Audaxa Ventures

I'm very excited for #InnovationWeekYYC 2024! If you know me, you know that I am champion of JEDI - Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion - this is seen through all my work as an EiR @ UCeed Investment Funds leading the Cenovus EDI Accelerator, co-lead of Alberta Female Founders, Funders and Fortifiers (ABF4) and GP at Audaxa Ventures. So this Innovation Week I'm excited to bring all of me and work alongside so many partners to develop events that are focused on EDI. This is what's going on, this is where I will be. I hope I see you there: 1) Check out "Echoes of Innovation" - led by Innovate Calgary Social Innovation Hub, a creative and immersive installation amplifying founders' experiences and encourages open connection within the ecosystem. On display at Platform Calgary, Boardroom 3 from Nov 18-20. 2) Walking in Their Shoes: Rethinking Challenges and Choices in Founding a Startup - led by UCeed Investment Funds and Social Innovation Hub, and interactive one-hour session, where we'll explore the complexities and pivotal moments faced by founders on the path to building a business. Nov. 18 at 3:30pm https://lu.ma/izebqy7v 3) Fundraising Realities: Navigating Barriers and Building Bridges for Diverse Founders - we're reversing power dynamics here in this dynamic, one-hour session in partnership with UCeed Investment Funds, The51 and Movement51. Can't wait to share who is a part of this session! Nov. 19 at 3:30pm https://lu.ma/usf2r6kj 4) AI Innovation: Investing in the Startups of tomorrow - led by Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) I'm on a panel on the KPMG pitch stage with some great people. Nov. 20 at 11am https://lu.ma/n5zribk8 5) Stigma to Superpower: Exploring ADHD and Neurodiversity - a candid discussion on neurodiversity, mental health, and entrepreneurship. In partnership with Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta, Alberta Female Founders, Funders and Fortifiers (ABF4), Women Presidents Organization, UCeed Investment Funds Nov. 20 at 11am https://lnkd.in/g-GGucBx 6) Learn how to build a growth mindset - led by Courtney Dragani of The51 I'll be part of a fireside chat sharing experiences about lessons learned from failures and hardships. Nov. 21 at 11am https://lu.ma/7sj9a69e Thanks to everyone who helped to make all of these events happen but BIG shout outs to Zachary Novak Renu Chandarana Kim Follis Adaeze Hubbard Chantal Palmer Nadia Lachman and of course UCeed Investment Funds for your dedication to this work.

✨ Sharing a glimpse of our incredible team this morning - we're thrilled to highlight (and celebrate!) Shanika A.. Shanika brings a wealth of experience to our team as an entrepreneur, operator and skilled venture advisor which have enhanced Audaxa Ventures in many ways. Her alignment with our values and her dedication to our mission made her a crucial addition. For the founders and ecosystem partners who got to engage with her through calls, and at events, you got to experience this first hand. Her insights into marketing, impact, and process optimization have been instrumental in advancing our work. She has not only strengthened our operations but also deepened our impact and our ability to deliver on our ambitious goals. Thank you, Shanika! 🙌 This week, Shanika A. embarks on an exciting milestone as she heads to Yale University to complete her MBA and add a few more (well deserved!) letters next to her name as she earns an additional Master’s of Advanced Management (MAM). I want to extend my deepest gratitude for her thoughtfulness, hard work, and the indelible impact she has made on our team. Yale is lucky to have you, Shanika! 🎓🚀 We're also excited to celebrate the Propel Impact team, whose support was key in making this internship possible—thank you to Cheralyn Chok, Olivia Charlebois, and Adam Livshits for your collaboration! #TeamShanika #Impact #YaleUniversity #AudaxaVentures #ValuesDriven

⭐ The Impact Showcase's Pitching Startups part 2⭐ BDC’s Thrive Lab and its co-investment partners have searched the country to curate the top 25 women-led social impact startups at their first Impact Showcase which is part onstage showcase and part demo, with space and time for the startup to exhibit for one day and potentially raise awareness and funding. • Iris + Arlo nominated by Evol • Juno Technologies nominated by Centech Mtl • Made with Local nominated by Volta • MileBox nominated by Esplanade • Mino Care nominated by DMZ • MycoFutures nominated by the University of Toronto • Myomar Molecular nominated by The Firehood • My Well Self nominated by BDC's Thirve Lab • Partage Club nominated by Anges Québec • PragmaClin Research Inc. nominated by Genesis • Starluv Inc. nominated by Propel • Treehouse nominated by SheBoot • Tripura Breath nominated by Zú 🎤 Featured Speakers 🎤 • Sevrine Labelle — Managing Director, Thrive Lab, BDC • Graham Hill — Founder, CEO, The Carbonauts & Wearehappytoserveyou.com • Hilary Kilgour — Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Audaxa Ventures • Melissa Allen — Founding Partner, Capital M Ventures & Executive & Director, League of Innovators • Annick Charbonneau — Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Accelia Capital 👉 Find out more about the pitching startups here: https://bit.ly/3xHShQW

📣 Startupfest is on this week in Montreal! I’m thrilled to be returning - it’s always a pleasure to meet with the most promising startup founders, reconnect with many partners from across the country and connect with new ones. This year, Startupfest is taking over the entire pier and adding 2 stages. Among the rich content, I’m excited about Hardtech Fest, Women in Tech, BDC’s Thrive Lab Impact Showcase, GPfest, and ImpactFest. If you'll be at Startupfest, let’s connect! I'm delighted to have Raissa Espiritu joining me to represent Audaxa Ventures. Reach out to discuss impact investing, the opportunity for diverse teams and how to increase access to capital in climate and health. Please join me at Startupfest’s first Impact Showcase on Thursday to meet some of Canada’s leading women-led impact companies. Each company will get three minutes to pitch and demo in front of a panel of judges including me, Melissa Allen, Graham Hill, Annick Charbonneau. Thanks to Sevrine Labelle and BDC’s Thrive Lab for organizing! Join us on the Pitch Stage on Thursday July 11th at 10am. See you there! https://lnkd.in/erHcs9gP On Friday, I'll be joining respected colleagues for Impactfest. It'll be great to hear from Sylvain Carle of CIVIC, Lyne Landry, ICD.D of AgeTech Capital, Erica Barbosa Vargas of Eclipx Family Office, Alain-Olivier Desbois, CFA of Oneka Technologies. Join us at 10:30am on Friday on the sky stage with Lyne, Louis Delorme, CPA, CFA, Pierre-laurent Macridis, M.Sc and I as we discuss the State of Impact Investing. I'm especially grateful to Rebecca Croll, Philippe Telio, Alistair Croll, and the entire team at Startupfest for organizing one of the best events in the country. Make sure to catch talks by some of the inspiring speakers and attendees, including Haley Bryant from Hustle Fund, Michelle Scarborough of BDC Thrive, Lauren McGuire of RBCx, Lise Birikundavyi, CFA of BKR Capital, Pascale Audette of Agetech, Sophie Silkes of COAST, Sep Assadian from ventureLAB, Claudette M. & Danielle Brewin Graham of The Firehood, Phil G. Joseph of Rep Matters, Neha Khera, Isaac Souweine of Pender Ventures and a few of us joining from BC including Kenndal McArdle, CFA of Pender, Davina MacPhail of Spring, and Leah Nguyen of InBC Investment Corp. #innovation #techforgood #businessforgood #impactinvesting #venturecapital https://lnkd.in/gsxPTp-n