in the EV space and Automotives in general. Combining well-rounded coursework and varied working experience, Jason maintains both theoretical and practical curiosities.
On-Campus, Jason is involved with a diverse set of organizations. From managing impactful consulting projects at TAMID Group, reaching out to organizations for JHKCBA, to organizing fitness events at Fit for a cause, he has put himself in a spectrum of learning opportunities.
Outside of school and work, you can find Jason listening to electronic music and setting up a DJ gig with his friends. Jason also enjoys Basketball, Playing Guitar, Road Trips, and eating lots of Dim Sum.
Jazna Rossi
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Concordia University
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Concordia University
Jazna Rossi
Jazna has completed her double major, in Finance and International Business, at the John Molson School of Business. Having worked as Startup Journey Coordinator at District 3 Innovation Center for the past year, she has a deep understanding on the Startup’s Journey allowing her to develop and implement solutions to solve any problem that startups, coaches, and/or experts may have.
At FRV, Jazna is looking to connect people together and help make an impact in the community.
Jennifer Zhang
ON Investment Associate
2020-2021
Western University
Partnerships Associate
2020-2021
Western University
Jennifer Zhang
Jennifer is a second year student at Western University studying Computer Science. She’s passionate about all things related to tech startups, finance and social impact.
Throughout high school, she was heavily involved with startups and started two of her own. In the past year, she has been working on AcornTalent – a data science recruitment platform. On campus, she is the Director of Events at Western Artificial Intelligence Club and is working on a QR-code food truck ordering system with her partner as part of W5 Club’s Accelerator Program.
Jennifer’s past work experiences mainly consist of data science consulting at data science/AI startups. She’s hoping to take on more tech side projects and learn as much about venture capital and finance as she can. In her free time, she loves reading, travelling, going to music concerts, and fencing.
Jeffrey Jiang
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
McGill University
Jenny Bicong Ge
Strategy Associate
2020-
Ryerson University
Strategy Associate
2020-
Ryerson University
Jenny Bicong Ge
Jenny’s unique background blends policy analysis, business administration and academic science. After conducting research in fields as diverse as plant genetic engineering, animal physiology and climate change, Jenny developed a passion for science communication and education. Since 2016, she has worked to improve Ontario’s healthcare system at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and has advised decision-makers on the life sciences sector at the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Always curious about new fields, Jenny has been participating in hackathons since 2018 and loves to talk about science innovation, emerging digital technologies and entrepreneurship. Jenny is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration at Ryerson University in Toronto. She also holds an Honors BSc in Biology (Minor in French Studies) and an Honors Business Administration (HBA) degree from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.
Jonathan (Jonny) Hsu
Director of ON Investment Team
2019-
University of Waterloo
Investment Associate
2019-
University of Waterloo
Jonathan (Jonny) Hsu
Jonathan is enrolled in the Science and Business co-op program at the University of Waterloo, specializing in Biochemistry. He has completed co-op terms as a Business Analyst at BMO and Consultant at CIBC and has an upcoming position on the Risk Advisory team at EY. His passion for entrepreneurship started when he assumed the role of President of the Enactus Waterloo chapter. He aims to shift capital in the hands of ambitious entrepreneurs that have a focus on improving the world. Jonathan is most passionate about sustainable energy sources, youth empowerment and education.
Aside from academics and extra-curriculars, Jonathan enjoys playing sports (specifically basketball), reading and chess. Having studied abroad for a term in Singapore, Jonathan loves connecting with diverse individuals with different mindsets. He documents these conversations on his podcast titled “Broaden Your Perspective”.
Joyce Shi
Community Associate
2019-2020
University of Waterloo
Community Associate
2019-
University of Waterloo
Joyce Shi
Currently, Joyce is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. Last year she completed an internship as a Program Analyst with C100, a non-profit organization working to support, inspire and connect promising Canadian entrepreneurial leaders. Currently, she is working on honing her technical skillset by interning for a fintech startup as a Software Developer.
Joyce is passionate about all things tech-related; whether it’s well-built software, exciting venture opportunities or unexplored diversity initiatives. As she joins Front Row Ventures’ Community Team, she is looking forward to better understanding how we, as an industry, can foster a more inclusive community for underrepresented groups.
Jules Clément
QC Investment Associate
2022-
Polytechnique Montréal
QC Investment Associate
2022-
Polytechnique Montréal
Jules Clément
Jules is an investment associate at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. While currently studying Industrial Engineering at Polytechnique Montreal, Jules aims to broaden his knowledge in finance and business with his involvement as a teaching assistant at HEC Montreal in the department of entrepreneurship and innovation. During his studies, Jules was also involved in the “Comité de Consultation en Gestion à Polytechnique” where he had the unique opportunity to work as a consultant for one of Montreal’s leading e-commerce companies.
Now as a member of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures, Jules is excited to develop valuable relationships with promising student founders and help them thrive in the Canadian Startup ecosystem.
In his free time, Jules enjoys playing competitive tennis and basketball with his friends. You can also find him playing spikeball in the various parks of Montreal.
Julia Tu
Director of ON Investment Team
2022-
University of Waterloo
Director of ON Investment Team
2022-
University of Waterloo
Julia Tu
Julia studies Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management at the University of Waterloo. She has completed internships in a variety of different industries and roles including consulting and private investment risk.
Her passion and interest in the startup ecosystem started from her involvement in pro-bono consulting work with various startup companies, as part of a student consulting group. Julia is interested in learning more about the ag tech/food tech space and is passionate about supporting startups to build a stronger tech ecosystem in Canada.
In her free time, Julia enjoys meeting new people, cooking new foods and going to the gym. She is excited to continue being part of the Front Row Ventures team to support Canadian student founders.
Julia Tu
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
Julia Tu
Julia studies Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management at the University of Waterloo. She has completed internships in a variety of different industries including at a non-profit, a technology consulting startup, the public sector and most recently in private investment risk.
Her passion and interest in the startup ecosystem started from her involvement in pro-bono consulting work with various startup companies, as part of a student consulting group. Julia is interested in learning more about the ag tech/food tech space and is passionate about supporting startups to build a stronger tech ecosystem in Canada.
In her free time, Julia enjoys meeting new people, cooking new foods and going on walks. She is excited to be part of the Front Row Venture team to support Canadian student founders.
Juliana Whamond
Business Development Associate
2021-
Concordia University
Business Development Associate
2021-
Concordia University
Juliana Whamond
Juliana is a member of the Revenue Team at Front Row Ventures and a third-year student at Concordia University, pursuing a double major in International Business and Finance with co-op.
Juliana is committed to supporting startups in the Canadian ecosystem in their journey to achieving international expansion and success. Through FRV, she hopes to empower student entrepreneurs, bridging the gap between their ideas and funding.
Outside of FRV, Juliana is Co-President of the John Molson International Business Association and has recently discovered the excitement of the world of case competitions. She loves all things art, music, and theatre, and is eager to continue to travel the world upon completing her undergraduate degree.
Julie Douchin
QC Investment Associate
2022-
Université de Sherbrooke
QC Investment Associate
2022-
Université de Sherbrooke
Julie Douchin
Passionate by biology, Julie has an engineering degree in bio-industry, research and application major. Currently a PhD student in Pre Véronique Giroux’s lab, she is working on the cancer stem cells role in treatment resistance of esophageal cancer patients.
Naturally curious, Julie is always looking for new challenges. She likes to share science to the community and is involved in diverse associative activities. For example, she is vice-director of BistroBrain and also president of her student association. When Julie is not busy with her PhD and involvement, she likes doing sport, listening to music or playing with her cat.
June Hee You
QC Investment Associate
2022-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2022-
McGill University
June Hee You
June Hee is an investment associate at Front Row Ventures and he is currently pursuing an Economics degree, with a Minor in Environment, at McGill University. With his studies, June wishes to broaden and deepen his knowledge on the synergies between these two fields.
Prior to joining FRV, he was an Intern at Inovia Capital, working alongside the Marketing/Communications and the HR departments, where he was exposed to the vast possibilities and challenges of the VC world. More precisely, he had the opportunity to learn, with hands-on experience, about the Canadian Tech/VC ecosystem and to work within a consequential organization.
Now at Front Row Ventures, he wishes to learn more about how VC can have a broader impact on society. By truly immersing himself within the deeply intricate VC ecosystem, June hopes to be surrounded by passionate founders and fellow investors. In his free time, you’ll find June on his bike, playing tennis or watching anime.
Kalter Hali
Investment Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Kat Svikhnushin
Director of Community
2017-2018
McGill University
Director of Community
2017-2018
McGill University
Kat Svikhnushin
Katherine Lake
Investment Associate
2023-
McGill University
Katie Ko
Partnerships Associate
2021-
Western University
Partnerships Associate
2021-
Western University
Katie Ko
Katie is a second year student studying Management and Organisational Studies at Western University. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Katie embraces the startup scene given her affinity for fast-paced environments. Through her involvement in school clubs and internships, these experiences helped foster her interest in VC, entrepreneurship and technology. As the contact point of all external relations in Front Row Ventures, Katie takes pride in her ability to cultivate communities and bring people together. Katie hopes that through her efforts, she may inspire more students to consider VC and grow alongside like-minded individuals.
Khang Nghi Can
Investment Associate
2023-
Concordia University
Kyle Jackson
Director of ONT investment team
2022-
McMaster University
ON Investment Associate
2022-
McMaster University
Kyle Jackson
Kyle is an Investment Associate with the Ontario Investment Team at Front Row Ventures. As a graduate of McMaster University’s Biomedical Discovery & Commercialization Program, he enjoys bridging the gap between the life sciences and entrepreneurship. His passion for health entrepreneurship is routed in his previous work as a consultant for various early-stage ventures within the therapeutic and medical device sectors. In these positions, he has advised companies on their strategic business development, intellectual property strategies, market forecasting and financial modelling, and helped secured seed capital.
Kyle is a currently a PhD Student at McMaster University specializing in Chemical & Biological Engineering. His research explores the use of bacteriophages (bacterial viruses) to treat infections in the gut associated with chronic inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Kyle spearheads a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and clinicians as they evaluate the therapeutic potential of bacteriophages within the gut environment. At McMaster, Kyle is active member of multiple student organization on campus. In the past, he has served as the Operations Manager for the McMaster NEUDOSE mission, and currently advises the McMaster Synthetic Biology Research team in their research activities.
Outside school and work, Kyle is an avid functional fitness enthusiast, enjoys reading about global issues, and spending time with friends and family.
Kyle Seigel
Investment Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Laura Connolly
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Laura Connolly
Laura is a 21-year-old engineering student finishing up her fourth year of Electrical Engineering at Queen’s University with a specialisation in Biomedical engineering. She is passionate about giving students the opportunity and support to pursue new ventures and is particularly excited about looking for new ventures in medical technology and development.
Since May of 2018, Laura has been a student researcher at the Perk Lab on Queen’s campus where she has been closely involved in the development of data collection automation and machine learning projects. Laura is excited to bring her unique technical perspective to the FRV team and is looking forward to learning more about the business development side of venture capital.
Layss Majed
Investment Associate
2023-
McGill University
Leslie Ogilvie
Strategy Associate
2021-
University of Guelph
Strategy Associate
2021-
University of Guelph
Leslie Ogilvie
Leslie is a Strategy Associate at FRV. She holds an HBSc in Human Kinetics and is currently a second-year PhD candidate in human health science at the University of Guelph. She has extensive experience across several research disciplines and her current work focuses on the pathological effects of ovarian cancer on heart function. Leslie’s research experiences sparked her interest in gaining a better understanding of innovation and commercialization in the life sciences sector. Leslie is passionate about science communication and building valuable professional skills outside of the lab. She is excited to learn more about startup culture and Canada’s tech ecosystem through her experiences with FRV.
In her free time, you can find Leslie paddling, playing volleyball, or hitting the slopes on her snowboard.
Liat Fainman-Adelman
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Liat Fainman-Adelman
Liat is a fourth year student in the Queen’s Commerce program. Throughout high school she founded five different startups through various incubator programs, some of which have been featured on national news sites and catered to Fortune 500 customers. At Queen’s, Liat has been involved with the QUIC – a 30-person counsel with $1.4M AUM – and QTMA – a tech-focused product development and incubator program.
Work-wise, Liat spent her 2017 summer as the first Analyst Intern at iNovia Capital – a full-stack Montreal-based VC with $900M across three funds. Last summer, she was selected as one of 15 Canadian students to receive sponsorship for a work term in Asia through the SF-based Cansbridge Fellowship. After months of recruiting, she was hired as the first international intern at Grab – Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing giant and most successful startup ($10B valuation) – working on the company’s post-Uber acquisition strategy. This summer, Liat served as an Associate Consultant Intern at Bain. In her free time, Liat enjoys making dumplings, doing layout for Muse Magazine, and attending funk/r&b/techno concerts.
Loic Souetre
Investment Associate
2017-2018
HEC Montréal
Investment Associate
2017-2018
HEC Montréal
Loic Souetre
Loic holds a bachelor in Entrepreneurship and Finance from HEC Montreal and has been through Stanford in Tech Entrepreneurship.
He is the founder of Younity, a matchmaking platform for roommates based on human factors, targeting private and universities residences. Prior to joining FRV, he also co-founded YEP, the largest student entrepreneurship club in Montreal and was a TEDx speaker at the latest edition in Montreal.
Highly involved in the community, he strongly believes in FRV’s mission to empower student-entrepreneurs across Canada with both financial power and human capital.
Lucas Sekkat
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Concordia University
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Concordia University
Lucas Sekkat
As a student in Finance and Economics at John Molson School of Business, Lucas has been able to touch many essential subjects in the entrepreneurial field. Having a great interest in venture capital, he wants to continue his career towards this area.
Being passionate about FinTech, and new technologies Lucas wants to get more involved in the startup ecosystem of Montréal. He believes Front Row Ventures is a great and practical way to enter the startup ecosystem and to gain skills in venture capital.
Luke Jeagal
QC Investment Associate
2022-
UdeM
QC Investment Associate
2022-
UdeM
Luke Jeagal
Luke holds a BSc from the University of Toronto. He previously conducted clinical research on respirology and thoracic surgery at leading medical research centres in Canada, specifically on lung cancer, lung transplantation and tuberculosis. Luke co-authored a number of articles published in international medical journals, including a systematic review of AI in accurately diagnosing tuberculosis from CXRs.
