About TNT

We raise money for startups.  We build networks of sophisticated angel investors anchored in their communities.

We all Have Fun, Make Friends, and Build Companies together.

At Startup TNT, we believe that having fun together is the starting point for a resilient, innovation-driven economy. A good laugh and some casual conversation can pierce through silos, tear down walls and help form lasting relationships. Join our happy hour.

Building Community

We believe that great people, great technologies, and great businesses exist just as frequently in small-to-mid-tier cities as they do in big cities. We are a movement that believes entrepreneurs should build their innovation community on their own terms.

Great Entrepreneurs Exist Here

We actively work with local angel groups, seed funds, and early-stage VC funds to educate new and potential investors. Our flagship program, TNT Investment Summit, provides a fun, approachable way to become an angel investor.

Growing the Investor Pool

Meet the team

  • Hi, I’m Zack. I love sharing good times and great beer with friends. I also love bringing people together to accomplish something epic in their local communities, which is why I invest in entrepreneurs.

    Join me every single Thursday to have fun, make friends, and build companies together.

  • I’m unapologetically pro Edmonton. I aspire to be the top promoter of the local startup community. With Startup TNT, I have invested in over 60 startups! I love winter and ski as much as I can. I also enjoy biking, sailing, and learning how to suck the marrow out of life with my daughter, Summer and wife, Keren

Co-Founder

Zack Storms                

  • Startups shouldn’t pay to pitch to investors. Investors shouldn’t solo-hunt for deals and write $25k-100k cheques into companies that they barely know from a single pitch. The community should rally around the startups that it creates and help them reach the world from right here at home. We need to diversify our economy, and the community itself should be on the frontlines of making that happen. Investing in the cool next things should be fun, profitable, and done with friends.

  • 1x exit. Retired (sometimes unretired) Ukrainian dancer. Former mid-market corporate finance person. Big dog guy. Maker of and investor in deals, both startup and mid-market. CPA, CFA, CBV. Venture capitalist. Lover of tacos.

Co-Founder

Tim Lynn                 

  • Risk-adjusted returns. Portfolio diversification. Economic diversification and development. Community-building. Relationship-building. Equity. Learning and personal growth. All of these come together for me at Startup TNT in a really special way.

  • I’m a born and raised rural Albertan, who spent most of my adult life working in the oil and gas industry. I’ve lived and worked across 4 continents and moved to Calgary about 10 years ago. I am a husband to 1 and dad to 2. I’ve had the pleasure of having led an interesting life. I see grey everywhere, and I have recently started calling myself an ambivert instead of an introvert.

Partnerships Lead

Neil Vande Bunte   

  • I was interested in solving problems from a very young age and also good at storytelling! Seriously though, the main reason I work for Startup TNT is to help make the world a better place; that keeps me going! That and all the amazing people I get to work with on this journey, we have a truly incredible community!

  • I lived in Bangladesh from two to five years old, then grew up in Saskatchewan on a farm in a family of entrepreneurs. Before dropping out, I studied engineering at Waterloo, travelled the world in my 20s, and eventually got my economics degree at York University. I started our family office in March 2021 before joining TNT, and I am proud to be a venture capitalist and a business owner running our wholly-owned businesses.

Community Development Lead

Jesse Wiebe           

  • I want the returns on my investments to benefit the communities outside of the historical startup hubs. I firmly believe investing in local startups is the best way to stimulate, diversify, and build resilience within our local economies for the long term.

  • I'm super interested in too many things. I have a background in energy, tech, and life sciences. I have worn many hats, including Co-Founding a digital health startup, and I try to bring a lot of that experience to the table when working with startup founders and investors.

Calgary Lead

Adrian Mitchell        

  • I want to live in a community where people are building exciting new things, gaining traction with new ideas, and everywhere you go it truly feels alive! We make that happen by bringing people together and investing in local businesses.

  • Having grown up in Toronto and living in Montreal and several other cities before Edmonton, I seek out the specific vibe of a place everywhere I go - preferably while exploring on a bike or e-scooter. My career has spanned med tech, transportation, and real estate sectors with a guiding focus on operations, leadership and working with amazing people. Reach out on LinkedIn.

