HOME   |   ABOUT    |   INVESTORS    |    COMPANIES   |    SPONSORS   |    NEWS   |    CONTACT 

2009/2010 Cleantech Jury

Michael Curry - Managing Partner, Investeco - Toronto, ON
	Michael's focus at Investeco is identifying investment targets, conducting research and due diligence, and helping drive company growth strategies once an investment is made. He is Vice Chair of the board at Organic Meadow and is on its audit committee, and also sits on the board of Rowe Farm Meats. Previously, Michael was co-owner/operator of a successful building materials distribution company and spent seven years in the reforestation industry. Michael became focused on the environmental economy in 2001 when he began researching environmental companies for the E2 Venture Fund.
Scott MacDonald - Investment Director, Emerald Technology Ventures - Montreal, QC
	Scott MacDonald is a Partner with Emerald Technology Ventures, a global leader in cleantech venture capital. Founded in 2000 under the name SAM Private Equity, Emerald is a pioneer in this rapidly emerging sector and is focused on innovative technologies in energy, materials and water. From offices in Zurich, Switzerland and Montreal, Canada, Emerald manages three venture capital funds and two venture capital portfolio mandates totaling over US$440 million. Scott has been active in the venture capital industry for the past 10 years and has focused exclusively on the global cleantech sector for the past 5 years. Scott graduated with a Bachelors degree from McMaster University and an MBA from Dalhousie University. He previously served as Chairman of RuggedCom (TSX:RCM) and is currently a Director of SynapSense, Solicore and SoftSwitching Technologies. He is a member of the North American Advisory Board for the CleanTech Venture Network, an industry association that brings together all stakeholders in the area of cleantech, a volunteer director of Gymnastics Canada and is an elected voting member of the Canadian Olympic Committee for the 2005-2009 quadrennial.
John Richardson - CEO, President and a founder of B.E.S.T. Discoveries Fund and B.E.S.T. Total Return Fund - Toronto, ON
	John Richardson is the founder, CEO of The BEST FUNDS group of companies which include a group of Investment Funds and money management firms including B.E.S.T. Investment Counsel Limited, an asset management firm focused on private equity and venture capital as well as Absolute Private Counsel, an Alternative Asset Management firm serving the institutional marketplace. He holds the designation of Senior Investment Counsellor/Portfolio Manager and is the Senior Counselling Advisor of the investment management team at BEST FUNDS. John is the CEO of three publicly offered venture funds across Canada. In his extensive experience and as advisor to the Fund, John has successfully negotiated over 100 transactions across different stages of investments and diverse industries, in private and public equity employing the use of diverse investment instruments from convertible debt to equities, both common and preferred share structures, as well as special warrants and limited partnerships. Prior to this other work experience includes working in Public Accounting in a number of different practice areas as well as being the Chief Financial Officer of a scientific equipment manufacturer and distributor. Mr. Richardson speaks regularly about Venture Capital and Private Equity in a number of public forums including the Team Canada mission to Hong Kong. Currently, he serves as a director on a number of private and public company boards. He is a Chartered Accountant, and a Chartered Business Valuator. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from the State University of New York and a Certificate Pratique de la Langue Francaises from the Universite de Savoie in France.
Bernhardt Zeisig - Senior Partner, Cycle Capital Management - Montreal, QC
	Bernie brings to Cycle Capital over eleven years of venture investing experience and 20 years of company building experience in both the US and Canada. He has participated in over thirty rounds of financing and has built a proven, trusted network for deal flow, deal management and realization. Zeisig began his career at eighteen, when he built his first successful company. He later became an active angel investor, built a trans-Atlantic joint venture and worked as a Management Consultant helping one of his client’s ramp sales to over $60 million US. He has lived and worked in Canada, Germany, Austria, France, Scotland and most recently in the US. Zeisig moved to Boston, MA, in 1998 to join VIMAC Ventures as an Associate. In six years he rose from Principal to Partner to Senior Partner, largely due to his investment record and efforts in developing the firm’s Canadian franchise. By 2001, the firm was the most active and respected US-based venture investor in Canada. Zeisig is a frequent speaker on cross-border investment issues and has often advised on policy matters. Bernie holds BAs in Economics from both Carleton University, Canada and Université de Chambery, France, and an MSc in Entrepreneurial Studies from Stirling University, Stirling Scotland.

Presenting Sponsor