Luke currently studies law at the University of Montreal. He previously conducted due diligence and contributed to the closing of M&A and financing transactions at national and international law firms across Canada. Luke advised on comparative legal regulatory frameworks to US House and Senate committees as an intern at the Law Library of Congress.
Luke is a bona fide globetrotter having lived in 7 cities across 3 continents. He enjoys nature hikes and team sports. Luke is also an avid cinephile.
Maharshi Desai
Strategy Associate
2022-
Western University
Strategy Associate
2022-
Western University
Maharshi Desai
Maharshi is a fourth-year student studying business and statistics at Ivey Business School. He has a passion for all things VC, having co-founded his school’s first VC club, and wanting to see Canadian founders and VCs compete and succeed on a global stage.
Maharshi is a data-driven and analytical thinker, which he brings with him to the strategy team at FRV. His interests from an entrepreneurial sense lie in the FinTech space, particularly in helping to democratize complex financial systems – which he had the opportunity to do through working a summer at Mastercard.
Outside of work, Maharshi enjoys playing tennis, squash, chess, and going on hikes in the wilderness!
Makoto Rheault-Kihara
Investment Associate
2017-2018
McGill University
Investment Associate
2017-2018
McGill University
Makoto Rheault-Kihara
Makoto studies in International Business at McGill, but he is passionate about growth marketing. He’s currently Director of Marketing at Seahub, a new cruise booking site part of the Momentum Travel group, which includes sites like Flighthub and Justfly and has over 700 employees.
Makoto was previously at Busbud, the bus OTA with the largest coverage in the world. He worked in a two-person team focused on paid acquisition, helping Busbud reach hundreds of thousands of travelers every month.
As Front Row Ventures’ Partner at McGill, his goal is to help develop the entrepreneurship ecosystem at McGill and solidify Montreal’s position as a tech hub.
Marc Jeanne-Julien
QC Investment Associate
2021-
HEC Montréal
QC Investment Associate
2021-
HEC Montréal
Marc Jeanne-Julien
Marc is a member of the investment team at Front Row Ventures and currently studying business intelligence at HEC Montréal.
Passionate about technology and innovation, Marc is dedicated to making a positive impact on the canadian startup ecosystem by helping ambitious and driven students tackle issues with their startups. As the co-founder of Kernel, a fintech startup, he has been experiencing some of the challenges met by student founders and is excited to share his insights to help others innovate.
Always eager to learn, Marc is constantly working to have a more precise understanding of the tech ecosystem by approaching it from different angles. His time working at Scale AI and volunteering at the Creative Destruction Lab in Montreal allowed him to gather knowledge which will be valuable for his work at FRV.
At HEC, he has been involved in multiple clubs to organize academic and entrepreneurial competitions as well as conferences. Most recently, he wrote the Entre-preneurs series for the entrepreneurship club and met 29 entrepreneurs from various fields to share their experiences and mindset with the student community.
Marc is passionate about playing and listening to music and is always looking for playlist recommendations!
Marie-Agnes M’Callum
QC Investment Associate
2022-
UdeM
QC Investment Associate
2022-
UdeM
Marie-Agnes M’Callum
Marie-Agnès is a Ph.D Candidate in molecular biology at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine. Her research focuses on the mechanisms involved in reprogramming somatic cells to produce induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). On the other hand, she generates liver human organoids derived from iPSCs to model Alagille syndrome in vitro to understand the pathophysiology of this disease.
She is passionate about entrepreneurship, learning about new technologies and bringing innovative ideas to the next level. By joining FRV, Marie-Agnès was looking for a way to support new startups with great potential. Alongside with her research, she is enrolled in the Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Development Program (LSEDP) which provide strategies to develop and grow cutting-edge tech companies.
In her free time, Marie-Agnès loves painting, dancing, and cooking elaborate meals.
Mario Bitar
Data Associate
2022-
McGill University
Data Associate
2022-
McGill University
Mario Bitar
Matteo Sotelo
BC Investment Associate
2024-
University of Victoria
BC Investment Associate
2024-
University of Victoria
Matteo Sotelo
A University of Victoria Business Commerce student experienced in startups, finance, and venture capital, passionate about technology-driven innovation and fostering positive change.
Matthew Dickinson
Investment Associate
2018-2020
McGill University
Investment Associate
2018-2020
McGill University
Matthew Dickinson
Matthew can be characterized by his love for computers, systems and software. Since he was young, he has always found himself tinkering and playing with various pieces of technology in his spare time, whether that be building computers, coding or looking for ways to improve his life, and the lives of those around him, with technological tools. As he grew up, his passion for technology only increased and was later joined by a love for business, inspired by entrepreneurs both from his personal life and those whose ideas have drastically changed the way we live and work around the globe.
Matthew is entering his 4th year as an undergraduate at McGill, studying Information Systems and Computer Science. He has spent the past few years searching for interesting ideas, people and experiences, including a semester at the National University of Singapore and working with various non-profits. In the future, he hopes to apply his technical knowledge and business education to build and work with industry shaping technology within the cybersecurity, productivity or business intelligence software spaces.
Matthew Frances
QC Investment Associate
2021-
Concordia University
QC Investment Associate
2021-
Concordia University
Matthew Frances
Matthew is a Software Engineering student at Montreal’s Concordia University. He is passionate about using technology to solve people’s day to day pain points and helping ambitious students get the education and resources they need to launch their ideas.
Prior to joining FRV, Matthew co-founded and led GCES, a student association on a mission to grow Concordia’s entrepreneurial community for Engineering and Computer Science students. He also worked at both startups and large-sized ventures in full stack web and mobile development, where he learned the stages of building a product from MVP to production.
At FRV, he is eager to connect student entrepreneurs with the best resources available to them while continuing to grow the entrepreneurial community within universities.
In his free time, you can find Matthew skateboarding, running or building out his most recent tech idea.
Meir Hersson-Edery
Portfolio Support Associate
2022-
University of Montreal
Portfolio Support Associate
2022-
University of Montreal
Meir Hersson-Edery
Meir is a portfolio support associate with Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. Having just graduated from the University of Montréal with a Bachelor’s of Civil Law, Meir is currently completing his Juris Doctor at the same school. Passionate about innovation, high growth and unlocking student potential, Meir joins the FRV team with goals to provide legal and financial information and structure to portfolio companies to help them maximise their growth.
Meir previously worked at a Montreal-based Series C stage company providing legal support on a diverse range of subjects including intellectual property, privacy and employment law, as well as developing preparations for a future round of financing. Meir has also worked at Garage Légal, a legal information clinic exclusively servicing startups and prospective entrepreneurs.
Outside of venture capital and startups, Meir is materially involved in a number of community groups and political parties. Meir’s passions include cooking, exploring Montreal and winemaking.
Michael Gaudioso
Business Development Associate
2021-
McGill University
Business Development Associate
2021-
McGill University
Michael Gaudioso
Michael is a Revenue Associate in Quebec and a fourth-year student at McGill University seeking a degree in Materials Engineering with co-op and a minor in Technological Entrepreneurship. He is passionate about advancing human progress through technology and furthering the FRV mission onto more Canadian university campuses.
He is originally from the United States, where he thrice summer-interned for a data migration and IT startup, helping it grow from 20 employees – to – acquisition. This journey fuels his passion for startup culture, Venture Capital, and progress-related technologies.
Outside of FRV, he is a member of the McGill Baseball Team, where as a catcher and co-fundraising director he helped lead the team to a National Championship in 2018. He also has a passion for aerospace material development and manufacturing, exemplified by his research in aerospace composites at the National Research Council of Canada.
Mila Bjelica
Investment Associate
2023-
Université de Montréal
Mudher “Memo” Al Noori
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
University of Alberta
Nazuk (Naz) Thakkar
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Nazuk (Naz) Thakkar
Having lived in Singapore for 6 years, Naz brings a fresh perspective to the FRV team from her diverse experiences living in South East Asia. Having now completed her second year studying Commerce at Queen’s University, Naz is the youngest member on the Front Row team with a passion for learning and a growing interest in VC.
Last summer she worked as an associate with Trend Forward Capital, an American tech venture capital company in New York City. Having worked with Trend Forward at Las Vegas’ notorious Consumer Electronics Show in 2019, Naz has had experience working and meeting with various entrepreneurs and helping host the TFC Investment Pitch-Off Competition. Moreover, having worked with cybersecurity company Trend Micro, she also has experience with machine learning and IoT advances in this space.
With a long-running background in athletics, both playing and coaching soccer as well as powerlifting, Naz has a profound interest in bio-tech and sports technologies. Having also been a frosh representative for Queen’s Social Investment Initiative, the first university-based impact investing organization in Canada, Naz is interested in technology that attacks pressing developmental issues and provides social benefits for global sustainability.
Nicolas (Nic) Theriault
Strategy Associate
2019-2021
Western University
Strategy Associate
2019-2021
Western University
Nicolas (Nic) Theriault
Nicolas is a fourth-year student at Western University currently enrolled both in the HBA and MSc in Digital Management programs at the Ivey Business School. Named three times Academic All-Canadian, Nic is passionate about early stage ventures and their disruptive potential. Leveraging his experience working at Round13 Capital and Fidelity Investments, he is highly motivated about working with ambitious entrepreneurs challenging the status quo. He is fascinated by the growing Canadian tech scene in general but is most interested by the fintech space and AI.
When he is not working on FRV, Nic spends most of his time on the football field as the Team Captain of Western’s Varsity Football Team and a 2021 CFL Draft prospect. Over the last three years, he helped the Mustangs secure two provincial titles and win their first National Championship in 23 years.
Nicolas Bouvier
Business Development Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Business Development Associate
2020-2021
McGill University
Nicolas Bouvier
Nicolas is a member of the Business Development Team at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. Currently studying Materials Engineering at McGill University, he is driven by technology, with a keen interest in solving problems in creative and innovative.
Having lived in five different countries over the past 20 years, Nicolas cherishes eclectic environments. His work at ‘Marbré’, a student run organization in Montreal specializing in music event logistics, has demonstrated his ability to coordinate diversified teams whilst continuously delivering results.
Prior to FRV, he developed his entrepreneurial spirit at ‘Devialet’, a French Startup company specializing in high end loudspeakers. This internship in the Parisian startup ecosystem led Nicolas to take on more entrepreneurial roles in Montreal such as financial director of ‘Marbré’.
When Nicolas is not at work or university, you can find him producing his latest song or playing tennis with friends and family.
Nicolas Synnott
Co-Founder @ Front Row Ventures
2017-
Université de Montréal
Co-Founder @ Front Row Ventures
2016–
Université de Montréal
Nicolas Synnott
Studying International Studies, Nicolas always seeks to empower communities here and abroad.
Responsible of business development at La Gare last year, he discovered Montreal’s dynamic startup community and its undeniable impact on the metropolis.
Front Row Ventures’ poet and community builder now dreams of helping Sub-Saharan African communities build their own ecosystems as a viable solution to current failing models of development.
Noah Wong
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Western University
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Western University
Noah Wong
Noah Wong is a second-year student at the University of Western Ontario currently pursuing a dual degree in Health Sciences and Business Administration. He is beginning to work in the start-up space with a specific focus on operations, growth marketing, and business development as an Operations Associate Intern, at Hipcamp, the world’s largest marketplace for outdoor stays. In addition, Noah works as a Consultant at JUV Consulting where he advises Fortune 500 companies on developing marketing strategies to effectively engage with Generation Z.
In the future, Noah hopes to work in management consulting and help businesses solve organizational and strategic challenges.
In his free time, Noah can be found exploring the mountains of British Columbia on foot and with skis, spending hours on public transit trying to find new restaurants and coffee shops, and rewatching his favourite shows on Netflix like Modern Family and How I Met Your Mother.
Noah Wong
Investment Associate
2023-
Western University
Ofure Itua
Investment Associate
2023-
McMaster University
Oksana Chunitska
Portfolio Support Associate
2022-
McMaster University
Portfolio Support Associate
2022-
McMaster University
Oksana Chunitska
Oksana studies Materials Engineering with a specialization in Biomaterials at McMaster University. She is currently a Senior Technical Consultant for a boutique consulting firm in New York. In this role, she assists clients with optimizing and implementing technical solutions while contributing to the internal development of the business.
Her passion for innovation led her to complete an internship at Sunnybrook Hospital as a Medventions fellow, where she began working on a technology to improve processes in the interventional cardiology space. Oksana looks forward to assisting portfolio companies raise subsequent rounds through supporting business operations and preparing companies to pitch to investors.
In her spare time, Oksana enjoys learning different programming languages, solving puzzles, and staying active.
Olivia Tiessen
Investment Associate
2023-
Wilfried Laurier University
Patrick Singal
ON Investment Associate
2021-
Queen’s University
ON Investment Associate
2021-
Queen’s University
Patrick Singal
Patrick is a member of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures. A mechanical engineering student at Queen’s University, he is particularly interested in agro-tech, electric mobility, renewable energy, and other sustainable business applications of engineering design.
Prior to FRV, Patrick founded and managed the Queen’s Vertical Farming Team (QVFT), which is Canada’s first undergraduate design team of its kind. Since 2019, he has worked alongside a dedicated group of engineers and business students to design and finance a functional, software-automated vertical farm in Kingston, ON. Patrick also completed a previous mechanical internship with MCW Custom Energy Solutions in Toronto, ON.
As part of the FRV investment team, Patrick welcomes the opportunity to connect with inspiring student entrepreneurs. He views his own technical background as a helpful asset for understanding founders’ ideas, needs, and goals.
In his spare time, Patrick can be found playing cards, reading the news, and exploring the Great Outdoors. He likes playing baseball, fishing, and golfing.
Peter Fojtu
Investment Associate
2018-2019
McGill University
Investment Associate
2018-2019
McGill University
Peter Fojtu
Peter is currently in his last year at McGill University, pursuing a major in Finance and a concentration in Accounting. While at McGill, he has been apart of the largest for-profit student-run consulting club: JED. In addition, he has been co-president for the McGill Students Business Review over the past year and a half.