Edmonton Lead

Lindsay Vanstone   

  • I’ve always been fascinated by and held immense respect for technology entrepreneurs. This is a high-impact way for me to support founders, while also satisfying my huge appetite for learning new things.

  • I’m a writer, entrepreneur, and speaker who’s been working at the intersection of tech and media for over a decade. In the past, I’ve led communications at a provincial crown agency, started and scaled a niche media property, and had work published in The Globe & Mail, Maclean’s, Billboard, and The Georgia Straight, among other publications. When not working, I’m taking every opportunity to be out drinking and dining.

BC Lead

William Johnson

  • I was born and raised in Saskatchewan, and I’ve absolutely loved seeing the transformation in our province’s economy to become a place where global businesses can be built and thrive from right here. Investing in startups is the best way to level up my learning and help build amazing companies that change the face of my home province in the process. And I’ve made some incredible friends along the way.

  • I’ve spent most of my career in tech ecosystem development and community-building roles and have been building a startup investment portfolio with TNT for the last two years. I absolutely love working with startups, meeting new founders and learning what they’re up to. When I’m not doing that, I’m usually spending time with friends and family or at home with my two Bengal cats.

Saskatchewan Lead

Mike Wolsfeld          

  • The idea of investing in the best local startups and helping build an engaged community of founders and investors resonates with me.

  • I have always had a strong interest in science, technology, business and physical fitness. Professionally, I have a background in aerospace engineering and military aviation. In recent years, I’ve looked deeper into business operations, leadership and ways to make small organisations operate more efficiently and effectively.

Regina Lead

Hassan Naqvi      

  • The work I do reflects the decisions I make and that means impact first - how can I contribute to the positive social impacts on my community and around the globe.

  • I can geek out on a lot of topics, but when I’m not in my head, I am actively living my life as if my husband and I were survivors of the apocalypse - gardening, canning, distilling, eating honey from our bees hidden away in our speak-easy wine and whiskey cellar. Reach out on LinkedIn.

Finance Lead

Richard Tuck       

Abigail Douglass

Executive Operations Specialist

  • My entrepreneurial journey is fueled by a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of community building. Drawing from my background and experiences, I'm passionate about supporting startups and small businesses, knowing that by focusing on local connections, we can ignite global change!

  • Born and raised in Russia before making roots in rural Alberta, my journey has been a whirlwind of adventure. As a self-proclaimed jack-of-all-trades, I've dabbled in various industries with a playful curiosity. Off-duty, you'll find me checking out local food, crafting homemade cocktails, and chilling at board game cafes.

  • I got involved with Startup TNT because of the community which is open and friendly despite the immense success of many of its constituents. I want to see startups in our community WIN!

  • I'm your friendly neighbourhood outdoor enthusiast, always up for a hike, bike, ski adventure, or even just a leisurely stroll in the park – I like to think I'm on a perpetual quest for the perfect picnic spot! When I'm not enjoying nature's wonders, you'll often catch me with my nose buried in a book, because, well, knowledge is power, right? And hey, I've got a knack for making things work, whether it's tinkering with code, or putting together a desk. Reach out on LinkedIn.

Operations Lead

Jonah Tetz           

  • We’re all about growing local communities in a very grassroots, fun, and authentic way - and I’d like to contribute to my home in a way that brings about meaningful change.

  • I love to travel and try local foods. I’ also constantly trying to use and not lose the 6 languages I speak. I’m passionate about classical music and adamant everyone can enjoy it, not just senior citizens or students who are studying.

Program Operations Specialist

Winnie Cheung  

  • I am passionate about championing small businesses and building communities that create positive ecosystems for economic growth and development.

  • How my friends describe me: Spooky, weird, and whimsical - like a Tim Burton Film. I have a Border Collie named Hamish, I own an Equine Sport & Lifestyle Photography business, and I’m learning Scots Gaelic!

Marketing & Communication Lead

Mandie Armstrong