Waterloo Grit Waterloo Grit

The Accelerator Centre (AC) is pleased to announce the launch of its groundbreaking Aerospace Accelerator in collaboration with the Region of Waterloo and NAVBLUE. This innovative initiative aims to foster the growth and development of cutting-edge aerospace technologies while contributing to the economic and technological advancement of the region.Join us for a conversation with Matthew Chandy, Director of Innovation and Economic Development at the Waterloo Region. His portfolio includes a wide range of initiatives that support growth and development in the Waterloo region, including land development for investment, supporting growth in the aviation and aerospace sector, affordable housing initiatives, and innovation programming to stimulate economic growth.

Join AC Programs Director, Beatriz Zanatelli, and CEO and Founder of Connection Silicon Valley, Joanne Fedeyko, for a discussion about becoming investment-ready and the challenges you may encounter as a female founder.

Bocar Dia is Forum’s Manager Director, sitting at the intersection of investing and working 1:1 with portfolio founders through the early stages of building, including go-to-market, founder-led sales, and fundraising. As part of the founding team of the Enterprise product at Hootsuite, Bocar helped the business grow to well over $150M+ and 2,000+ employees in under seven years. Bocar continues to co-found, advise, coach and angel invest in SaaS startups from pre-seed to Series A. He is also currently a Sales Coach at the Harvard Business School, curator at revenue.fyi, and blogs at scalingto100.com.

Join guest host Tabatha Laverty, AC Vice President of Marketing and External Relations, and Michelle Grocholsky, founder of Empowered EDI, to learn about the development and impact of developing our EDI strategy.

Join Alastair Nimmons from Easly and Gerry Fung from Northbridge Capital to discuss the early stage funding landscape, how startups can leverage SR&ED and what options for early stage funding are available beyond traditional venture capital deals.


Alastair Nimmons leads Easly, Canada's premier SR&ED financing provider, as Managing Director and has strategic oversight of the company, including sales, marketing, and operations. Prior to his role at Easly, Alastair held various CFO positions and was a partner at a Big Four accounting firm. Alastair is an outdoorsman, avid skier and mountain biker. He has also competed in Ironman and is currently training for another multi-sport event later this year. Alastair strongly believes in the benefits of fresh air, which he gets ample access to living in beautiful Vancouver. 

Gerry Fung is a Partner within the North Group of Companies, which includes NorthBridge Consultants (SR&ED and government incentives consultancy), and the NorthSpring Capital Partners and NorthTech Capital Partners investment funds. Gerry is a Professional Engineer, an accountant, a management consultant, angel investor, and an experienced business executive who has worked with Canadian technology companies since 2003. His current practice at NorthBridge Consultants focuses on advising early-stage technology start-ups on how to leverage various government funding programs to fund growth.

Join guest host and AC Venture Studio Program Manager, Chris Leclerc to learn what it takes to disrupt D2G markets.