Over the past summer, he worked for a private equity firm in Montreal investing in SaaS companies across North America. Peter is looking to combine his experience with private equity, consulting, and a passion for startups to help invest and guide student companies across Quebec.
Peter Zhang
Partnerships Associate
2021–
McMaster University
Partnerships Associate
2021–
McMaster University
Peter Zhang
Techie, foodie, everything in between. Passionate about disruptive technologies and fintech.
Philippe Bardot-Rabello
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
Philippe Bardot-Rabello
Philippe is a finance student at McGill Universityand a current member of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures
Philippe was raised both in France and Brazil assimilating the two countries’ cultures and having the opportunity to understand the dynamics of both emerging and developed markets. Philippe’s experiences range from entrepreneurship and startup acceleration, to working in trading and equity research. Philippe is specifically passionate about the intersection of entrepreneurship and finance which naturally led him to venture capital.
As part of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures, Philippe welcomes the opportunity to discover a new entrepreneurial ecosystem and finding the next companies that will not only change Canada but the whole world.
In his spare time, you can find Philippe playing soccer with friends or reading french literature.
Pier-Luc Nadeau-Labadie
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
Pier-Luc Nadeau-Labadie
Pier-Luc is studying Surgical Innovation with a focus in entrepreneurship at McGill University. He has a background in biomedical engineering. He was drawn to Front Row Ventures (FRV) to have the opportunity to help student founders to propel their ideas and see how their solution would help impact the lives of their intended users.
Before joining FRV, while in his undergrad, Pier-Luc was heavily involved in student clubs and societies, like his engineering society and being on the Board of the Ontario Engineering Competition, to improve the student experience of his peers. After graduating, he started a surgical improvement system for a minimally-invasive heart valve replacement. Having loved the enthusiasm and potential of the founders within the start-up ecosystem he knew that this environment was where he wanted to be.
Now as a member of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures, Pier-Luc is excited to find promising student founders and inspire them to think bigger and push the limits of their idea, while motivating students to become entrepreneurs.
When not working, Pier-Luc plays rugby, hockey, or tennis depending on the season. He is also a big fan of reading in parks or local coffee shops.
Pruthvinath Rao Dhannapuneni
Investment Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Qhalisa Khan
Investment Associate
2019-2020
University of Waterloo
Investment Associate
2019-2020
University of Waterloo
Qhalisa Khan
Qhalisa was born and raised in Africa – Kenya tell? She is passionate about creating impact, finding challenge, taking risks and believes that growth comes from “getting comfortable with being uncomfortable”. Qhalisa is a lover of laughter, learning, coffee and puns.
Qhalisa is currently in her final year at the University of Waterloo studying Accounting and Financial Management and has completed a total of four work terms (16 months of work experience) within diverse areas of knowledge: Audit at Ernst & Young, Investments at Manulife, Valuations at OTPP and finally to her true calling, Venture Capital at iGan Partners. This set of holistic experiences has given her a great view from the Front Row, where she hopes to make valuable contributions to bring visions to life.
Qhalisa has developed a passion for being part of the next big thing, evaluating new technologies and being immersed within the rapidly evolving start-up landscape in Canada. She brings her diversity, open-mindedness and unique skillset to the Front Row. She highly values quality of relationships, social capital and is excited to explore the immense opportunities venture capital has to offer. In the long-term, Qhalisa hopes to pursue impact investing in emerging markets.
Rae Liu
Investment Associate
2019-2020
University of Toronto
Investment Associate
2019-2020
University of Toronto
Rae Liu
Rae is currently finishing her part-time MBA degree at the University of Toronto. She received a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance, with Honours, from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia in May, 2016.
Post-graduation, she joined Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc. full-time as a fixed income analyst. She has passed all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program and may be awarded the charter upon completion of the required work experience. She is also a Leslie Wong Fellow, having participated in UBC’s Portfolio Management Foundation program during her time at Sauder.
Prior to joining Gluskin Sheff, Rae worked as a Summer Investment Analyst at Guardian Capital, RBC Global Asset Management (Phillips, Hager & North) and RP Investment Advisors.
Rebecca Allan
ON Investment Associate
2022-
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2022-
University of Toronto
Rebecca Allan
Rebecca is a final year Chemistry PhD student at the University of Toronto. Her previous research roles at Cardiff and Oxford University have prepared her for a medicinal chemistry focused thesis where she investigates novel therapeutics for untreated rare diseases and cancers. She is a co-founder for a start-up that applies a unique platform to develop pre-clinical candidates for untreated rare diseases. Rebecca hopes to continue contributing to the Canadian life sciences ecosystem through venture capital and creation.
Outside of the lab, Rebecca enjoys skiing and sailing, as well as involving herself with intramurals at UofT. She loves independent coffee shops and exploring new places.
Rebecca looks forward to joining FRV’s investment team to support inspirational student founders.
Reesa Dayani
Investment Associate
2023-
Western University
Richard Waines
ON Investment Associate
2021-
York University
ON Investment Associate
2021-
York University
Richard Waines
Richard is a senior studying at the Schulich School of Business. He’s passionate about team dynamics and how simple leadership principles can have a wide impact. This interest developed throughout his experience in the infantry reserve, where he serves as an airborne section second-in-command. His experiences working at EY Private, and in Advisory at BDC have all been directed by his passion for the entrepreneur. He is most curious about innovation in the Healthtech, Cleantech, and Agritech sectors.
Outside the office, he can be found outdoors: diving, mountaineering, canoeing, rock-climbing, and organizing longer group expeditions. He is now preparing for a summit of Mt. Shasta & Mt. Robson.
Renaud Dupont
Investment Associate
2019–2020
Université de Sherbrooke
Investment Associate
2019–2020
Université de Sherbrooke
Renaud is part of the Front Row Ventures investment team. He is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Robotics Engineering at the University of Sherbrooke in his third year. Over the past few years, he has acquired a variety of experiences in biomedical engineering, autonomous navigation and startups during several internships and extracurricular involvement. His ambition is to contribute to the development of new technologies that will allow humans to improve their quality of life and accomplish extraordinary projects. He joined Front Row Ventures to propel innovative projects that have the potential to change the world.
Ridhdi Dave
ON Investment Associate
2021-
McMaster University
ON Investissement Associate
2021-
McMaster University
Ridhdi Dave
Ridhdhi is currently a Chemical Engineering PhD student at McMaster University. She has a background in Chemical and Bioengineering with a special interest in entrepreneurship and health tech. She is recently working as a Market Access Intern at 20/20 OptimEyes Technologies, a biotechnology start-up originated at McMaster University developing a transformative drug delivery platform for ocular diseases.
Ridhdhi has also completed various commercialization and entrepreneurship programs including Lab2Market-Health, one of Canada’s leading health innovation accelerators launched to accelerate health innovation and support researchers who are addressing pressing problems in the healthcare industry.
In her free time, Ridhdhi enjoys running, hiking, camping, and traveling. Ridhdhi is excited to be a part of the Front Row Ventures team and help support Canadian student entrepreneurs!
Rita Jin
Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Robert Harvey
Investment Associate
2023-
Simon Fraser University
Robert-Eduard Tizu
Director of Legal Affairs
2021-
Université de Sherbrooke
Director of Legal Affairs
2021-
Université de Sherbrooke
Robert-Eduard Tizu
Robert loves poutine and tech. Always with the latest phone in hand, he loves going out in the world meeting new startups and helping as much as he can. Inhabited by an unusual dynamism and a formidable power of persuasion, Robert knows how to mobilize people around a cause he believes in to achieve results that no one would have thought possible.
During his studies in Law at Sherbrooke University, he distinguished himself by his sense of initiative and his involvement in several groups and associations, which allowed him to acquire a sense of management and problem solving.
Highly involved in the community, he strongly believes in FRV’s mission to empower student-entrepreneurs across Canada with both financial power and human capital. His desire to make a bigger impact attracted him to entrepreneurship.
Roy Eyono
Data Associate
2021-
McGill University
Data Associate
2021-
McGill University
Roy Eyono
Roy is a Data Associate at Front Row Ventures and a PhD Candidate at McGill University and the Quebec Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA). He is passionate about advancing humanity through artificial intelligence and championing the FRV mindset across the Canadian startup ecosystem.
He is originally from South Africa and Cameroon, which fuels his passion for tackling social problems on the African continent through disruptive technologies and startups.
When not doing research or engaging in the startup ecosystem, he thoroughly enjoys working on voice-over projects and mixing it up on his DJ controller!
Ryan Borotra
Investment Associate
2023-
Université de Montréal
Rylan Cloney
Business Development Associate
2022-
Dalhousie University
Business Development Associate
2022-
Dalhousie University
Rylan Cloney
Rylan is a Business Development Associate at Front Row Ventures and is currently enrolled in Industrial Engineering at Dalhousie University. Rylan is passionate about innovation, fintech, electronics, machinery, and Saas.
Apart from Front Row Ventures, Rylan is also a Financial Lead at Dalhousie Formula SAE, a student-run organization that designs, builds and competes with an electric open-wheeled race car. As the Financial Lead, he is responsible for developing relationships with new potential sponsors and promoting the team.
With FRV, Rylan is excited to get involved in the VC environment and learn from experienced FRV alumni. Rylan hopes to gain a better understanding of the startup ecosystem while interacting with Canada’s brightest student founders.
Aside from work and university, Rylan enjoys being active and playing many sports like soccer. He can also be found listening to music, playing piano, or exploring Halifax.
Sabreen Sidhu
ON Investment Associate
2022-
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2022-
University of Toronto
Sabreen Sidhu
Sabreen is a second year master’s student at the University of Toronto studying Financial Economics. In her previous co-op terms at MD Financial Management (Scotiabank subsidiary) and Public Sector Pension (PSP) Sabreen has explored multiple facets including finance, economics and strategy. Sabreen is particularly passionate about innovation and aims to use her passion, her experiences and her role at Front Row Ventures to connect startups to resources and grow startup communities.
Outside of her professional experience she loves to play an excessive amount of ultimate frisbee and work on sustainable dressmaking. You can find her in Toronto throwing a frisbee or exploring new eateries. She will also never say no to a good cup of tea and is always happy to chat.
Sabreen is ecstatic to join the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures to invest in Canada’s extraordinary student founders.
Sachin Davis
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
Sachin Davis
Sachin is an Associate on the Ontario Investment Team at FRV and a Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto where he does research in DNA nanotechnology. In 2020, he graduated from McMaster University where he completed his senior thesis developing machine learning techniques to accelerate drug discovery. Sachin’s experience conducting research in no less than five academic labs has equipped him with a body of knowledge spanning such diverse topics as the microbiome, synthetic biology and machine learning.
Sachin’s other experiences include co-founding Flora Bioworks: an early stage biotechnology company based in Toronto, MacHacks (MLH Hackathon), and working at the Royal Ontario Museum (he nearly decided to major in archaeology).
When he’s not working, Sachin can usually be found playing guitar, reading obscure wikipedia articles, or exploring the backcountry by canoe.
Sajal Chodha
Director of Portfolio Support
2020-
York University
Director of Portfolio Support
2020-
York University
Sajal Chodha
Sajal is an FinTech enthusiast who is a third-year student pursuing his BBA (specializing in Finance, Economics, and Operations) at the Schulich School of Business – York University. Sajal is currently working as a Lead Developer at Kitty Savings, a FinTech startup improving business to bank to customer transfers. Alongside his role at Kitty, Sajal continues to lead PentaHacks, an organization focused on disrupting the recruitment process.
His passion for helping the community by building and supporting initiatives aimed at aiding those most vulnerable and inexperienced has brought him to FRV. Through FRV, Sajal looks forward to encouraging students of several institutions to explore the new age of entrepreneurship.
Salam Bouhabel
QC Investment Associate
2022-
ÉTS
QC Investment Associate
2022-
ÉTS
Salam Bouhabel
Salam Bouhabel is a master engineering student in the surgical innovation program at École de technologie supérieure University. She is convinced that technology will answer our most urgent problems in healthcare.
Before joining FRV, she co-founded Vope Medical, a medical technology startup aiming to improve visualization in minimally invasive surgery. She’s also a health professional and passionate about bridging the minority gap in the venture capitalist ecosystem.
At FRV she is eager to connect the most ambitious and driven student entrepreneurs with the best resources available to them while continuing to grow the entrepreneurial community within universities.
In my free time, you can find Salam trying new recipes, painting, or building her next tech project.
Samuel Lo
Portfolio Support Associate
2022-
Western University
Portfolio Support Associate
2022-
Western University
Samuel Lo
Sana Khan
Data Associate
2022-
Queen’s University
Data Associate
2022-
Queen’s University
Sana Khan
Sana Khan drives data-driven decision-making by converting data into a story easily comprehendible by stakeholders. At Queen’s University, Sana learns Management Analytics and uses premier tools to change data into insight.
She has worked with Bosch and their quantum sensors department and also with Amazon in their payments team. She is self-motivated, eager to learn individual, who is always up for the new challenges that life has to offer.
Sean Monteiro
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Queen’s University
Sean Monteiro
Calgary born and Saudi raised, Sean is a fourth year biomechanical engineering student at Queen’s University with a strong interest in high growth entrepreneurship and corporate innovation. Having spent time researching wrists at the Human Mobility Research Lab, Sean used his knowledge to build assistive devices that he has presented globally. Continuing to have an international impact, he has participated in many Canadian leadership programs including being 1 of 15 selected for the Cansbridge Fellowship and 1 of 36 selected for the Next 36.
Corporate wise, Sean has worked with GM’s autonomous division and found a knack for innovative problem solving where he managed an internal venture ($100MM+ ARR), accrued four patents, and was the youngest IP holder within GM North America during his time at the company. He later worked at CIRC e-scooters where he managed Nordic Strategy and the city of Stockholm- scaling them from two scooters to being one of the company’s most profitable cities prior to their acquisition by Bird micromobility. In his free time Sean enjoys playing rugby and exploring the outdoors.
