As 2024 comes to a close, we are excited to host a festive and forward-looking celebration, combining the warmth of the holiday season with an exploration of how digital transformation can drive industrial productivity. Our Wine Wednesday Christmas Cocktail will feature Whitney Rockley of McRock Capital, one of Canada's top technology venture funds focused on the Digital Industrial, and Remi Schmaltz who co-Founded Decisive Farming, founded Agtech Venture Firm Koan Capital, and has launched his latest venture, Brilliant Harvest.
Remi is an accomplished entrepreneur turned investor who has led groundbreaking digital transformation in Calgary's agricultural industry. Notably, he co-founded Decisive Farming, a digital Agtech firm that secured venture funding from McRock Capital. In 2020, Remi successfully exited to TELUS, making Decisive Farming an integral part of TELUS Agriculture—a monumental achievement recognized as the Most Significant Tech Transaction of that year.
Whitney co-founded McRock in 2012, becoming one of the few female founders of a Venture Fund. She firmly believes that diverse teams outperform and actively advocates for diversity and inclusion initiatives within the technology and private capital ecosystems. Although she calls Toronto home, she has deep roots in Calgary, serving as Chair of the Haskayne School of Business Management Advisory Council.
Through their experiences, they’ll shed light on how investment in technology can unlock growth opportunities and enable businesses to adapt to modern challenges. Join us for a Christmas Cocktail and leave with fresh ideas and a deeper understanding of the integral role that digital transformation can play in business growth.
Check out the event recap and photos here.
Speakers:
Remi Schmaltz is the CEO and Founder of Brilliant Harvest, an AI customer experience platform for equipment dealers. Brilliant recently came out of stealth mode with revenue and commercial customers including Calgary based Rocky Mountain Equipment. Hailing from an Alberta farm, he boasts a remarkable track record with two successful exits to blue chip companies, TELUS and CHS. Beyond his accomplishments, Remi is an agtech investor with a portfolio of more than 16 companies and a highly sought-after mentor at THRIVE, and Creative Destruction Lab
With a keen entrepreneurial spirit, Remi excels in cultivating substantial revenue and value within the agriculture sector. His skill set extends to raising capital, forging strategic partnerships, business development, and successful exits.
Whitney Rockley is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of McRock Capital, a venture capital firm focused exclusively on the Digital Industrial. She serves on a number of boards including samdesk, a threat detection software company, Plus One Robotics, a computer vision software company for parcel handing, and Miovision, an intelligence traffic management company, in addition to serving as an advisor of BKR Capital, venture fund focused on investing in black entrepreneurs, and the Chair of the Haskayne School of Business Management Advisory Council. Whitney was also the first female Chair of the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.
Whitney was the Chair of Decisive Farming (acquired by Telus) and served on the boards of Clearpath (acquired by Rockwell Automation), mnubo (acquired by AspenTech) and RtTech Software (acquired by AspenTech and Vinci Energies) and was one of the key investors behind Poka (acquired by IFS) and RuggedCom, (acquired by Siemens).
Whitney received her MBA (with honours) from the Haskayne School of Business (HSB) in 1997 and received the Big Ideas Bold Leaders Award from the HSB in 2021.
Sponsor:
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.
Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.
EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.
All in to shape the future with confidence.