Startup TNT: Networked Capital

Hailing from the picturesque landscapes of rural Alberta, Canada, Neil's journey has been varied. With a career spanning continents and industries, he initially honed his craft in various operational and leadership roles across four continents within the ever-evolving realm of oil and gas.
In a twist of fate, Neil took a leap of faith into the world of angel investing with Startup TNT in 2020. What started as a stroke of luck soon transformed into a passion project as he dedicated himself to leading the charge in the Calgary region for the next three years. From these beginnings as a volunteer to his current role as the Partnerships Lead, Neil's mission is clear: to build community by increasing the number of investors in the space, investing early, and investing locally.
Jesse is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, investor, and consultant with a broad skill set, wide knowledge base, and extensive network. Jesse enjoys helping others create a better future for themselves and for us all. In 2021, he formed WieGrow Capital and Consulting with his father, Doyle Wiebe, and joined Startup TNT as the Local Lead in Saskatchewan to achieve those goals. He also manages local creatives through WieManage: Creative Asset Management and works with his family to put on an annual festival called Art in the Garden. He loves creating synergistic connections and has helped prairie startups raise over 2 million dollars.

We learned about:

• The origin story of Startup TNT

• Its continued evolution into geographic expansion, and new models including the venture fund

• Deep dive into a few portfolio companies

• A 30,000 ft view of the Western Canadian venture ecosystem, funding landscape, what kind of companies are coming out, quality of entrepreneurial talent, and Startup TNT's role in it

• Tapping into diaspora communities in W. Canada like Bangladeshis, and others