7:30 – 8:15

Registration

7:30 – 8:15

Networking Breakfast

Networking is a contact sport – start the day early with a hot breakfast. We also have multiple dedicated private meeting rooms available throughout the conference for delegate use on an as required basis.

8:15 – 8:25

Opening Remarks

8:25 – 9:10

Meet the Investors Panel

Put faces to names at the Meet the Investors panel session and hear straight from many of the active investors looking intently at this space share with our delegates exactly what they are looking for.

AVAC Ltd. - Mark Carlson, Vice President, Investment

Avrio Capital - Michael McGee, Partner

Atlantic Venture Capital Partners - James Drage, Managing Partner

Open Prairie Ventures, South West Michigan First (SWMF) Life Sciences Fund - Patrick G. Morand, President

Investeco - Andrew Heintzman, President and Co-Founder

MaRS Cleantech Fund - Murray McCaig, Managing Partner

Linn Grove Ventures - Dan Hodgson, Managing General Partner and Co-Founder

South Dakota Innovation Partners - Mark Luecke, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

NGEN Partners, LLC - Peter S.H. Grubstein, Founder and Managing Member

Burrill & Company - Kiersten Stead, Venture Capital

Sustainable Development Technology Canada - Zoltan Tompa, Director, Partnerships

Syngenta Ventures - Matt Zuga, Managing Director

Panel Moderated By:   Miller Thomson LLP - Robert Stewart, Partner

9:10 – 10:10

Growth Stage Company Presentations

CEOs from high growth potential emerging companies from across Canada present their business models in concise 12 minute presentations. 

Ten exciting companies have been selected from the following sub-sector categories:

Bio Industrial Products
Agricultural Waste Management
Livestock & Animal Health
Desalination & Waste Water Treatment
Crop Science & Yield Optimization
Precision Farming
Forestry Products & Management
Biofuels, Renewable Feedstocks & Renewable Energy
Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods
Bio Pesticides & Bio Herbicides
Aeroponics & Aquaculture

Presenting companies introduced by:   Miller Thomson LLP

10:10 – 10:40

Networking Break

Focus your strategic networking agenda - engage with key influencers & decision makers in this space

10:40 – 11:40

Growth Stage Company Presentations (Continued)

CEOs from high growth potential emerging companies from across Canada present their business models in concise 12 minute presentations.   

11:40 – 12:40

Lunch Keynote Address

Mark W. Wong

Serial Exited Entrepreneur with an Exit Value of $900 Million

Mark Wong is a serial exit entrepreneur with 35 years of extensive executive and operational experience, in both growth and turn-around environments. Mark has founded and managed numerous agriculture and biotechnology companies which have an aggregate value of $900 million to date.

12:40 – 13:40

Networking Lunch

More focused networking - direct personal contact with influencers and decision makers who can help you build your business or execute on your organization’s strategic agenda.

13:40 – 14:25

Panel Session - An International Perspective

“The Evolving Role Played by Technology Transfer Offices, Incubators, and Accelerators in Company Building”

Hear directly from a seasoned group of panelists as they discuss the roles played by each of their organizations in building companies from the ground up.  

University of British Columbia - Derek Gratz, Associate Director - University Industry Liaison Office

University of Saskatchewan - Glen Schuler, Managing Director - Industry Liaison Office

University of Guelph - Erin Skimson, Director - Catalyst Centre

Columbia University - Bruce M. Kahn, Lecturer - Earth Institute in the Sustainability Management Program

Panel Moderated by:  Bioenterprise - Dave Smardon, President & CEO

14:25 – 14:55

Networking Break 

14:55 – 16:10

First Look Showcase Company Presentations

See what is in the innovation pipeline at the First Look Showcase where emerging companies will pitch their business models to an expert panel of investors.  

16:10 – 16:40

Networking Break

16:40 – 17:25

Reception Keynote Address 

Nicholas Parker  - Cleantech Group Founder

 “The Rise of Agri-tech Innovation, Investment, and Globalization”

 Investors, executives, entrepreneurs and thought leaders from the Cleantech, Agriculture and Life Sciences arenas come together in Toronto

17:25 – 17:30

Closing Remarks

This is the only conference program in Canada dedicated to bringing together high growth potential agri-businesses, capital providers, corporate strategics, agri-business executives, entrepreneurs, commercialization and tech transfer professionals, and policy makers from across Canada.  We have ambitious plans and would like to share them. 

17:30 – 19:30

Closing Networking Reception

Close out a jam packed day with a fully catered gourmet reception.