Impact Alliance for Climate - Commercializing cleantech, a David and Goliath conversation (Virtual access)
The event is part of Impact Alliance for Climate Program, a series of expert workshops co-designed by Desjardins and EY Canada to provide support to cleantech entrepreneurs.
The session will focus on strategies to commercialization for cleantech companies. From challenges of the first pilot, to defining the commercialization strategy, to the first market and beyond. This will be a panel discussion between early-stage and growth-stage founders and commercialization experts.
Panel moderator:
Senior Vice President of Business Development at Venbridge
Managing Director of CleanTech North,
Founding Director of the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association
Panelists:
Albert Behr , CEO, Behr & Associates
Florent Bouguin Eng, M.Sc., Chief Technology Officer, Optel Group
Diana Virgovicova, Founder of Xatoms, and winner of Desjardins Startup Prize at University of Toronto (Early-stage)
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BIOs:
Bryan Watson
An institution within the Canadian scale-up company, investor and innovation ecosystems, Bryan Watson is currently Senior Vice President of Business Development at Venbridge, Managing Director of CleanTech North, Founding Director of the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association and 2021 Clean50 Awardee as well as member of multiple grant funding review committees and Boards as a Director.
For over 2 decades, Bryan has been an entrepreneur and advised and supported Angel and venture capital investors, all levels of government, NGOs and companies at all stages – scale-up to mature, global companies. Bryan has served as Executive Director of the National Angel Capital Organization, the Angel Investors Ontario, and CEO Fusion, Board Director of Enthusiast Gaming Inc. (NASDAQ: EGLX, TSX: EGLX) helping take the company public, as well as “Chief Instigator” of StartupDrinksTO. In addition to these roles, Bryan has been a Director of Precarn Incorporated and the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance, and an Advisor to the Mississauga R.I.C. Center and many startups.
Bryan completed his Masters in Management, Economics and International Relations at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, on the only full Chevening Scholarship awarded in Canada.
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Albert Behr
Albert Behr, in his 35+ years of experience has led corporate development and operational execution of some of the world’s most famous technology companies. His current work of commercializing, scaling and funding technology companies through his globally recognized technology practice -- Behr & Associates from Toronto, Albert has driven some of the most promising technology firms in North America, Europe and Asia across all areas of science. Albert has led as Owner, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategy/Investment Officer at several major global companies and earned an MBA in 1993 in High Technology Marketing and Finance from North Dakota State University.
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Florent Bouguin
Florent is a research and development executive with substantive experience in developing new technologies and business solutions that measure and reduce human impacts on our global environment. After graduating from Polytechnique (France) and completing graduate studies at Laval University (Canada), Florent worked as a System Engineer for ABB in the space industry. Holding several technical and management roles over the course of 15 years, he contributed to developing spaceborne analyzers for greenhouse gas observation, weather forecast prediction and ozone measurement. He joined OPTEL group, a BCorp certified organization, in 2016 as Vice President of Engineering and Operations, where he has been participating in the expansion of the business. Currently the Chief Technology Officer, Florent drives the technology and go-to-market strategy of OPTEL group whose corporate vision is to bring visibility and transparency of the value chains. As a member of the Executive Committee, Florent collaborates with the president and Executive Committee to define the vision and set corporate strategy, goals and policies. Father of two kids and ultramarathoner, Florent's motivation is promoting the balance between family life, active life and professional life.
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Diana Virgovicova
Born and raised in Slovakia until the age of 17, she used quantum chemistry to discover a novel molecule of a substance capable of purifying polluted water. She was awarded a Diploma of Excellence from the Swedish Royal Family and a fully funded scholarship to study computer engineering at the University of Toronto. Diana founded Xatoms, a company that uses AI and quantum chemistry to discover new materials capable of purifying polluted water from bacteria, viruses, and pesticides.