Shiyan Boxer
Data Associate
2019-2021
Queen’s University
Data Associate
2019-2021
Queen’s University
Shiyan Boxer
Shiyan is currently entering her second year at Queen’s University in Computer Engineering and Innovations. Her program incorporates the design thinking and technical aspects of engineering with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Shiyan is excited to be joining Front Row Ventures and looks forward to the opportunity of working with like-minded individuals who are interested in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology. She is eager to learn and become involved with her team by empowering Canadian student start-ups.
Shiyan is passionate about Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Entrepreneurship, Music and the Arts. Recognizing the power of innovation and technology to change the world for the better, her long term goal is to start an AI company focusing on improving the environment. Shiyan aspires to use her skills and knowledge to develop a unique product and/or service that will enhance people’s lives.
Shawn Wu
Portfolio Support Associate
2021-
University of Western Ontario
Portfolio Support Associate
2021-
University of Western Ontario
Shawn Wu
Shawn is an Accounting and Finance student at Ryerson University (Toronto, ON). Before that, he finished his undergrad in Health Sciences at McMaster University, and later finished his Graduate Diploma in Business at Queen’s University. After attending various university hackathons in his 2nd year undergrad, Shawn saw the passion and potential of student entrepreneurs in creating visionary solutions, and thus started his journey in the start-up ecosystem. His journey first started at HacktheCity (a Hamilton start-up accelerator) as a Program Development Officer, where he designed workshops and consulted student entrepreneurs in bringing their solution from ideas to market. He then co-founded a social initiative called The Human Book Collection – an organization focused on promoting empathy, dispelling bias and prejudices, and fostering meaningful connections, through storytelling. Soon after, he started helping a R&D biotech start-up as a business development associate, working in various capacities (e.g. marketing, fundraising, HR). As he progresses in his journey in the start-up space, Shawn would love to learn more about helping entrepreneurs advance from seed to series funding. In his free time, Shawn loves gaming with his friends, learning more about Buddhism, reading articles on Chinese metaphysics, and playing online poker.
Simon Chamarro
Investment Associate
2019–2020
Université de Sherbrooke
Simon Chamarro
Simon is a member of the Quebec Investment Team at Front Row Ventures and a 3rd-year Robotics Engineering student at the University of Sherbrooke.
Simon is passionate about developing robots to solve significant problems and build a better world. Last summer, he had the chance to learn from great mentors while conducting research at Mila, Quebec’s Artificial Intelligence Institute, and he is now at Huawei, working on self-driving technology.
Simon was introduced to the entrepreneurial ecosystem through events such as the Startup Weekend, which he attended and then organized. He now wants to help propel Canadian student entrepreneurs with Front Row Ventures.
Simon Martel
Data Associate
2021-
Bishop’s University
Data Associate
2021-
Bishop’s University
Simon Martel
Simon is currently in his 4th year at Bishop’s University, completing a Finance major with a minor in Computer Science. He believes that financial education is paramount to a successful life and that innovation through technology should be used to give access to the financial world to more people.
At Bishop’s, Simon is involved as VP Relations for the Bishop’s University Commerce Society. He makes it his mission to connect with new people and to build meaningful relationships, all with the purpose of enriching the business student experience at BU.
He is passionate about the power of data analytics and the knowledge waiting to be discovered. HIs role as data associate at FRV aims to support every decision with specific and useful data.
In his spare time, you can find Simon enjoying all that the Eastern Townships have to offer: golfing, biking and skiing are among his favorite activities.
Sophia Nguyen
Investment Associate
2023-
Simon Fraser University
Steve Joseph
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Brock University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Brock University
Steve Joseph
Steve is an enthusiastic student in his fourth year of the BBA Co-op program – Goodman School of Business at Brock University. He is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and helping them achieve their goals and dreams. Steve is especially interested in SaaS and Fintech companies.
Prior to joining FRV, Steve completed a one year commercial banking internship with the Business Development Bank of Canada. The BDC is the only bank exclusively devoted to entrepreneurs in Canada. After the internship, Steve joined the BDC IT Venture Fund as a Co-op Junior Analyst. While working with IT Venture Fund, he was exposed to the VC-Tech ecosystem and due diligence process. Steve is currently doing a co-op term with the Brokerage Operations Team at Wealthsimple.
Outside of school and work, Steve can be found biking, playing various sports, practicing violin, and enjoying a good book.
Steven Lui
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Queen’s University
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Queen’s University
Steven Lui
Steven is a second-year Commerce student at Queen’s University specializing in Finance and pursuing a Computer Science dual degree. He has worked with a private equity firm and an advisory group called Apex Advisory and has an upcoming position on the Assurance team at PwC.
Fueled by Steven’s increasing interest in the blockchain space and his exposure to startups and angel networks through Apex, he strives to learn more about other people’s startup ideas and build a network of entrepreneurs.
Beyond his professional life, Steven actively searches for emerging restaurants within the GTA to best suit meals with friends, coworkers, or even first-time meetups. Although it adds to his gains, it’s offset with activities such as rock climbing and hiking. Other than his hobbies, Steven looks forward to studying at the National University of Singapore in his 2023 Winter.
Subaita Rahman
Director of Growth
2021-2021
University of Toronto
Director of Growth
2021-2021
University of Toronto
Subaita Rahman
Subaita is a Third Year Genome Biology & Immunology student at the University of Toronto. She’s excited to direct this years growth team and help expand FRV. Subaita’s future goals is to help people start biotech companies. She has previous experiences doing marketing for University of Toronto Entrepreneurship, is currently a fellow at the DMZ, and co-founded a cohort-based community of undergraduate biotech innovators.
Sunny Wang
Community Associate
2019-2020
Western University
Community Associate
2019-
Western University
Sunny Wang
Entering her second year at Western University, Sunny is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in History, Philosophy and Business. She’s an avid fan of all things tech, and having spent consecutive summers immersed in the Toronto startup ecosystem, a proponent for supporting early-stage entrepreneurs.
Sunny is currently interning at Crescendo, a diversity tech firm backed by Next36, Techstars, and the DMZ. In school, she serves as President of The Pre-Business Students’ Network, Western’s largest undergraduate business club, and is an active contributor to the Scotiabank Digital Banking Lab’s Canadian Fintech Project. She’s excited to be a part of Front Row Venture’s Community Team, and looks forward to supporting the organization’s expansion into Ontario universities.
In her free time, Sunny spends time at the gym, with friends, or with a good book in hand.
Swarit Dholakia
ON Investment Associate
2020–
Western University
ON Investment Associate
2020–
Western University
Swarit Dholakia
Swarit is a 19-year-old tech and startup nerd in his second-year studying software engineering at Western University, interested in solving large problems that impact billions.
Swarit was previously one of TD Bank’s youngest employees, as a data science intern working in payments; is an alum of The Knowledge Society, a human-accelerator training teens to solve large problems through which he consulted on engagement with Walmart Canada and Wealthsimple Foundation; and has worked with various Toronto fintech startups through his involvement with The Ivey Fintech Club’s Pro-Bono Consulting Group.
At Front Row Ventures, Swarit works to grow the deal flow and talent coming out of Canadian campuses while elevating Front Row’s position as the primary partner for Canadian student startups.
Swarit is a competitive cyclist, improving triathlete and avid beach volleyball enthusiast. He likes to read, watch documentaries and action films and shares his thoughts through writing, at www.swarit.live.
Tanishq Maheshwari
Business Development Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
Business Development Associate
2021-
University of Waterloo
Tanishq Maheshwari
Tanishq is a rising sophomore pursuing a Bachelor’s of Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. Most recently, he worked as a software developer at Mappedin, a company focused on improving accessibility of the indoors through digital mapping solutions. In the past he had the opportunity to work at a startup offering income share agreements to improve fair financing for post-secondary education and founded a startup aiming to remove implicit biases from hiring practices in the tech industry.
Through Front Row Ventures, Tanishq hopes to improve accessibility and equity by increasing opportunities and financing available to student founders. As a member of the revenue team, he’s excited to develop new streams of revenue in order to scale Front Row Ventures to invest in a greater number of startups.
Tareeq Mangalji
Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Terence Wong
Investment Associate
2023-
University of Waterloo
Théo Fregefond
Investment Associate
2019–2020
École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS)
Investment Associate
2019–2020
École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS)
Théo Fregefond
Théo is part of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures in Montreal.
With an Embedded system engineering background, he is finishing his academic training with a Master in Management of Innovation at École de Technologie Supérieure of Montreal.
Open to various technologies, he studied Integrated Circuit Design in the Engineering Faculty of Lund in Sweden and have a deep understanding of the Artificial Intelligence’s potential and challenges with working experience in human displacement prediction in the French Start-up Innoside.
Inspired by the power of ideas and the benefit of innovation at all levels of society, he invests his energy and his time to today’s entrepreneurs who will support the sustainable development of tomorrow’s word.
Therence Bois
Director of Investment
2017-2018
Université de Montréal
Director of Investment
2017-2018
Université de Montréal
Therence Bois
Therence recently started his Ph.D. in molecular and cellular medicine at Université de Montréal. This life-sciences geek is passionate about disruptive technologies in the healthcare space and is currently developing an AI-powered drug development platform in his spare time.
Whether helping to bring the lean startup methodology to the MT Lab or volunteering at FounderFuel Demo Day, Therence is always happy to get involved with the startup community. As the Partner of UQAM-ESG-ÉTS cluster, he hopes to help develop the startup culture on campus while building bridges throughout the entire Montreal ecosystem.
Thomas Molina
QC Investment Associate
2021-
University of Montreal
QC Investment Associate
2021-
University of Montreal
Thomas Molina
Thomas is part of the Investment Team at Front Row Venture (FRV). By working in a research laboratory, he faced the importance of start-ups in his field. Then he joined FRV to find out the new tech-companies which will participate in building a better world.
Before FRV, Thomas has always been interested in investment. In fact, he used to invest into start-ups and real estate on his own through crowdfunding platform, in France. But what really got him into the entrepreneurship and start-ups ecosystem was a program provided by FRQS and called QcSE (Quebec scientific entrepreneurship program). Thomas also works as a PhD student in biology and aims to understand a muscular disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in order to find an effective treatment. Thus, with his knowledge concerning the research field and his passion for investment, he decided to merge both of them in order to ease the rise of new viable biotech companies and joined FRV.
At the UdeM Thomas assists professors for teaching Physiology to master students. At the CHU Sainte-Justine, Thomas is part of the student committee and is plainly implicated in the research center life.
Besides university and work, Thomas is a huge fan of sport, as a watcher but also as a practitioner, including ice skating, biking and Breakdance. He also really enjoys hanging out with his friends and discovering Canada.
Thomas Leone
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
Thomas Leone
Thomas is a member of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures. As an Economics, Statistics, and Computer Science student at McGill University, his love for technology and entrepreneurship drives him to help further develop the Canadian tech ecosystem.
Prior to FRV, Thomas had developed an interest in Venture Capital through his studies and internship experiences. He has working experience as a Social Media Marketing Intern at a VC networking/fundraising event, as well as experience as an Investor Relations & Finance intern at an early stage startup. His varied course load and experience reflects his desire to be constantly learning and well-rounded.
At McGill, Thomas is an active member of multiple student organizations on campus. He has served as VP Events & Sponsorship for the McGill Students’ Trading Society, and is the Founder/President of the McGill Golf Association.
Outside school and work, Thomas is an avid skier, golfer, intramural hockey player, and NFL/NHL fanatic.
Tiffany Yong
Director of QC Investment Team
2022-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
Tiffany Yong
Tiffany is an Economics and Mathematics student at McGill University. She is passionate about enhancing the human experience through accelerating technological innovation, creating the right incentive structures and building communities. Prior to joining Front Row Ventures, Tiffany co-founded the Diversity in Math club at McGill, which aims to encourage people of all backgrounds to explore and develop their passion for math. She was also the President of the Society of Undergraduate Mathematics Students in her second year, representing the 1100-strong mathematics community. Tiffany has a strong technical background, having researched collective action problems at McGill’s Institute of Health and Social Policy, studied modern physics at Perimeter Institute, conducted alphavirus research at the Singapore Immunology Network, and microgrids research at the Singapore Institute of Technology. As part of FRV, Tiffany is excited to contribute towards an environment that rewards the students who dare to dream big. She aims to promote a culture of student innovation, and bring together a community of founders and investors that are passionate about making the world better through technology.
In her free time, she enjoys playing squash, and is currently trying to learn enough instruments to become a one-woman band!
Tiffany Yong
Director of QC Investment Team
2022-
McGill Universityo
Director of QC Investment Team
2022-
McGill University
Tiffany Yong
Tiffany is an Economics and Mathematics student at McGill University. She is passionate about enhancing the human experience through accelerating technological innovation, creating the right incentive structures and building communities.
Prior to joining Front Row Ventures, Tiffany co-founded the Diversity in Math club at McGill, which aims to encourage people of all backgrounds to explore and develop their passion for math. She was also the President of the Society of Undergraduate Mathematics Students in her second year, representing the 1100-strong mathematics community. Tiffany has a strong technical background, having researched collective action problems at McGill’s Institute of Health and Social Policy, studied modern physics at Perimeter Institute, conducted alphavirus research at the Singapore Immunology Network, and microgrids research at the Singapore Institute of Technology.
As part of FRV, Tiffany is excited to contribute towards an environment that rewards the students who dare to dream big. She aims to promote a culture of student innovation, and bring together a community of founders and investors that are passionate about making the world better through technology. In her free time, she enjoys playing squash, and is currently trying to learn enough instruments to become a one-woman band!
Tim Beiko
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Concordia University
Investment Associate
2017-2018
Concordia University
Tim Beiko
Back in Montréal after spending the past few years abroad, Tim has launched his own startup out of Southeast Asia, spent a year studying in the Bay Area, and interned both as a product manager at Google and developer at Shopify. He is currently completing up his Computer Science degree, with a focus on Machine Learning.
He is interested in the intersection of AI research and product, blockchain and cryptocurrency, and entrepreneurship. At FRV, he serves as a venture partner, where he advises partners on specific deals, and works on internal processes.
