Future FWD Panelists and Judges

Fueling the Future: Investing in Innovation

Meet Our Panelists

Get to know the investors and funding experts who are driving innovation forward at the Investment Panel.

Chris Edwards head shot

Chris Edwards

Managing Partner, Tall Grass Ventures

Raissa Espiritu head shot

Raissa Espiritu

 EIR, UCeed Investment Funds, Innovate Calgary (moderator)

Peter Santosham head shot

Peter Santosham

Executive Director, UCeed Investment Funds, Innovate Calgary 

Abdullah Sarhan head shot

Abdullah Sarhan

CEO/Co-Founder, RetinaLogik

Logan Skori head shot

Logan Skori

CEO/Co-Founder, AgGene


From Lab to Market: Navigating IP and Industry Partnerships

Meet our esteemed panelists

Martin Ciuk head shot

Martin Ciuk

Associate Director, Science & Engineering, Technology Transfer, Innovate Calgary

Adrien Côté head shot

Adrien Côté

CEO, Existent

Vaidhyanathan Ramanathan head shot

Vaidhyanathan Ramanathan

Chief Scientist, Svante

George Shimizu head shot

George Shimizu

Professor of Chemistry, University of Calgary 

Natasha Tippett head shot

Natasha Tippett

Director, Ventures, Creative Destruction Lab-Rockies (moderator) 


Meet Our Judges

Get to know the expert panel evaluating this year’s pitch session. Our judges bring a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship, investment, and innovation—and they’re here to offer insight, ask the tough questions, and help spotlight the most promising ideas.

Ansh Dhawan head shot

Ansh Dhawan

VC, Thin Air Labs

Manuel Garcia head shot

Manuel Garcia

Associate, UCeed Energy Fund, Innovate Calgary

Shahr Savizi-Smed head shot

Shahr Savizi-Smed

Ventures-Health, Plug and Play