Rick Segal

Partner, J. L. Albright Venture


Prior to joining JLA Ventures, Mr. Segal was President and Chief Executive Officer of Microforum, a leader in providing integrated e-business solutions in a wide array of industry verticals. Mr. Segal joined Microforum in July 2000 from Chapters Online Inc., a leading Canadian e-commerce company, where he held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer (1997-2000). Mr. Segal began working with Chapters Inc. in 1997 as a consultant on the technical development of the Chapters e-commerce venture. Based on this successful collaboration, he was named the President of Chapters Online in August 1998.

Prior to joining Chapters Online, Mr. Segal was a partner at the international firm of TMS Consulting from 1996 to 1998. Mr Segal worked at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington from 1992 until 1996 as Director of technical services for the Internet Customer Unit. Mr. Segal is also the author of four books on Network Management and Windows software development.

Mr. Segal serves as a director of Planeteye, HealthUnity, B5 Media, MusicIP Corporation, Sirit Inc., and Truition Marketplace Solutions.

Rick's Blog

Sean Wise

Wise Mentor Capital


Over the last 7 years, Sean has lectured at more than 100 bootcamps, financing forums and industry conferences. He has helped train over 2300 entrepreneurs who collectively raised more than $900M from a wide variety of investment sources.

Sean sits on the Boards of several young technology companies, as well as the Banff Venture Forum, the Canadian Venture Forum and the Toronto Venture Group. He is a member of both the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Canadian Venture Capital Association. You can read his column on Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship in the Globe and Mail monthly. Recently, Sean was asked by the CBC to act as Industry Advisor and Online Host for the networks’ new hit business reality show, Dragons’ Den.

Sean studied Engineering and Economics at Carleton University before going on to get his Law and MBA degrees from the University of Ottawa.

Sean also helped found Ernst & Young’s Venture Capital Advisory Group in Canada and now undertakes selective engagements from young companies looking for strategic guidance on capital raising and growth through the five person consultancy, Wise Mentor Capital.

Sean's Blog

Salim Teja

Vice President, Brightspark Ventures


Salim brings over 10 years of operational and venture capital experience in the technology industry to his role as Vice President of Ventures. Prior to joining Brightspark, Salim was appointed as Entrepreneur-in-Residence with Mosaic Venture Partners. Salim was responsible for evaluating all in-house technology investment opportunities in the areas of Internet security, communications and electronic commerce. Prior to Mosaic Venture Partners, Salim was Co-Founder and Vice President of Sales and Business Development for MobShop Inc, a pioneer in procurement software funded by GE Capital, Visa International, Mayfield Fund and Marc Andreessen.

Salim's depth of experience also includes senior roles with MSI Consulting Group (a WPP Company) and IBM. Salim has advised senior management at technology vendors including Microsoft, Oracle, Intel, SAP and Cisco on major corporate strategy initiatives. In his role at Brightspark, Salim applies his expertise in identifying new investment opportunities and raising additional funds for portfolio companies. Salim is a graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario.


Salim's Blog