Tim Samson
Director of Portfolio Support Team
2020-
University of Toronto
Platform Associate
2020-
University of Toronto
Tim Samson
Tim is a third year Industrial Engineering student at the University of Toronto minoring in Engineering Business and Artificial Intelligence Engineering. He is excited to be working on the Front Row Venture Platform Team, because it presents a unique opportunity to assist FRV’s portfolio of Canadian tech-sphere startups. Tim’s future goals are to work as a management consultant. He has previous consulting experience at 180 Degrees Consulting, and the University of Toronto Consulting Association, as an Associate Consultant working with nonprofits and early stage startups. He also has experience working in early to mid-stage startups in the health technology and construction goods industries. Tim also founded UT BIOME (the University of Toronto Biomedical Engineering Design Team) in 2018 and holds the position of Managing Director – responsible for, overseeing design projects with clients and competition, as well as biomedical engineering focused lecture/networking events.
Tom Duan
ON Investment Associate
2022-
York University
ON Investment Associate
2022-
York University
Tom Duan
Tom is a senior-year student at the Schulich School of Business studying finance. He has experience working across different buy-side institutions within Canada, but currently is working with his cofounder to build micro-saas apps.
His passion for tech and entrepreneurship originated from reading Paul Graham’s essays during his free time at work, and has only grown stronger after participating in YCombinator 2022 Startup School in which he was able to learn more about how to “build something people want”, and connect with like minded founders across America.
In his free-time, he enjoys reading, playing badminton, and is an avid fan of NBA (Spurs), NFL (Bucs), and League of Legends (Cloud9).
He hopes FRV will serve as an opportunity to create shared value, between his own endeavor and with student founders across Canada.
Udichi Tomar
Strategy Associate
2021–
Wilfrid Laurier University
Strategy Associate
2021–
Wilfrid Laurier University
Udichi Tomar
Udichi is a Strategy Associate at FRV. She is currently in her final year of Economics and Financial Management at Wilfrid Laurier University. Udichi developed a great passion for finance and entrepreneurship which propels her to help develop the Canadian VC ecosystem.
Prior to FVR Udichi expressed her interest in VC by taking entrepreneurship courses, getting involved with Laurier Venture Capital Club, and by being an analyst at Laurier Startup Fund. These experiences have provided her with some knowledge of the VC industry which she is excited to use to contribute to FRV and deepen her understanding of the industry.
In her free time, Udichi loves to sketch, golf, play basketball with friends, and try new food trucks.
Ulrike Wachter
Investment Associate
2018-2019
McGill University
Investment Associate
2018-2019
McGill University
Ulrike Wachter
Ulrike is currently in her second year at McGill University, pursuing a triple concentration in Finance, Business Analytics, and Strategic Management. She grew up in different countries, and spent most of her childhood in Asia and the Middle East.
She has a long standing interest in research and data analytics and is working closely with the CISSS de Laval to find ways to optimize patient pathways for chronic diseases.
Also very interested in Consulting, she is part of North America’s third largest student-run consulting group, called JED.
She is hoping to combine her interest in technology and consulting in her future career. This summer, she will be working at an IoT startup in Berlin for 4 months.
Usman Randhawa
Investment Associate
2019-
Ryerson University
Investment Associate
2019-
Ryerson University
Usman Randhawa
Usman is a third year finance student at Ryerson University. He spent his 2019 summer as a Corporate Development Intern at Sidewalk Labs, an Alphabet company aiming to radically improve urban life. The summer prior to joining Sidewalk Labs, Usman was an Intern on the Investment Team at iGan Partners, an early-stage venture capital fund investing primarily in digital health, medical devices, healthcare IT and AI. Usman has always been mesmerized by entrepreneurship and has been running his own business, an LPG company that caters to commercial and industrial clients, since high school.
At Ryerson, he is an Analyst in the Ryerson Investment Group and was an International Delegate for the Ryerson International Experiential Learning (RIEL) program. In his spare time, when not cheering on the Toronto Raptors, he can be found reading at local coffee shops, adventuring to remote locations, and trying to learn new languages.
Valerie Chiu
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
Valerie Chiu
Valerie is a member of the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. She is currently pursuing a degree in Economics and Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto.
She is passionate about sustainable development and enjoys exploring the multidisciplinary nature of sustainability. In particular, she became interested in impact investing and social finance ever since she was introduced to the concepts of ESG (environmental, social and governance) and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) investing, during her first internship at an investment management firm in Hong Kong. The ideas of conscious capitalism and purposeful profit spoke to her as she witnessed the tremendous power of investments, not just in monetary terms, but also in transforming environmental, political, social and other aspects of society.
In her free time, she likes playing and listening to music, skydiving, making and tasting coffee, discovering coffee shops, travelling, and pondering the meaning of life.
Vaneezeh Siddiqui
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
ON Investment Associate
2021-
University of Toronto
Vaneezeh Siddiqui
Vaneezeh is pursuing a major in statistics and double minors in computer science and business at the University of Toronto. She has completed multiple work terms at the Royal Bank of Canada, and will be joining RBC Ventures in the Fall as a data analyst co-op. Her excitement for entrepreneurship led her to FRV, where she looks forward to supporting student founders and their big, bold ideas.
She is the founder of the Women in Science and Computing team on campus, and is passionate about building and leading cross-functional teams to tackle ambiguous challenges. She has shared her leadership experiences at events such as Ivy Hacks and the Impact Summit, and sits on the Advisory Board for Accelerate Her Future, a national career accelerator for Black, Indigenous, and women of colour pursuing careers in tech and business.
She’s a fitness enthusiast, loves meeting new people, and drinks way too much coffee.
Vansh Patel
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Brock University
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Brock University
Vansh Patel
Vansh is an Investment Associate with the Ontario Investment Team at Front row ventures. Currently in his second year studying finance at Brock University, he enjoys building financial models and studying the markets.
Entrepreneurship runs in his blood, with his father teaching the ways of his business and dealing from an early age. During the pandemic, Vansh and his father, ran their business together for a year until he had to leave for university. Moving to Canada for his studies, he is extensively involved on and off his campus. Most notably, he trained students to participate in the national DECA competition and mentored high school students in their transition to university. Apart from academics, he also participates in case competitions, one including a stock pitch of a company in the mining industry.
Outside school, Vansh loves to watch motorsports, is an fitness enthusiast but also is a foodie. Being new to this country, he aims to discover Canada and North America.
Victor Gardrinier
Investment Associate
2017-2018
HEC Montréal
Investment Associate
2017-2018
HEC Montréal
Victor Gardrinier
Armed with the experience acquired at Stanford (Tech Innovation) and Microsoft UK (Retail Sales – W10, Xbox, Surface), Victor is considering a career in entrepreneurship.
Finishing his degrees in Finance and Applied Mathematics @HEC, this film music/martial arts maniac is passionate about meaningful technological disruption.
His other hobbyhorse is preparing student entrepreneurs to face the real world. He initiated pitch sessions and coding workshops in his university to help and unite the entrepreneurial community in Montreal.
Victor Prats Ladous
Investment Associate
2019–2020
Concordia University
Investment Associate
2019–2020
Concordia University
Victor Prats Ladous
Victor is part of the investment team and a 3rd-year Mechanical Engineering Student at Concordia. He has always been passionate about entrepreneurship impacting every choice that he makes! Prior to Front Row, Victor led a team at the 2018 ActInSpace hackathon all the way to the international finals in France as the official Canadian team. With this experience, he got to work with the Canadian Government, the Canadian and French space agencies as well as District3. He also worked at Defnitechs, a startup developing a new generation of drones to autonomously inspect radio towers. He was in charge of one of their MVPs and fully developed a robot. \
He is also a McGill alumnus!
Feel free to reach out!
Vincent Xue
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Western University
ON Investment Associate
2022-
Western University
Vincent Xue
Vincent is currently a second-year University of Western Ontario student studying economics. His passion for technology and innovation began through visiting a TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco when he was younger.
He has a background in operational roles at startups and has worked in venture capital at Headline out of their early-stage fund. He is also a founder of the Ivey Venture Capital Club, where he hopes to increase educational exposure to venture capital and growth equity investing for both incoming and current students across Canadian universities.
Vincent’s FRV’s involvement had been heavily inspired by a college roommate that had dropped out of school to help create a product that is now funded by some of the most prestigious venture funds in North America. He hopes to create the same opportunities for students who may not have the proper foundation to take the leap, in order for more of these stories to be replicated across Canadian dorm rooms. Outside of his professional work, you can find him playing basketball, skiing the west coast mountains, and supporting the Vancouver Canucks.
Vyomesh Iyengar
Business Development Associate
2022-
University of Waterloo
Business Development Associate
2022-
University of Waterloo
Vyomesh Iyengar
Vyomesh is a third-year student at the University of Waterloo studying Management Engineering. He has interned as a Product Designer, UX Researcher, and Product Manager at various sized companies, exploring how strategy and innovation works in different organizations. He is interested in the way technology can be used to improve the quality of life for people around the world, and wants to work at improving access to essential needs in different countries.
Outside of his professional experience, he loves to bike, run, and spend his time in the sun. He is a fan of all types of media (books, movies, songs, tv shows), and frequently searches for new food recipes to try out.
Vyomesh is excited to join the Business Development Team at Front Row Ventures to help improve access to knowledge about startup funding, and increase revenue streams for the team to accomplish greater things.
William Law
Portfolio Support Associate
2021-
University of Western Ontario
Portfolio Support Associate
2021-
University of Western Ontario
William Law
William is a first year computer science student studying at the University of Waterloo. He has spent his senior year of high school working in various early-stage startups in Toronto, Seattle, and San Francisco. Most recently, William competed in the Microsoft Imagine Cup Challenge and his team placed top 5 in North America. He was also a part of the first Major League Hacking fellowship, contributing to various open-source projects. Right now, William is interested in learning more about backend engineering (specifically infrastructure and distributed systems) and the venture capital ecosystem. In his free time, William enjoys playing badminton, table tennis, eating kbbq, and learning more about financial markets.
Yoran Beisher
Director of BC investment team
2023-
University of British Columbia
Zoe McCullough
Director of Business Operations team
2022-
Western University
Business Development Associate
2022-
Western University
Zoe McCullough
Zoe is a Business Development Associate at Front Row Ventures, and is currently studying Business Management at Western University. She’s passionate about startups, social impact, and all things theatre related, and is interested in product and consulting.
At Western University, Zoe is deeply involved in the business-tech community. She’s VP Operations of Western Founders Network, the largest business, tech, and entrepreneurship club on campus, and acts as a technology consulting analyst for The Aleph Consulting Group. On the socio-cultural side, she’s also actively involved in the Chinese Students Association.
At FRV, she strives to create an impact on the Canadian University start-up world, and grasp a stronger understanding of Venture Capital. Zoe hopes to help change the status quo of VC while learning from a team of passionate, hardworking, and talented peers.
When she’s not doing “businessey things”, Zoe can be found making spotify playlists, running, writing poetry, or cafe-hopping. She’s originally from Vancouver, and is an avid lover of musical theatre.
Zoe Schmilovich
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2021-
McGill University
Zoe Schmilovich
Zoe is a Human Genetics Ph.D candidate within McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine. Her research focuses on the use of large-scale genetic and clinical data to better understand the genetic architecture underlying risk for psychiatric disorders.
Zoe is passionate about bringing innovative ideas to market. Joining Front Row Ventures from an academic background, she knows first-hand the wealth of untapped potential that exists on university campuses.
Prior to joining Front Row Ventures, Zoe served as the Director of Communications for McGill’s Graduate Management Consulting Association, which provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with the skills and training to excel in management consulting. Her experience as an Artificial Intelligence for Genomics Fellow at Concordia’s District 3 Innovation Centre ignited her eagerness to contribute to Quebec’s bustling innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
As part of the Investment Team, Zoe is excited to support student entrepreneurs and leverage her academic experience to translate lab ideas into business opportunities.
When she’s not working, you can find Zoe on a run, hiking, curating playlists, or making her way through the Criterion Collection.
Cam Rzadki
Director of Investment
2018-2020
University of Toronto
Director of Investment
2018-2020
University of Toronto
Cam Rzadki
Cam is currently completing his MSc in Applied Computing at the University of Toronto, is a strategy analyst at Georgian Partners in Toronto, and holds a BSc in Biochemistry from McMaster University and an HBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University.
Prior to joining FRV, he worked as an investment banking analyst and venture manager covering the digital health and biotechnology spaces. Cameron has worked in a variety of technical roles in fields ranging from cancer therapeutics R&D to medical device commercialisation.
Jason Cho
Director of Community
2019-2020
Western University
Director of Community
2019-2020
Western University
Jason Cho
Jason is currently completing his undergraduate degree at the Ivey Business School. With the goals of creating his own edtech venture focused on mobilizing First Nations education in the future, he has held various roles in technology, finance, and start-ups, and currently sits on the Advisory Committee for Waterfront Toronto.
Prior to joining FRV, Jason worked at the trading desks at CIBC World Markets’ fintech arm, kicked-off Brightspark Ventures’ Platform strategy, established NEXT Canada’s health/biotech accelerator program (now, the CAN Health Network), and worked with the finance team of two at League in 2017.
Alexander (Alex) Banh
Investment Associate
2019-2021
Queen’s University
Investment Associate
2019-2021
Queen’s University
Alexander (Alex) Banh
Since finishing his two undergraduate degrees from Queen’s University in 2015, Alex has worked in investment banking at the Bank of Montreal, helped Amazon-backed ecobee raise their $100 million+ Series C, completed a Fellowship at the MaRS Discovery District, and is currently a Principal at Fulcrum Technology Holdings, an emerging technologies-focused merchant bank. At Fulcrum, he specializes in mergers & acquisitions, fundraising, and strategy, particularly for AI- and IoT-enabled investee companies.
He is currently enrolled in the Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence program at Queen’s, sponsored by the Vector Institute. Outside of his coursework and day job, he also leads Business Development at the Queen’s University Alternative Assets Fund which manages a part of the university’s endowment.
Cole Bradley
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Ryerson University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
Ryerson University
Cole Bradley
Cole Bradley is a dedicated student in his junior year in Accounting and Finance, Ryerson University. With a diverse set of industry experiences, Cole has been able to development an understanding of financial institution of all sizes. This includes research in public equities with Pennock Idea Hub, operations within the Royal Bank of Canada and, venture capital management at Generation Ventures.
