Startup Grind Calgary is back! Join us for an evening of fireside chats and conversations with exciting entrepreneurial leaders! In conjunction with the Founder Institute (FI), we are proud to feature Calgary icon W. Brett Wilson, FI Venture Impact Partner, founder of Klevr.ai and x2 Stanley Cup Champion Kris Versteeg and FI graduate and the co-founder and CEO of Quibbit Inc, Iida Cisecki!

Feature Speaker: W. Brett Wilson

We are honored to host our feature fireside chat with W. Brett Wilson! Brett is best known as a “Dragon Emeritus” from 3 seasons on CBC’s hit reality TV show Dragons’ Den. He has built extensive holdings in the power generation, hydrocarbon production, real estate development, cannabis, agriculture, sports and entertainment industries. His business and philanthropic leadership have brought him considerable recognition including the Order of Canada (2011) and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (2012). Brett continues to simplify and organize his life to focus on what is most important - his family, friends and health. His is semi-autobiography “Redefining Success: Still Making Mistakes” is an all-time best selling business book in Canada.

Feature Speaker: Kris Versteeg

Kris is a former professional hockey player who is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with over 250 points during his 11 seasons in the NHL. He played for various teams including the Chicago Blackhawks and the Calgary Flames. Since retiring, he has been a regular contributor on Sportsnet Hockey Central and Sirius XM NHL Radio. Since leaving professional hockey, he has increasingly been involved in the startup space. In late 2020 he co-founded the company Klevr.ai with his brother Bryce. The Klevr Sports app features a unique approach to enabling coaches and parents to capture and share key moments during sporting events. He is from Lethbridge, Alberta and has maintained strong connections to his community, including throughout the last two years, donating funds to struggling families in Southern Alberta to purchase groceries and other essential items.

Kris is also an Impact Venture Partner with the Founder Institute Western Canada!

Feature Startup: Iida Cisecki of Quibbit

Iida is a recent graduate of the Founder Institute with her company Quibbit. As the co-founder and CEO of Quibbit Inc - she is building a world-class mobile automotive app connecting customers and providers. She is a World Citizen, a Project Management specialist, as well as an Investor. Iida has been immersed in startup culture for as long as she can remember. Some of her recent accolades include being a Finalist in HerStory 2022 and ranked top 100 in Scotiabank's Total Mom Pitch 22! She is also Fluent in Finnish and English and has a basic understanding of Swedish, German and Spanish!

About the Founder Institute, Western Canada

FI is the world’s largest startup accelerator.

• Creating 800 - 1,000 Companies Per Year Globally

• 185+ cities

• 4,200+ portfolio companies

• 15,000+ mentors

• HQ in Silicon Valley

• Join an accelerator with a global focus!

• Next Western Canada's cohort's Final Admissions Deadline Sep 18, 2022

• Apply here: fi.co 

About Startup Grind Calgary

Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community, actively educating, inspiring, and connecting more than 2,000,000 entrepreneurs in over 600 chapters. The cornerstone of our global community are monthly events featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share lessons learned on the road to building great companies.

In Calgary, we have focused on delivering premier events to entrepreneurs in all sectors.

Key Facts About Startup Grind Calgary

-We are an all volunteer organization

-We receive no government funding

Our Values

-We believe in making friends, not contacts

-We believe in giving, not taking

-We believe in helping others before helping yourself