Calgary, AB, April 2026 - At InterGen’s latest Seed to Exit session, founders, investors, and operators gathered for a conversation about a topic that often gets oversimplified: what it takes to build a company all the way through to a successful exit and how to navigate the company's growth after a successful exit.
Featuring Clayton Feick, former CEO of Ontopical, Arden Tse, an early investor from Accelerate Fund and Michael Grantmyre of Osler as the moderator, the session explored the real decisions, trade-offs, and long-term thinking behind Ontopical’s acquisition by SOVRA, a KKR-backed GovTech platform.
A central theme throughout the discussion was intentionality. As Clayton explained, Ontopical’s journey to its 2025 acquisition wasn’t driven by a single breakthrough moment, it was the product of years of deliberate decisions. From understanding the market early to aligning on the kind of company they wanted to establish, the company and its leaders built with the end in mind.
Meanwhile, Arden brought a clear investor perspective - he doesn’t invest in products but in people. For investors, the strength, adaptability, and decision-making ability of the founding team often matter more than the initial idea itself. He also noted that acquisition appeal goes beyond growth, it is largely about clear market positioning, deep customer insight, and a solid differentiation, all assessed long before any deal begins.
From a transaction perspective, Michael offered insight into how deals actually come together and why preparation matters far earlier than most founders expect. They require thoughtful structuring, clean governance, and a clear understanding of how a company will be evaluated by potential acquirers. In many cases, the groundwork for a successful exit is laid years in advance.
If there was one idea that carried through the session, standout exits don’t happen by chance. They are built through intentional strategy, disciplined execution, and a deep understanding of the market.
Thank you to Roynat Capital and Alberta Enterprise Corporation for their support and making this program possible.