Cole has always had a strong interest in entrepreneurship. Through running a small lawn care business during high school, aiding in the international expansion of Pennock Idea Hub, and co-founding his own business within iBoost he has learned to develop ideas and innovative thought.
In Front Row Ventures, Cole brings strong financial and operational understanding to the team as he approaches every opportunity optimistically. His goal is to aid the team through process analysis to provide solutions to potential inefficiencies via the application of new technology, and connecting with talented individuals and teams.
Eric D’Souza
Investment Associate
2019-2020
York University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
York University
Eric D’Souza
Eric D’Souza is currently finishing his undergraduate business degree at the Schulich School of Business – York University. With his focus placed in Economics and Marketing he intends to pursue a career in product management in the fintech space. Over the years, he has worked in product in various capacities from leading a product team at Nugget.ai to working at Mylo.ai as an intern this past summer launching two products and working on algorithms with the company.
He is currently the founder of Blunt Tales a platform that helps promote creative individuals in universities. In his spare time, Eric indulges in trying new things be it travelling, monochrome photography, sharing an obsessive yet unhealthy habit of grabbing burritos at ungodly hours, or now as he calls it being an aspiring music producer.
Bosko Dzepina
Investment Associate
2019-2020
McGill University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
McGill University
Bosko Dzepina
Bosko is a 3rd-year economics major at McGill University. He has experience in corporate development, economic research, and strategy consulting, and has worked in industries ranging from manufacturing to telecommunications. Outside of Front Row Ventures, he is involved in health economics research at McGill University. He is interested in topics at the intersection of technology, economics, and healthcare.
Dennis Zabeida
Investment Associate
2019-2020
HEC Montréal
Investment Associate
2019-2020
HEC Montréal
Dennis Zabeida
Dennis is currently on the Investment Team at Front Row Ventures and is also a Partnerships Intern at Mila – Quebec AI Institute.
Dennis has held intern positions in AI Strategy at Deloitte Omnia, and in Small and Medium Enterprise Financing at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), where he discovered his passion for advising and helping entrepreneurs.
Dennis is an avid traveler and is always glad to swap travel stories over a glass of soju (a taste he developed while on exchange in Asia).
Dennis strongly believes in the potential of start-ups in solving complex social problems through innovation and entrepreneurship and is always keen to meet inspiring entrepreneurs.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to him!
Elisha Krauss
Investment Associate
2019–2020
McGill University
Investment Associate
2019–2020
McGill University
Elisha Krauss
Elisha is a master of neuroscience student at McGill University, and Front Row Venture’s resident biomedical expert. He has received gold medals in provincial, national, and international science competitions. He has conducted research in prestigious world-class laboratories such as the Krembil Research Institute, Queen’s and McGill University, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). One highlight of his research experience was conducting an experiment testing changes in DNA Polymerase function in zero gravity aboard the National Research Council’s Dassault Falcon 20 jet. He gained first-hand start-up experience when he developed and patented a hormone biosensor.
Etienne Lee
Community Associate
2019-2020
McGill University
Community Associate
2019-2020
McGill University
Etienne Lee
Etienne is currently in his fourth year at McGill studying history and political science. As part of the community team, Etienne is excited to help construct a robust and diverse community of like-minded student entrepreneurs. In addition, he hopes to promulgate the potential and creativity of student entrepreneurs to formulate solutions to address today’s complex issues by leveraging technology.
Aside from his daily routine of readings, Etienne goes hiking and exploring the field of intellectual property by more reading. At some point, he hopes to cross one of his items in his bucket list, to complete the Camino de Santiago.
Kevin Bélanger
Investment Associate
2019–2020
Laval University
Investment Associate
2019–2020
Laval University
Kevin Bélanger
Ambitious young professional, Kevin has a computer science background. During his bachelor’s, he established his first commercial mission to Germany with the help of the MCUL for the startup Vrvana, now acquired by Apple.
He then began his MBA in Electronic Business at Laval University. He pursued studies at recognized universities in Taiwan, Norway, China, Germany and Mexico where he took courses given by recognized entrepreneurs, CEO, and strategists.
He also began his participation in numerous strategy case competitions and decided to continue his studies by starting a second MBA in Global Business. He took the opportunity to win several titles in strategic case competition across the globe and participated in the World Economic Forum in 2018.
Kevin was selected to be one of the 100 students invited to the MBA World Summit 2018 in Cape Town. He is now the Vice-Curator of the Global Shapers Quebec City hubs.
Maanav Sunderaraman
Investment Associate
2019–2020
McGill University
Investment Associate
2019–2020
McGill University
Maanav Sunderaraman
Maanav Sunderaraman is a 3rd-year student at McGill University pursuing a double major in Economics and Computer Science. He caught the startup bug early in high school when he worked for an entrepreneurship-focused non-profit and proceeded to win the World Series of Innovation. From there, he dove headfirst into the Montreal startup-ecosystem. Maanav is currently building his own startup, Field AI, where he licenses proprietary datasets to AI startups. Prior to joining FRV, Maanav split his time between Montreal startups, non-profit groups, and student organizations at McGill University. He gained a diverse set of skills through his product management and business development roles at startups. He’s also worked as a research intern for a scientific think tank, and as the Director of Research for an educational non-profit. Outside of hackathons and startup events, you can find Maanav enjoying trivia, exploring new restaurants, or listening to the latest Kanye album
Maher Akhtar
Investment Associate
2019-2020
McGill University
Investment Associate
2019-2020
McGill University
Maher Akhtar
Maher is a senior at McGill University and is pursuing Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Finance. He loves learning about advances in engineering and dreaming about future tech. He has a keen interest in investments of all kinds.
Matthew He
Director of Investments
2019-2021
McGill University
Director of Investments
2019-2021
McGill University
Matthew He
Matt is the Director of Investments of Quebec, and a senior at McGill University where he is pursuing a degree in Microbiology & Immunology and Computer Science. He’s passionate about people, both in finding the best founders in startups and in building the strongest team at Front Row.
Prior to FRV, he co-founded and led Blockchain at McGill, a non-profit of 30 students that brought blockchain education and research to McGill. He worked as FounderFuel’s first Business Development Associate, where he worked closely with early-stage startups to solve problems and accelerate growth.
Don’t be shy to reach out, coffee chats are always welcome!
Michaela Deneva
Director of Impact Teams
2019-2021
McGill University
Director of Impact Teams
2019-2021
McGill University
Michaela Deneva
Michaela is a third-year undergraduate student at McGill University, pursuing a double major in Economics and Computer Science. Working in the corporate finance industry over the past few summers, she has gained experience in asset management and business development in Europe, in particular sales forecasts, performance analytics, and strategic planning.
As Program Coordinator at the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship for the past two years, Michaela has worked directly with 55+ startups across different fields from DeepTech to social innovation. She is among the team mentors for Innovation Driven (IDE) and Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) for the McGill Dobson Cup 2020 and Lean Startup Program 2019.
Prior to joining Front Row Ventures, Michaela worked at the intersection of technological innovation and social finance. She has previous experience in project development as the McGill Chapter President for Enactus Canada, one of the largest incubators for student-initiated projects and startups worldwide.
Niv Turecki
Investment Associate
2019-2021
Concordia University
Investment Associate
2019-2021
Concordia University
Niv Turecki
Niv Turecki is a 3rd-year student at the John Molson School of Business. He began at Front Row Ventures running partnerships for the community team, before transferring to the investment team. A long time cynic of large organizations, Niv wanted to join FRV to help create a genuine movement. He sees himself as a builder wanting to help organizations with forward-thinking values.
Philippe Miller
Community Associate
2019-2020
McGill University
Community Associate
2019-2020
McGill University
Philippe Miller
Philippe is a 2nd-year Finance student at McGill University, with a minor in computer science. He is deeply interested in learning about what makes founders tick and how they use technology to solve the world’s most challenging problems.
Philippe had his first run as an entrepreneur when he founded his food services Business, Miller’s Munchies. Philippe’s more recent experience working at an up and coming MedTech Startup confirmed that he wanted to commit himself to help entrepreneurs develop innovative and disruptive companies.
When Philippe is not busy studying or working at FRV, he can be found enjoying the outdoors. Philippe welcomes any outdoor adventure! Some of his past challenges include a 42-day canoe trip and competing with a team in the Canadian Death Race to raise money for charity.
Raphael Christian-Roy
Co-Founder @ Front Row Ventures
2017-
Polytechnique Montréal
Co-Founder @ Front Row Ventures
Polytechnique Montréal
Raphael Christian-Roy
Raphaël is Co-Founder of Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. He’s a product geek that is first and foremost passionate about creating outstanding technologies that enhance people’s lives, especially consumer-centric ones.
Coming from a jack-of-all-trades-entrepreneurial background combined with a software engineering undergrad, he has always been an entrepreneur. As a teenager, he went from owning a car garage to a window-cleaning business to a tech startup. Motivated and inspired by entrepreneurship, he has been involved in organizing numerous events including Startup Weekends, and countless hackathons and educational events.
Prior to FRV, he spent two years working as a Product Manager and developing Volume7, a digital product agency that partners with forward-thinking startups and companies. He’s now also working on the early-stage team at Real Ventures, Canada’s most active seed venture capital fund. The firm invests throughout the life-cycle of early-stage companies and provides stage-appropriate capital and support for the founders it backs.
When he’s not working on building startups or the tech ecosystem, Raph can be found skiing, snowboarding or coding his newest product idea.
Alexis Greenhill
BC Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Alexis Greenhill
Daisy Chen
BC Investment Associate
2024-
Simon Fraser University
BC Investment Associate
2024-
Simon Fraser University
Daisy Chen
Daisy is a 4th-year undergraduate student at Simon Fraser University. She is focusing on Sustainable Energy Engineering and minoring in Business and Commerce. Daisy is passionate about smart cities technology and green neighborhood development.
She values all the learning and growing opportunities and always strikes to make a meaningful impact on her own life and the world she lives in.
Hasan Merchant
BC Investment Associate
2024-
Simon Fraser University
BC Investment Associate
2024-
Simon Fraser University
Hasan Merchant
As a Business and Computer Science student, I’m passionate about merging technology and business to create impactful solutions. With experience as a Founder, I’m eager to explore the VC space. Proficient in programming languages like Python, and skilled in data management systems such as MS Excel and Tableau, I excel in leading teams and driving digital transformations. Let’s connect if you’re seeking a results-driven professional to propel your organization forward.
Nikita Telkar
BC Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Nikita Telkar
Nikita is a PhD Candidate in Medical Genetics at The University of British Columbia, working at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the BC Cancer Research Centre.
Nikita’s research projects have spanned across several scientific disciplines and have involved deep experimental optimization and computational data analysis to develop a translational understanding of genomics and its applications towards human health. Entrepreneurially driven, she has initiated and led the growth of several organizations: establishing and leading a student biotech organization in Vancouver and pan-Canada, expanding the BC Children’s Hospital bioinformatics support group throughout UBC and its Institutes, ideating a MedTech venture, opening her science-themed merchandise business (to name a few) – and joining Front Row Ventures has been a natural progression of her journey. Her research and social undertakings have led to forging strong ties within her community, and have won her several accolades.
She completed her Bachelors in Biomedical Genetics from Newcastle University, and her Masters in Human Genetics from University College London (UCL), both in the UK.
Shinjini Manchanda
BC Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Shinjini Manchanda
Shinjini is completing a degree in Bachelor of Commerce at UBC. She is passionate about building communities and entrepreneurship. She started her journey at Creative Destruction Lab as an Apprentice and later as a Host. She was a marketing intern for a FinTech Startup called ‘My Salt App’ and hosted a LinkedIn series called ‘Female Psychology of Money’ to encourage women to become financially independent. She also founded an initiative called ‘Vocal for Local’ to help local businesses ride the pandemic wave through digital marketing.
Ved Varshney
BC Investment Associate
2024-
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2024-
University of British Columbia
Ved Varshney
Hello!
My name is Ved, I am an engineering student with a minor in commerce at UBC in Vancouver. With a technical background in engineering and working in startups, I am well-poised to understand the technical and non-technical workings of a company. In my free time, I love to do anything with water – most notably I have swam to and touched an iceberg!
Feel free to reach out to me to chat about anything! 🙂
Yik Khai Yew
BC Investment Associate
2024-
University of British Columbia
BC Investment Associate
2024-
University of British Columbia
Yik Khai Yew
Hi! I’m Yik Khai, an International Economics undergraduate who is passionate about business strategy, entrepreneurship and street food! Having grown up in Malaysia and studying abroad in Canada and Italy, I love learning about different cultures and politics. Always open to chat!
Borislav Slavchev
Business Operations Associate
2024-
Polytechnique Montréal
Business Operations Associate
2024-
Polytechnique Montréal
Borislav Slavchev
Despite being in my final year of engineering studies at Polytechnique Montréal, I’ve always been drawn to finance, business, and sales. I’ve actively participated in multiple student clubs like PolyFinances (PolyMTL’s finance club), CCGP (PolyMTL’s consulting club), and various engineering clubs, which introduced me to VC and Front Row Ventures. With a passion for both technology and business, joining FRV offers a natural progression and an exciting transition into the workforce.
Beyond academics, I enjoy soccer, biking, bodybuilding, cooking, reading, and strategy games. Dedicated to personal growth, I am committed to excellence in every endeavour.
Ayra Sudhakar
Business Operations Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Business Operations Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Ayra Sudhakar
Ayra is a second year student studying bachelor of commerce at Sauder School of Business. Ayra is passionate about entrepreneurship and understanding the Canadian Start-up world from the start to finish process.
Claire Kuo
Business Operations Associate
2023-
Western University
Business Operations Associate
2023-
Western University
Claire Kuo
Claire studies Management & Organizational Studies at Western University. She is currently a Sales Data Specialist for a technology startup in Toronto. In her role, she works to expand the organization’s reach by streamlining client data organization and sourcing leads.
Her passion for entrepreneurship ignited during high school when she embarked on her first internship at a startup. This experience fuelled her interest in venture capital, and now she eagerly anticipates collaborating with portfolio companies to help them scale their operations.
In her spare time, Claire enjoys reading, crocheting, and exploring the city.
