WUTIF BOARD of DIRECTORS
(current and former)Mike Volker (2003 - present) has been working with technology startups since 1981 when he sold his first company, one of the University of Waterloo’s first spin-off ventures, Volker-Craig Ltd. In addition to being an active angel investor, he founded BC/ASI’s Product Development Fund (a seed fund), served on the Board of Seed Management’s very successful Seed Fund and in 1999 established Vancouver’s Angel Technology Network that has raised millions of dollars for various B.C. ventures. He is Director of Simon Fraser University's Industry Liaison Office.
Tim Collings (2003 - present) is an active angel investor and inventor. While at Simon Fraser University, he invented the V-Chip, a view-control technology that has been legislated as a mandatory component in all TV sets sold in the USA. Recently, he was an assistant professor in TechBC’s School of Information Technology. Mr. Collings holds an engineering degree from the University of Waterloo.
Gordon Skene (2003 - present) is an investor in, and director of, numerous technology ventures. He founded Future Fund Capital (VCC) Corp and was Director of Corporate Finance at MacMillan Bloedel Ltd and President of Norsat International. He holds degrees in Science and Business from the University of British Columbia.
Bruce Schmidt (2005 - present) is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and was a founder (1992) and C.E.O of a UBC spin-off biotechnology company that developed novel compounds for the treatment of various cancers and neurological disorders. Mr. Schmidt was a founding director of Genome British Columbia (UBC) and currently works with that organization on matters regarding institutional and corporate relationships, commercialization, and government relations. He has served as a director for a number of high tech and biotech companies in Canada and is a founding Director of the TSX Venture Exchange Listed Company Association. Previous activities include being a Director of the Canadian Healthcare Licensing Association and past Chairman of the British Columbia Biotechnology Alliance (BCBiotech), Reviewer for the Canadian Networks of Centers of Excellence and industry member of the New Economy Group of the British Columbia Securities Commission. Currently, he is the Chair of B.C.’s Life Science Cluster Initiative and Co-Chair of the Integrated Technology Initiative Leadership Council, both bodies representing academia and industry in collaboration with government focused on strategic economic growth opportunities for the Province.
Alex Klopfer (2003-2005) has a forty-year career in the technology industry having served as Vice President of IBM, Chief Operating Officer of MacDonald Dettwiler and President of Epic Data. For the past ten years he has been working with emerging companies as an investor, director and consultant. Most recently, he was director and officer of Westport Innovations, a company now employing some 200 people having raised over $200 million in investment capital. Mr. Klopfer holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in electrical engineering.
Jim Fletcher (2003-2005) has been involved in the venture capital industry in British Columbia for more than 20 years. He was a co-founder of Ventures West Management Inc. in 1982. For the past several years, he has been an active angel investor in, and mentor to, numerous technology ventures. Mr. Fletcher holds a B.Sc. (Engineering Physics) from Queens University and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. Presently he is a director of Discovery Capital, a venture capital company.
MANAGEMENT
The day to day operation of the FUND will be managed by WUTIF Management Corporation acting as Manager of the Fund. Michael Volker also serves as the Manager's President.
ADVISORS
WUTIF intends to rely in its extensive network of mentors and advisors to assist in assessing new investments and in monitoring and managing its investments.
Compensation for directors, management and advisors will be based primarily on performance.