The VCAA welcomes Carolynn Winterhalt as Strategic Projects & Experiences Lead

The Venture Capital Association of Alberta (VCAA) is excited to announce the appointment of Carolynn Winterhalt as Strategic Projects & Experiences Lead, effective May 1st, 2023.

Carolynn joins the VCAA with a dynamic background and nearly eighteen years of experience supporting high-impact projects and leaders across a variety of sectors. She is passionate about fostering great teams, gathering with purpose and cheering others on from the sidelines. Her previous experience as Executive Director of the A100 make her no stranger to the innovation and venture community in Alberta, to whom her proven work ethic and a contagious energy are already known.

In addition to her role with the VCAA, Carolynn is a Certified Executive Coach who loves working with ambitious founders to strategically manage energy and directly impact results. She also holds a MSc in Global Health Policy where she focused her research on Public Private Partnerships. Lately she has spent the majority of her time at home in the mountains chasing after her two young kiddos.

“I am very excited to take on this new role with the VCAA to help solidify efforts that give voice to the Venture Capital and financing industry in Alberta. I am eager to bring my experience and passion to support meaningful connections that promote deal flow and knowledge-sharing amongst Alberta’s Venture Capital and Private Equity community.”

 

About the VCAA

The VCAA is the primary industry association for venture capital, private equity, and angel investors in Alberta. The VCAA creates opportunities for collisions that spur innovation, connections, professional development, and greater deal flow among venture capital industry players and related industries.

AEC Invests US$15 million to Grow Alberta Tech Companies

AEC Invests US$15 million to Grow Alberta Tech Companies

EDMONTON, March 16, 2021 - Alberta Enterprise announced today that it has invested US$15 million into Inovia Capital Growth Fund II to support technology companies in scaling beyond the startup stage. Inovia was co-founded in Alberta and their team’s capital and leadership has helped build some of Canada’s modern tech successes including Symend, Tophat, Drivewyze, Neo Financial and Lightspeed.

6th Annual Rod Charko Service Award Winner

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Dr. Ray Muzyka, CM

Winner of the Sixth Annual Rod Charko Service Award
November 18, 2019 | Calgary, AB

Dr. Ray Muzyka, CM is the winner of the sixth annual Venture Capital Association of Alberta (VCAA) Rod Charko Service Award.  The Rod Charko Service Award has been established to recognize on an annual basis an individual that has gone above and beyond to build on the legacy Rod left in this Province.

Rod had a vision for the Alberta Technology Ecosystem where technology companies, investors and mentors would collaborate and work towards a common goal of enhancing the ecosystem in Alberta. Rod was instrumental in the formation of many of the groups that have gone on to continue his work, including the likes of the A100, AccelerateAB, the Accelerate Fund and the VCAA. Rod passed away mid 2012, before he could see his vision come to fruition. 

Dr. Ray Muzyka, the 2019 recipient, is an active leader and mentor in Alberta’s technology ecosystem, continuing on with much of the work started by Rod. He is recognized by his peers in the investment community for his steadfast and enduring dedication to growing the Alberta startup entrepreneurship ecosystem, and for being a constant champion of the province and country.  Ray is the founding Chair of the UAlberta ThresholdImpact Venture Mentoring Service (www.ualberta.ca/vms) and a mentor Fellow at the Creative Destruction Lab Calgary (CDL Rockies), was the past chair of the Alberta Research and Innovation Advisory Committee (ARIAC) and serves on the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta, among other activities in the Alberta ecosystem.

Dr. Muzyka originally trained as a medical doctor at the University of Alberta, serving as a rural ER GP for a decade across Northern Alberta and was co-founder and former CEO of Edmonton-based BioWare (www.bioware.com), now a division of Electronic Arts.   He is currently focused on sustainable, profitable impact investing - mentoring and angel investing in information technology, new media and medical innovations with social entrepreneurs at ThresholdImpact (www.thresholdimpact.com).  He is an active angel investor across North America, and active entrepreneurial mentor.

The VCAA Rod Charko Service Award is presented on an annual basis.  

Media Contact: Rebecca Giffen