Jessica Chen
Business Operations Associate
2024-
Western University
Business Operations Associate
2024-
Western University
Jessica Chen
Hi everyone! My name is Jessica and I am a first-year studying BMOS at Western University. In my spare time, you can probably find me cafe hopping or playing video games with my friends. I love anything food related and my favourite drink is peach soda or peach tea. I also love anything dystopian or thriller-related when it comes to movies!
Laura Valeria Rosales Vazquez
Business Operations Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Business Operations Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Laura Valeria Rosales Vazquez
Valeria is a student of psychology and political science at the University of Toronto. She is passionate about environmentalism and technology innovation that is driven by a mission to serve underserved communities.
Mohammed Karimjee
Business Operations Associate
2024-
Western University
Business Operations Associate
2024-
Western University
Mohammed Karimjee
Hello!
My name is Mohammed, I’m a 3rd-year business student at Western University. With experience in start-ups and the non-profit sector, I have a deep passion for entrepreneurship and social impact.
Outside of school and work I’m a football fanatic, I love to read and enjoy travelling.
I’m always excited to learn new things and meet new people!
Taran Franck
Business Operations Associate
2024-
McGill University
Business Operations Associate
2024-
McGill University
Taran Franck
I am a third-year student at McGill University, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Environment: Earth Sciences & Economics with a minor in Entrepreneurship, and I am currently serving as a Junior Impact Analyst at Clear Skies Investment Management. I am passionate about sustainability and the economics of climate change, actively engaging in integrating ESG practices into the economy. My leadership skills were sharpened when I led a team of firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. In my spare time, I like to keep fit in the gym and have recently taken up indoor bouldering. I also co-lead the Malaysian & Singaporean Association at McGill.
Félix Antoine Porier
Legal Associate
2024-
Université de Sherbrooke
Legal Associate
2024-
Université de Sherbrooke
Félix Antoine Porier
Félix Antoine currently pursues a combined program at Université de Sherbrooke, working towards a Bachelor’s in Law and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). He is a legal student at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, gaining experience in law with emerging high-growth companies.
Excited to be an associate with the FRV legal team, Felix Antoine aims to expand his knowledge of the venture capital environment to further understand the business rationale behind investments in growing companies. He hopes to leverage his past experiences to streamline deal flow and make valuable contributions to the team.
Hannah Lee
Legal Associate
2024-
Dalhousie University
Legal Associate
2024-
Dalhousie University
Hannah Lee
Hannah attends the Schulich School of Law, where she will graduate in 2025 with her Juris Doctor. Hannah is a graduate from Dalhousie University, where she received her Bachelor of Science (Honours in Neuroscience) in 2021. Hannah has experience working with the in-house legal team at a large private company and has held numerous research roles across a variety of sectors. Hannah currently works at a full-service law firm where she has completed rotations through litigation and business law practice groups.
Ethan Wu
Content & Marketing Associate
2023-
McGill University
Content & Marketing Associate
2023-
McGill University
Ethan Wu
Hi! I’m Ethan, and I study at McGill in the Honours in Investment Management program. I’ve been investing since I was 14, and over time, I’ve developed a knack for entrepreneurship, having kickstarted several projects, including building a large following in the investing niche on Instagram, which evolved into a marketing business. I’m also involved with McGill Ventures and have taken on other investment- and marketing/growth-oriented roles. Given my experiences in content creation, investing, and entrepreneurship, contributing to the Marketing team at Front Row Ventures felt like a natural fit!
Ishi Madan
Content & Marketing Associate
2023-
York University
Content & Marketing Associate
2023-
York University
Ishi Madan
My name is Ishi, and I’m going into my 3rd year of the BBA Program at the Schulich School of Business, York University, where I’m hoping to specialize in Marketing and Operations Management. Fun fact about me: I love to play the piano, and I’m also interested in photography. I currently serve as the Content & Marketing Associate at FRV. As a business student, I have been interested in learning more about Venture Capital, and I’m excited to be part of a fantastic team!
Andrew Lee-Valerio
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
Queen’s University
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
Queen’s University
Andrew Lee-Valerio
Andrew is currently a third-year commerce student at Queen’s University. As part of the Ontario Investment Team at Front Row Ventures, he has found a passion in venture capital and startups. From creating a small business in high school to interning in accounting, Andrew hopes to one day utilize his broad skillset in a future career.
Outside of school, Andrew’s passion lies in sports. As a former provincial volleyball player, he thoroughly enjoys competing and staying active. Andrew is also an avid Raptors, Leafs, and FC Porto fan.
Ani Mouradyan
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
University of Waterloo
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
University of Waterloo
Ani Mouradyan
Ani is joining the Front Row Ventures team as an Ontario Investment Trainee/Associate. Having completed her undergraduate studies at McGill University with a double major, Ani now embarks on her next academic journey, pursuing a Master’s degree in Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Her interdisciplinary background in Mathematics, Psychology, and Neuroscience research underscores her multifaceted strengths, allowing her to approach challenges with a holistic perspective.
Ani’s passion for innovation and entrepreneurship has been further fueled by her experiences as an operator at a biotech startup. Through her roles, she gained invaluable insights into the intricacies of building and scaling ventures, solidifying her commitment to driving impactful change in the startup ecosystem. Her journey has reinforced her belief in the power of collaboration and creativity, shaping her into a strategic thinker who thrives in dynamic environments.
Bora Kutun
Ontario Investment Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Ontario Investment Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Bora Kutun
Hi, my name is Bora and I am in my fourth year at U of T studying Molecular Biology and Immunology. I have a deep interest in early stage investing and am passionate about new and upcoming technologies.
Geoffrey Ching
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
Western University & University of British Columbia
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
Western University & University of British Columbia
Geoffrey Ching
Hello! My name is Geoff. I’m a Family Medicine/Emergency Medicine resident physician with a background in health economics and clinical trials. I also do work in palliative care. I’m really excited to help out and build further on my knowledge of VC – and to give back where I can!
Jeanin Onisey
Ontario Investment Associate
2023-
University of Ottawa
Ontario Investment Associate
2023-
University of Ottawa
Jeanin Onisey
Jeanin is a member of the Ontario Investment Team at Front Row Ventures. Currently, she is pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in Accounting at the University of Ottawa. With a diverse range of experiences in ESG financial reporting, consulting, financial analysis and auditing, Jeanin brings a wealth of expertise to her role.
Prior to joining Front Row Ventures, Jeanin held a leadership role at Project Tech Conferences, a non-profit organization that provides tech education to middle and high school students. There, she led the hackathons portfolio and supported students in developing innovative solutions to address current world problems. She is also actively involved in Enactus, a student organization dedicated to running entrepreneurship projects.
Jeanin is committed to supporting student entrepreneurs and gaining further insights into the Canadian VC and startup ecosystem. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, rock climbing, swimming, skiing, and playing sports.
Mikhail Karmali
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
Wilfrid Laurier University
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
Wilfrid Laurier University
Mikhail Karmali
I am a current fourth year Business and Computer Science student with a passion for scaling software businesses at the venture and growth stages. Living and working in Canada, Singapore, and the US has exposed me to an array of founders that fuels my drive to help fund and scale disruptive ideas. My experience spans across Framework Ventures, RBCx (Formerly RBC Ventures), and Klass Capital as I look to build out my investor toolkit in the hope of closing a world class portfolio of deals throughout my career!
Nathan Reynolds
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
Queen’s University
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
Queen’s University
Nathan Reynolds
Queen’s University Commerce – 2027
Yirui Tao
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
University of Toronto
Ontario Investment Associate
2024-
University of Toronto
Yirui Tao
Yirui is an undergraduate student studying Finance and Economics, as well as Public Policy, at the University of Toronto. Her interests at where entrepreneurship, investment, and social impact intersect have developed from her own experience opening a small business; Yirui is passionate in supporting industry-disrupting ideas and contributing to building the infrastructure necessary for a thriving startup and venture capital scene. She is excited to continue pursuing this passion as an investment associate with Front Row Ventures.
In her free time, Yirui can be found baking (usually another loaf of banana bread), discovering a new favourite book, or crocheting.
Aakritee Tiwari
People & Culture Associate
2023-
Sheridan College
People & Culture Associate
2023-
Sheridan College
Aakritee Tiwari
Enthusiastic, Smart, Resilient
Jason Adounvo-Joseph
Partnerships Associate
2023-
HEC Montreal
Partnerships Associate
2023-
HEC Montreal
Jason Adounvo-Joseph
Jason Adounvo-Joseph is a student at HEC Montreal, where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Information Technology. He has been with Front Row Ventures for over a year, currently serving as a Partnership Associate, where he plays a key role in establishing strategic partnerships with incubators and accelerators to drive enterprise value and support the ecosystem of early-stage investments. His experience includes credit analysis, sales, marketing and customer relationship management. Jason is particularly passionate about public and early-stage investing, where he aims to leverage his expertise in finance and technology to identify and support high-potential opportunities. As he continues to build his career, he remains committed to making a meaningful impact in the finance and technology industry, with a focus on innovation and growth.
Jonathan Besna
Partnerships Associate
2024-
Université de Montréal
Partnerships Associate
2024-
Université de Montréal
Jonathan Besna
I’m Jonathan Besna, a fourth-year PhD candidate in biochemistry at Université de Montréal. My research is focused around biotechnology and enzyme engineering. My journey through academia is driven by a passion for unraveling the complexities of molecular biology and harnessing its potential for real-world applications.
I’ve found myself drawn to the intersection of science and entrepreneurship. The thrill of innovation and the prospect of turning groundbreaking ideas into thriving ventures captivate my imagination. It’s this dual fascination that has led me to explore the realm of venture capital.
Through venture capital, I aspire to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercialization, paving the way for transformative breakthroughs to reach the market. As part of the Partnerships team, I aim to meet with ecosystem partners to build relationships and drive collaborations forward.
In both academia and entrepreneurship, my mission remains the same: to make a meaningful impact on the world by pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Maliha Walji
Investment Associate
2023-
University of British Columbia
Sanya Seth
Partnerships Associate
2024-
University of British Columbia
Partnerships Associate
2024-
University of British Columbia
Sanya Seth
Hi, I’m Sanya, a fourth year student at UBC Sauder, studying Finance an Economics, interested in learning more about the entrepreneurship landscape in Canada. I’m a huge coffee enthusiast and love to explore different cafés in my free time!
Victoria Lai
Partnerships Associate
2024-
Western University
Partnerships Associate
2024-
Western University
My name is Victoria and I’m currently a student at Western University studying business. I’m interested in all things finance and entrepreneurship and I’m looking forward to learning more about the VC ecosystem. When I’m not studying, you can find me watching horror movies with my friends or reading the newest sci-fi book!
Sanchit Jain
Data Associate
2024-
Simon Fraser University
Data Associate
2024-
Simon Fraser University
Sanchit Jain
Sanchit Jain is an aspiring software developer and data analyst currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computing Science at Simon Fraser University. Sanchit is proficient in a variety of programming languages, including C/C++, Python, SQL, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS, and is well-versed in software such as Visual Studio Code, Arduino, PyCharm, and MS Office. His expertise extends to frameworks and packages like Python Flask, scikit-learn, React.js, Bootstrap, and Tailwind CSS.
Sanchit’s project experience is diverse and demonstrates his commitment to leveraging technology for practical solutions. He is currently involved in a research project analyzing the stay of patients in ICUs using various machine-learning models to examine physiological parameters. His projects include the development of a terminal application for exploring data structures and programming an air purification system to combat air pollution. Notably, Sanchit was part of a hackathon project that developed a prototype for accurate weather prediction, which was aimed at aiding farmers and other stakeholders in remote areas.
As a Peer Educator at Fraser International College, Sanchit has been instrumental in tutoring students in programming fundamentals and discrete mathematics, thereby enhancing their understanding and performance in computer science courses. His volunteer work also includes serving as a Career Fair Ambassador & Peer Tutor at Simon Fraser University, where he successfully managed logistics during a career fair attended by a significant number of employers and students.
Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, Sanchit enjoys engaging with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, roller skating, participating in hackathons, and watching reviews of tech products.
Alec Trusler
Portfolio Support Associate
2024-
Dalhousie University
Portfolio Support Associate
2024-
Dalhousie University
Alec Trusler
Alec is completing his MBA at Dalhousie’s Rowe School of Business (Spring ’25) after obtaining an undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences from Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry where he was also a provincial champion student athlete. He is currently interning as a Business Analyst for a CleanTech startup and is managing three MedTech companies in FRV’s portfolio, providing unrivalled insights into startup operations from alternative perspectives.
Alec seeks to integrate his foundational science background with his MBA degree and FRV-trained VC skills to support the growth of innovative companies in Canada and beyond. He is interested in both the investment side and the startup operations side of the VC ecosystem, with a personal passion for impact companies tailored towards healthy living for humans and the planet.
Derek Kwong
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
Wilfrid Laurier University
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
Wilfrid Laurier University
Derek Kwong
Derek is a Portfolio Support Associate at Front Row Ventures. He is currently a fourth-year student at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, pursuing a Business Administration degree with a Finance concentration. He has previous experience working in M&A, Corporate Development, Early-Stage Venture Capital, and Impact Advisory.
Growing up in a mom-and-pop shop, Derek had been exposed to entrepreneurship and was taught the nature of the business from a young age. After moving away from home and transitioning to university, he became actively involved with major clubs (finance and entrepreneurship) on campus and a pre-seed tech startup. Inspired by his experiences, Derek aims to continue to bridge the gap between finance and entrepreneurship for students at FRV. Outside of school and work, you can find him at the gym, producing and DJing EDM and hip-hop music, cheering on the Leafs, and hanging out with family and friends.
Jason Sunardi
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
University of Toronto
Jason Sunardi
Jason is a fourth-year biomedical engineering student at the University of Toronto. He has experience working in the start-up ecosystem and is currently on the business development team at a biotech startup. He is excited by all the ways new technologies are changing the world for the better. Jason’s current bucket list include: becoming a better chef, learning sign language, cocktail mixing, and becoming a DJ.
Max Green
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
HEC Montreal
Portfolio Support Associate
2023-
HEC Montreal
Max Green
Max was previously a QC Investment Team Associate and is now a Portfolio Support Associate. He is an undergraduate student at HEC Montréal studying Finance and Economics.
