Getting To Know Our New Partnerships Lead!
Friends! We have a new member of the team to introduce you to - Adrian Mitchell! Adrian is joining us as our new Partnerships Lead, but he's been an investor with us for several Summits, and was a recipient of a side deal with his previous company, Cherry Health.
So who is Adrian? Adrian’s background is in geophysics, and he spent the first part of his career in energy. In the spring of 2020, he left a tech job in Vancouver that he had been commuting back and forth to, from Calgary, and during the pandemic, he decided to get back to his roots of coding and technical work. He decided to head back to school and completed his Master of Data Science and Analytics professional program at UCalgary's Faculty of Science. (I like that while I was perfecting my banana bread recipe, Adrian was GETTING A SECOND MASTERS… way to one-up me, Adrian!)
So to sum it up - Adrian is dope, we’re so happy he’s part of the team, and now, let’s get to know him even better!
TNT: Hey Adrian!
AM: Hey Amanda!
TNT: I’m excited to sit down and interview you today! I’m gonna dive right in - let’s talk about investing. Why do you think it’s important to be an angel investor?
AM: Oooh yes, let’s do it. Ok. So Angels fill a crucial funding gap (in terms of $ amount) for startups between friends and family funding and VC funding. And investing based on values is a big part of portfolio development, and for me, that’s where Angel Investing comes in - I personally value investing in companies that are building locally (Western Canada) to compete globally. Companies that could be incredible contributors to our local economies in terms of jobs, diverse skill development and infrastructure might never make it without Angel investment.
TNT: 100%! Local companies that succeed make our local economies flourish.
And what excites you about the startup ecosystem in Western Canada?
AM: I'm a total geek about business and innovation. I love seeing new inventions or products that are tackling problems in new and better ways, and I find the positive energy in the startup world super fun and infectious.
TNT: And what are you excited about doing, now that you’re full-time with us here at TNT?
AM: I'm excited to engage with our sponsors and partners in the startup communities across Canada. So many people are doing so much to help build the businesses of the future and I can't wait to get even more engaged with the players.
TNT: Love it! But now, a really important question… what's your favourite drink?
AM: LOL… well, in addition to geeking out about business and innovation, I also geek out about wine. I've actually been learning about wine, collecting it and enjoying it for over 20 years.
TNT: 20 years!! Oh man, I gotta get your advice then! I’m a wine newbie, so I’m sure you have recommendations for me.
Ok, and you’re based in Calgary, alongside our fav Calgary lead, Neil. What’s your favourite thing about Calgary?
AM: I think that Calgary is one of the best places to live, work, and raise a family that I’ve ever been to. I’ve lived in Calgary for over 2 decades, and in that time, the city has continuously changed in positive ways. Since I've been here, we've continued to attract thousands of people here, from all over Canada, as well as abroad. Having so many new perspectives, and so many new people, has really contributed to fostering an incredibly open and friendly environment.
TNT: And the mountains - can forget about those glorious mountains!
Ok, last question! What was your first job?
AM: My first job was slinging burgers at the Horstman Hut at the top of Blackcomb Mountain when I was in high-school! And my first "real" job was doing mining exploration fieldwork for a geophysical consulting company in Newfoundland and Labrador… I did that between my first and second-year university.
TNT: How cool! Thanks for hanging out today, Adrian, and welcome to the team!
AM: Thanks Amanda!