Rob Douglas is passionate about building Canada’s economy. A founder and President of the Golden Triangle Network (GTAN), one of Canada’s largest and most active angel investor networks, he enables new Canadian companies to succeed.

A chartered accountant by profession, Rob is both a Board Member and Treasurer of the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO), Canada’s voice of angel investors. A leader in the investment community, he bridges the gap between local initiatives and national policies.

Rob commits his energy towards building the entrepreneurial spirit in Waterloo Region and currently holds equity positions in several early-stage growth companies. He is a man of vision distinguished by his strong entrepreneurial spirit and a wealth of experience in owning and managing private businesses.

Rob Douglas’ business career spans more than three decades, with employment experience ranging from investment counselling with a major Canadian brokerage to senior financial management with a large, multi-plant manufacturing company. With overall responsibility for managing businesses, he has strong skills in strategic planning, business plan execution, process analysis and human resource development.

A public policy expert, Mike has spent 30 years working in and around government. Following senior positions in the Canadian and Ontario governments as an advisor to cabinet ministers and public agency presidents, Mike founded his own consulting company specializing in helping business understand and work with the public sector.

Working out of the Waterloo Region of central Canada Mike has helped both established firms and technology start-ups secure funding and program support from the Canadian government to grow their businesses. With a strong appreciation of the resources available to help start-ups go global from inception, Mike brings practical experience and advice to clients.

Advising government on the development of specialized funding and support programs for private sector firms that have high potential for job creation, both domestically and internationally, has been a trademark of Mike’s career. He was instrumental in the creation of a federal funding program designed to match angel investment in early start-ups. His work on behalf of Ontario angel organizations has resulted in the funding of 100’s early stage companies with total investment in excess of $100m.

A graduate of the University of Western Ontario in economic and political science, Mike has spent his career bringing business and government together for the benefit of both.

Melissa Durrell is actively involved with the global startup scene, working with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and angel investors. As one of Canada’s few female pitch coaches, she’s known for her unique storytelling skills, which she honed at her former career as an award-winning Canadian broadcast journalist.

During her time at Communitech HYPERDRIVE (now REV), she successfully worked with dozens of CEOs as they developed their “pitch” running up to DemoDay. Melissa is currently an investor pitch coach with Innovation Guelph and Accelerator Centre and has worked with founders to successfully raise more than $100M in the last several years. She is a Principal at Roseview, president of Durrell Communications, and is the Communications lead for Women’s March Global.

What drives Harry Dearden is his passion to work with people to solve business challenges. His experience working with all levels of government in communications and policy making roles has allowed him to appreciate the role collaboration plays. 

Harry holds a masters in Digital Media from Ryerson University where he worked with emerging startups at the Digital Media Zone (DMZ). He has worked with non-profits like Renascent House, Movember Canada and CAMH. 

He applies his knowledge in start-up and business development with every client. Harry employed such skills when founding SmallTalk, a digital counselling tool to record oneself between sessions, as well as other mental health applications. Harry uses human-centric design principles when working with businesses to further develop their business plans.

Claire has many years work experience in marketing, event planning as well as organizing and implementing training programs. She’s created and executed strategic media programs, training courses and events for Fortune 500 companies in and outside of Canada. 

As a Roseview Associate, Claire wears many hats and plays a big part in coordinating logistics for the BASE Program. Claire ensures the participant experience is seamless from applying for the Program to assisting entrepreneurs with the goal of living and owning a business in Canada.  

Claire graduated from Laurier University with an honours degree in Communications and received a diploma in advertising from Sheridan College.  

She has lived and worked in Québec City, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Paris, France. Having spent years immersing herself in French business and culture, Claire is fluent in oral and written French.