He has previous experience working in Startups based in Paris and Helsinki in FinTech and HealthTech. Currently, he is a Startup Analyst at Mila Quebec and a Venture Analyst at CDL.
Max enjoys playing Chess, Soccer, and going Swimming in his free time.
Sina Doost
Portfolio Support Associate
2024-
York University
Portfolio Support Associate
2024-
York University
Sina Doost
Sina is a philosophy student at York University. He planned to pursue law after his bachelors, but quickly developed a deep appreciation for the impact possible through venture capital as he began to learn more about the startup ecosystem. He recognized he had a particular affinity for climate-tech as an industry, and naturally sought to gain first hand experience.
He began working with a startup that is primarily doing work in advanced manufacturing for solar panels. The startup works on automating custom solar panel manufacturing, attempting to make custom-solar both viable and desirable within the VIPV and BIVP industries, at a scale they predict only advanced custom manufacturing will enable.
Sina is currently developing their fundraising strategy for their Seed round, and leads all initiatives within that vertical of the business. Outside of fundraising, he also wears a few other hats as is typical in an early stage startup, working on marketing, brand strategy, business strategy, and wherever else he can contribute!
School and work aside, Sina enjoys living an active lifestyle as a regular gym goer, frequent hiker, and lover of all things fitness. He enjoys spending time with friends and family, and building new relationships as he is genuinely passionate about understanding the human experience (something that led him to study philosophy)!
Sina’s curious nature and habit of lateral thinking leaves him often engaged in friendly debates that reveal insight in even the most seemingly mundane topics. Through FRV he hopes to have many more conversations that leave all parties smarter for having engaged in them, growing together as agents of our shared future.
Vivian Wang
Portfolio Support Associate
2024-
University of Toronto
Portfolio Support Associate
2024-
University of Toronto
Vivian Wang
Vivian is a PhD student at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Her research utilizes functional genomics to identify mediators of intrinsic and acquired resistance to decitabine in TP53-mutated acute myeloid leukemia. She aspires to make a true impact on patients by translating her findings into the clinic and work in the biotech/biotech VC space.
Antoine Jutras-Carignan
QC Investment Associate
2023-
UQAM
QC Investment Associate
2023-
UQAM
Antoine Jutras-Carignan
Antoine is a Ph.D candidate in biology at Université du Québec à Montréal. His research focuses on acylation, a novel type of posttranslational modification linking proteins to fatty acids and its implication in the regulation of fat accumulation in the liver. He started his academic journey in computer science and is passionate about the intersection of biology and technology. He is using AI tools such as Alphafold and cutting-edge -omic techniques to progress through his research. He also loves to share his scientific knowledge. He has published several research articles in leading scientific journals, presented his work at international conferences, and served as a lecturer and teaching assistant for several courses. Antoine finds joy in helping others understand complex scientific concepts and is always eager to mentor and guide curious minds and individuals who are passionate about learning.
In addition to his research, Antoine enrolled in the Quebec Scientific Entrepreneurship Program and Researchers In Entrepreneurship Network to help transform his academic research into real world-changing tech company. Antoine’s ultimate goal is to use his scientific knowledge to build innovative solutions to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.
In his free time, Antoine loves to cook, especially BBQ and healthy food. He is also an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys bodybuilding, cycling, calisthenics, and going on outdoor adventures. Antoine is also fascinated by the emerging field of web3 and decentralized technologies, and he enjoys keeping up with the latest developments in the blockchain space.
As a driven and passionate individual, Antoine is always looking for opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals in the startup, VC, and finance communities. If you share similar interests and want to connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Christian Munteanu
QC Investment Associate
2024-
Concordia University
QC Investment Associate
2024-
Concordia University
Christian Munteanu
Hello, my name is Christian Munteanu, I am a second year student at Concordia University majoring in Finance with a minor in accounting. My background is primarily tied to marketing, entrepreneurship and finance.
Elise Napolitano
QC Investment Associate
2024-
Université de Montréal
QC Investment Associate
2024-
Université de Montréal
Elise Napolitano
Elise is an investment associate at Front Row Ventures, Canada’s first student-led venture capital fund. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Université de Montréal and she is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Microbiology and immunology at the same University. With a keen interest in the convergence of science, entrepreneurship and investment, Elise is particularly drawn to nascent technologies.
In her free time, Elise enjoys exploring diverse cultures through travel, building connections with individuals from various backgrounds, and pursuing interests such as surfing and playing the ukulele.
Now, as a member of Front Row Ventures, Elise is deeply committed to create a meaningful impact through strategic decisions within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She is strongly determined to contribute actively to the FRV community and its mission, fostering the success of startups through her work at Front Row Ventures.
Hamza Nabiel
QC Investment Associate
2023-
Concordia University
QC Investment Associate
2023-
Concordia University
Hamza Nabiel
Hamza is a driven third-year finance student deeply involved in the on-campus startup ecosystem. He’s been heavily involved in student life during his time at JMSB, having joined Enactus Concordia in his first year, going on to lead Project Eduquo within the organization. He’s passionate about making financial knowledge accessible to everyone.
Iris Kong
QC Investment Associate
2024-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2024-
McGill University
Iris Kong
PhD candidate specializing in translational oncology, dedicated to bridging the gap between academia and entrepreneurship. Passionate about venture capital and investing in a future that brings positive impacts, particularly within biotech and medtech sectors.
Quinn Rice Hui
QC Investment Associate
2024-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2024-
McGill University
Quinn Rice Hui
Quinn is a trainee on the Quebec Investment Team. He joined FRV in March of 2024 and is super keen on making long-lasting changes in this niche sector of Venture Capital.
Quinn Rice Hui is an emerging professional in the business sector, combining industry exposure with a strong work ethic and adaptability. He possesses a creative and analytical mindset, excelling in leadership and team management, along with proficient event coordination. Quinn exemplifies exceptional communication skills, which have fostered strong relationships. He is interested in Venture Capital or Consulting as a career path down the line.
In his spare time, you can find Quinn hiking, skiing, biking, camping, and enjoying nature in general.
Thomas Nurmi
QC Investment Associate
2024-
McGill University
QC Investment Associate
2024-
McGill University
Thomas Nurmi
French Bio
Thomas-Jacques Nycz
QC Investment Associate
2024-
HEC Montreal
QC Investment Associate
2024-
HEC Montreal
Thomas-Jacques Nycz
Thomas-Jacques is an Investment Associate in the QC Investment Team at Front Row Ventures and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in finance at HEC Montréal. He’s passionate about Private Equity, Venture Capital and Investment Banking, with a particular interest in the energy, technology and manufacturing sectors.
Before joining Front Row Ventures, Thomas-Jacques completed two internships at Investissement Québec. He initially worked with the Fund Investments team, where he actively contributed to their investment in Inovia’s Growth Fund III. He then transitioned to the Private Equity team in the agri-foods sector. Prior to joining Investissement Québec, he worked as a Wealth Management intern at Manulife Securities.
Starting in January 2025, Thomas will also take part in a Private Equity internship at BDG & Partners, a Quebec-based buyout firm specializing in the manufacturing, distribution, and packaging sectors.
Coming from a technical financial background working in larger institutions, Thomas-Jacques joined FRV to acquire hands-on experience in deal sourcing, networking, earlier-stage investing and to strengthen his soft skills. He also wishes to support ambitious student entrepreneurs in building meaningful companies and to learn about their innovative technologies.
In addition to Front Row Ventures, Thomas participated in the establishment of the first business review of HEC Montréal, called Global Markets HEC, as a writer for the Equity Research section. On weekends, he teaches tennis at Midtown Athletic Club, which keeps him connected to the sport he played competitively for around ten years.
During his free time, Thomas-Jacques consistently pursues self-development. He completed multiple certificates in financial modeling and accounting from Wall Street Prep, Wharton Online, The Marquee Group and Bloomberg. He also developed a passion for weightlifting during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Veronique Boumtje
QC Investment Associate
2024-
Université de Laval
QC Investment Associate
2024-
Université de Laval
Veronique Boumtje
Véronique is a PhD candidate in molecular medicine at Université Laval. Her research at Institut universitaire de cardiologie et pneumologie de Québec focuses on the development of a genetic risk score for lung cancer. She is a recipient of the prestigious Vanier Fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Driven by her passion for innovative technologies, she is determined to use her entrepreneurial talent and experience to identify and invest in start-ups with at least one student founder.
Véronique works constantly to publish results that will contribute to the development of scientific knowledge. However, her professionalism does not restrain her from hiking, and playing tennis or basketball in her off hours. Her mission is to contribute to the growth of the Front Row venture community at Université Laval.
Borna Shani
Director of BC Investment
2023-
University of British Columbia
Director of BC Investment
2023-
University of British Columbia
Borna Shani
As a Business & Computer Science student, I’m passionate about the intersection of the two and bringing impactful products to life. I have worked as a software developer, startup advisor, and most recently as an Investment Analyst at Nimbus Synergies. After a year of activity with the BC Investment Team, I’m excited to now be leading the BC chapter as Director of Investments and strengthening FRV’s foothold in western Canada. Outside of work you’ll find me playing soccer or basketball, training in Taekwondo and Kickboxing, or watching movies that try to tell you something.
Christian Levan
Director of Portfolio Support
2022-
McGill University
Director of Portfolio Support
2022-
McGill University
Christian Levan
Christian Levan is entering his final year at McGill University, where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Computer Science & Entrepreneurship. He has been with FRV for nearly three years currently serving as the Director of Portoflio Support, previously holding roles in Business Operations and as Quebec Director of investment. His experience includes business operations roles at fintech startups such as Optionality AI (backed by Inovia) and venture capital roles at Inovia Capital, Entrepreneur First & White Star Capital.
Eunice Pu
Director of Ontario Investment
2023-
Queen’s University
Director of Ontario Investment
2023-
Queen’s University
Eunice Pu
Eunice is an incoming 3rd year student studying Applied Mathematics and Computer Engineering at Queen’s University. At Queen’s, she is the Managing Director of a student consultancy firm that specializes in providing tailored services to startups and leads a research team that explores the use of AI in Hyperloop transportation systems.
Eunice is interested in the intersection of technology and business and strives to find environments that promote growth and learning. In her spare time, she can often be found running, reading, or booking her next travel adventure.
Gabriel Dannenbaum
Operations Lead
2020-
Operations Lead
2020-
Gabriel
Dannenbaum
Gabriel is the Operations Lead at Front Row Ventures. He joined FRV in 2020 as part of the investment team. The following year was the Director of Investments for the Quebec chapter and was hired full time by FRV after finishing his degree in software engineering at Polytechnique, Montréal.
Gabriel is passionate about technology, innovation and helping student entrepreneurs get the support and funding they need to grow their businesses from conception into thriving companies.
Prior to FRV, while still in CEGEP, Gabriel started his own marketing agency where he created websites and managed social media sites for SMEs. More recently, Gabriel has invested his time as the President of Poly Entrepreneuriat, a student committee at Polytechnique, where he has had the opportunity to build a passionate team committed to providing student entrepreneurs with invaluable resources and experiences.
In his spare time, you can find Gabriel enjoying nature in all its forms. He loves skiing, hiking and camping.
Helenna Swift
Director of Content & Marketing
2024-
University of British Columbia
Director of Content & Marketing
2024-
University of British Columbia
Helenna Swift
Helenna is the Director of Content & Marketing at Front Row Ventures and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, specializing in Marketing with a minor in Law & Society. She is deeply passionate about leveraging marketing as a catalyst for positive social change, focusing on areas such as women’s empowerment, LGBTQ+ initiatives, and supporting underrepresented groups.
In addition to her role at Front Row Ventures, Helenna serves as an Associate Vice-President of Marketing & Communications for UBC’s Commerce Undergraduate Society, one of Canada’s largest business school organizations. She has also previously held the position of Vice-President of Events for the Pride Division of UBC’s Commerce Undergraduate Society.
Helenna’s diverse work and non-profit experiences span several sectors, including healthcare, animal welfare, youth services, hospitality, and retail. Outside of her professional endeavours, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, listening to music, volunteering, travelling, and embracing new experiences that bring excitement to her life.
In short, Helenna likes to create, connect, and collaborate!
Marwan Abdelrahman
Director of Business Operations
2023-
University of Toronto
Director of Business Operations
2023-
University of Toronto
Marwan Abdelrahman
I am a 4th year Industrial Engineering at UofT. I have completed a 4-month internship at Capital one as a Business analyst as well as a 12-month internship at Kijiji, as a data analyst. I am currently leading the BizOps team at FRV, focusing on expanding our GP Club, our course sales and delivering on our partnerships.
I am very interested in the startup ecosystem, and hope to join a startup as an operator or a VC.
Owen Xie
Director of People & Culture
2023-
Western University
Director of People & Culture
2023-
Western University
Owen Xie
Owen is a third year computer science student at Western University. Entering his second year into Frontrow Ventures it has been a valuable experience despite the difference from his program.
Owen is very curious and dedicated student who is currently also working at Newmont Corporation as in Intern helping process control systems and instrumentation on site.
Samy Bouzinab
Director of Legal
2023-
University of Montreal
Director of Legal
2023-
University of Montreal
Samy Bouzinab
Samy Bouzinab is entering his second year at the University of Montreal, where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Law. He previously obtained a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, majoring in Information Systems with a Concentration in Finance.
He currently serves as Front Row’s Legal Director. Past work experiences include a role as a legal intern at Inovia Capital, as a fund intern at Innovobot, as well as various roles in real estate and sales.
Sanvi Khanna
People & Culture Associate
2024-
McMaster University
People & Culture Associate
2024-
McMaster University
Sanvi Khanna
Hi! My name is Sanvi Khanna and I am a second-year commerce student at McMaster University. I am passionate about fostering innovation and helping and supporting others.
With a keen interest in technology, finance, and human relations. At FRV I hope to gain a greater understanding of Venture Capital and hone the essential skills and knowledge.
Furthermore, it allows me to learn about ambitious entrepreneurs and provides the opportunity to practice my values in supporting businesses and bringing their innovative ideas to life!
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