We’re creating a dynamic environment where start-ups, innovators, educators, and businesses can collaborate, pilot new ideas, and accelerate innovation to ignite the spark of change.
New Catalyst Innovation Network Event | Capital, Connections, and Credibility: A Founder’s Guide to Angel Investment | Nov 19
Whether you’re preparing to raise equity capital, exploring funding options for a high-growth venture, or looking to connect with the region’s innovation community, this event will offer practical insights and valuable connections to help you take the next step.
November 19, 5:30–8:30 pm, The Patch Brewery Maple Ridge.
Registration is free, but space is limited to 90 seats!
The Catalyst Innovation Network is a new, sustainable, and ongoing initiative with the objective of building an innovation ‘ecosystem’ that connects existing and future entrepreneurs, businesses, community organizations, and talent to drive economic diversification and future-ready job growth in Maple Ridge.
This work will support the City’s goals of diversifying the local economy, fostering high-quality job creation, strengthening local and regional competitiveness, and positioning Maple Ridge as an emerging destination for innovative businesses, technology talent, and scalable entrepreneurship.
We will engage residents, businesses, schools, investors, and ecosystem partners, both within and beyond Maple Ridge, to co-design and help build a network that reflects Maple Ridge’s unique strengths, community identity, and long-term economic ambitions.
The Focus of the Catalyst Innovation Network:
This forward-thinking initiative will be based on four key streams of work. Each stream supports our long-term goal of creating a connected, vibrant, and resilient innovation community.
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Community Engagement
We’re engaging directly with residents, businesses, educators, youth, and industry partners to understand what Maple Ridge needs to continue to grow its innovation-fueled economy. Through interviews, focus groups, and conversations with local and regional leaders, we are gathering insights that help identify the city’s strengths, gaps, and opportunities. This community-guided approach ensures that the Catalyst Innovation Network reflects real opportunities and supports the people who will benefit most from it.
Innovation Events
We are working to host interactive startup and innovation events that bring people together to share ideas, connect with others, and learn about emerging opportunities in Maple Ridge. These sessions highlight local innovators, spark collaboration between different sectors, and build excitement about what innovation can look like in our community. Each event also gives residents and businesses a chance to help shape the direction of the network.
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Strategic Partnerships
We aspire to build partnerships with post-secondary institutions, accelerators, industry organizations, and innovation enablers to support talent development, entrepreneurship, and business growth in Maple Ridge. Based on research and feedback from events and engagements, these collaborations will aim to bring new training programs, mentorship opportunities, and support for innovation and scalable entrepreneurship to the community. Through these efforts, we are creating long-term alignment and expanding what Maple Ridge can offer to innovators and businesses.
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Media and Storytelling
We have only just begun promoting Maple Ridge’s innovation story to the region and beyond. By highlighting local companies, sharing bold community success stories, and securing features in industry and business publications, we are raising awareness of Maple Ridge as an emerging destination for innovation. This visibility helps attract talent, investment, and partnership opportunities while strengthening the city’s economic brand.
How You Can Get Involved
Do you have ideas for innovation, or would you like to learn more about opportunities to collaborate? Please reach out to us at Innovation@MapleRidge.ca.
Connect with experienced investors and innovation leaders to discover what it takes to attract angel investment, raise equity capital, and grow your business at this in-person event.
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026 Time: 5:30–8:30 pm Location: The Patch Brewery, Maple Ridge Address: 12745 Laity Street, Maple Ridge, BC Cost: Free, Capacity Limited to 90 Seats
Connect and Grow
Raising capital is about more than having a great idea or delivering a strong pitch. It’s about building a credible business, understanding what investors look for, and making the right connections at the right time.
Join the Maple Ridge Catalyst Innovation Network for an engaging evening of networking and candid conversations with experienced investors and innovation leaders.
Learn how angel investors evaluate opportunities, what makes a business investment-ready, and how to approach pitching, valuation, and investor relationships with confidence.
Whether you’re preparing to raise equity capital, exploring funding options for a high-growth venture, or looking to connect with the region’s innovation community, this event will offer practical insights and valuable connections to help you take the next step.
A startup founder or entrepreneur considering angel investment or equity financing to launch or scale your business
An established business owner exploring investment to support innovation, expansion, or new growth opportunities
An innovator or aspiring entrepreneur developing a scalable business idea and looking to understand what investors expect
A founder preparing to pitch who wants to strengthen their business case, valuation, or investment readiness
An investor, advisor, researcher, or ecosystem partner interested in connecting with and supporting emerging businesses
Not sure if equity investment is right for your business? This event will help you understand your options, ask better questions, and identify the next steps toward funding your growth.
Whether you’re actively seeking investment or planning for future growth, come connect with the people, knowledge, and opportunities that can help turn your vision into a scalable venture.
Be part of the Catalyst Innovation Network. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to make your move!
Aaron Stuart is co-manager of WUTIF Capital, an early-stage investment fund supporting B.C. technology businesses since 2003. He also leads VANTEC Angel Network, which connects angel investors and early-stage funds with emerging technology companies. Aaron is passionate about supporting mission-driven founders building innovative solutions for a brighter future.
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With over 25 years of experience as a leader in technology & impact businesses and as an angel investor, Keith has accelerated the growth of both small and large companies and raised over $80M in angel investment and venture capital. As a global keynote speaker, teacher, and advisor, he has an unparalleled ability to collaborate with entrepreneurs, employees, and investors to grow businesses and change the world. Keith has trained more than 400 impact entrepreneurs on investment readiness and raising capital, including Hootsuite (first three rounds), StoryTap, SocialNature, Nada Grocery, Foodee ($200m exit), Ministry of Programming, ehsAI (acquired), Brightkit (acquired; 3x in 2 years), Careteam, and FoodMesh.
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Shantanu Mehta is part of the investment team at Spring, a pre-seed and seed-stage accelerator and venture capital fund focused on health, climate, and impact-driven businesses.
His experience includes American Express, co-founding a biotech startup, and managing investments through the Vancouver Social Value Fund, Canada’s first student-run venture capital fund. He also invests in consumer technology and fintech, with a particular interest in founders who make exceptional customer experience a competitive advantage.
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Building upon her many years in financial services and commercial banking, Melanie Rupp has spent over two decades championing and supporting women to start and scale successful businesses. In her roles as Senior Director, Loans & Advisory Services at WeBC where she leads a team to support access to a $12M regional loan fund, and Managing Partner with Women’s Equity Lab Vancouver, a national network of Canadian women unlocking capital to support Canadian innovation, she is committed to removing barriers and creating pathways for more women to fully participate in Canada’s economy and innovation ecosystem.
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Lori has been a business and tax adviser to for-profit businesses through senior roles in public accounting firms, private equity and a family office (farming); advising on financing, acquisitions, succession and divestitures. Since 2020, she has volunteered and invested in early-stage companies through her role as a managing partner of Women’s Equity Lab (“WEL”) Vancouver and as a director of WEL National which together educate and enable women to collaboratively invest in and support Canadian innovation and primarily those companies with Canadian women founders. Why? By 2028, women are expected to control 2/3 of Canadian private wealth and thus should have a key role in shaping and supporting the Canadian innovation economy. She is also a member of Angel Forum and a mentor and investor in the51 (venture capital) which are also doing invaluable work to invest in, support and/or grow the Canadian innovation ecosystem.
