Serial Entrepreneur Will Leverage Two Decades of Experience to Help Catalyze the Growth and Success of Local Firms
Ottawa, Ontario, February 21, 2018 – Michael Tremblay, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards, today announced Nick Quain as Vice President of Venture Development of Invest Ottawa. In this position, Nick will lead the evolution, development and implementation of entrepreneurship programming for start-ups and early-stage main street and technology firms with a strong growth trajectory.
Nick is a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in the development, deployment, sales and marketing of both B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) technology applications. Prior to joining Invest Ottawa, he was co-founder and CEO of CellWand, where he pioneered multiple mobile services and apps, including #TAXI (Pound Taxi) and The Ride. Available on every mobile phone in North America, and used for more than 15 million calls in Canada to date, #TAXI has won numerous awards for innovation. For example, in 2010, CellWand was named one of the top 10 technology companies by the Canada Top 10 Competition.
An accomplished business leader, Nick is the recipient of many awards including the Young Achievers Alumni Award from the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management (2009), and the Ottawa Business Journal’s Top Forty Under 40 (2003). He served as a judge for this local business competition for ten years.
“On behalf of Invest Ottawa, I am delighted to welcome Nick to our team,” said Michael Tremblay, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards. “Leveraging his track record in building successful companies, Nick will lead the design and delivery of world-class programming that catalyzes the growth of entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups. Building on our strategic plan, I look forward working with Nick and his team on the introduction of new services that will help Ottawa entrepreneurs acquire more customers and investment, generate new revenues, and create high-value jobs that grow our economy.”
“I am so excited to join Invest Ottawa,” said Nick Quain, Vice President of Venture Development. “I get to work with their outstanding team and many talented entrepreneurs in our region. I’m really looking forward to helping our local ecosystem build, grow and scale the next generation of world-class businesses. Building on the success of Bayview Yards, flagship entrepreneurship events such as AccelerateOTT, and the next generation of founders already bringing their strengths to bear in Ottawa, some amazing things will be happening in this city in the years ahead. I’m pumped to be part of it.”
“Nick’s success in founding and managing a complex and partner-heavy business make him an ideal leader of Venture Development to help Invest Ottawa usher in an even brighter future,” said Jason Flick, Co-Founder CEO at You.i TV, and Director of the Invest Ottawa Board. “I am more excited than ever for our entrepreneurial community.”
“I am delighted to learn that Nick will bring his 20+ years of entrepreneurship experience to Ottawa start-ups and scale-ups, and help build strong and sustainable firms across our community,” said Margo Crawford, President and CEO of the Business Sherpa Group, a management consulting firm specializing in providing embedded business services and leaders to small and mid-sized enterprises. “Leveraging his expertise, Nick will undoubtedly help many local entrepreneurs develop customer, market and investment-ready businesses.”
Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards Executive Leadership Team. Top row (left to right): Richard Quigley, Vice President, Infrastructure, Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards; Nick Quain, Vice President, Venture Development, Invest Ottawa; Michael Tremblay, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards Bottom row (left to right): Blair Patacairk, Vice President, Global Expansion, Invest Ottawa; Lana Legostaeva, Vice President, Finance and Administration, Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards; and Sonya Shorey, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards
-30-
About Invest Ottawa
Invest Ottawa, lead economic development agency for Canada’s Capital Region, facilitates economic growth and job creation in the City of Ottawa. Since 2012, Invest Ottawa has helped facilitate the creation of more than 5,500 jobs and worked thousands of small and medium size enterprises. Guided by a vision to help realize Ottawa’s full potential as a globally-recognized, innovative and future-ready city, and the best place to work and live, Invest Ottawa helps to catalyze the growth and success of local entrepreneurs and firms. A non-profit corporation, Invest Ottawa delivers programs and services that enable venture development, global expansion, and investment and trade, helping companies to compete with anyone in the world. This includes: start-up incubation and mentorship, acceleration for existing companies, global business and investment attraction and local business retention, targeted sector development, commercialization, and marketing Ottawa’s diversified economy and high quality of life. For additional information, please visit: investottawa.ca
Media Contacts
Sonya Shorey
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Invest Ottawa
613-851-9416