Built By CEOs, For CEOs
We’re a founder-led community built by CEOs, for CEOs, united by purpose, driven by strategy, and grounded in real-world experience. We help tech CEOs in BC become better leaders.
Our Story
From Dinner Table to Community
Acetech began in the early 1990s when a small group of BC tech CEOs started meeting informally to solve problems and support each other’s growth. What began around a dinner table has evolved into BC’s most trusted leadership community, connecting founders through structured peer groups, strategic access, and shared ambition.
Our Mission
Helping Tech CEOs in BC Become Stronger Leaders
We help tech leaders scale faster in their own backyard. With high-trust peer groups, curated learning, and founder-first support, Acetech drives real leadership growth and business results.
Our Values
The Values That Drive Founders Forward
Acetech is built for growth-stage CEOs and founders who are scaling across British Columbia. We offer structured peer groups, tactical feedback, and trusted relationships that help you move faster and lead better.
Curious
We ask thoughtful questions, challenge the status quo, and actively seek new perspectives and innovative ideas to grow ourselves and our community.
Committed
We are committed to learning and to continuous improvement for ourselves and our members.
Care
We care deeply about the success of our members, personally and professionally.
Our Team
The Brilliant Minds Powering Acetech
We’re more than just a leadership organization; we’re a team of passionate experts dedicated to empowering tech CEOs and founders to scale with clarity, courage, and confidence.
Matt Dion
Roundtable Facilitator
Matt is an experienced CEO, board member, advisor, investor, and growth coach with more than 30 years of leadership experience. Having helped companies scale from early-stage startups to large multinational organizations, he brings practical insight into strategy, execution, sales, marketing, and leadership development. Matt is passionate about helping CEOs and leadership teams navigate growth, build alignment, and achieve long-term success.
Ken Lewis
Roundtable Facilitator
Ken is a veteran sales leader with a talent for driving performance and team alignment. He helps CEOs refine their go-to-market strategy, scale revenue, and lead with purpose.
Paulin Laberge
Roundtable Facilitator
Paulin is an accomplished entrepreneur and former CEO who brings both empathy and sharp insight to every roundtable. He empowers founders to tackle complex challenges with confidence and clarity.
Angela Robertson
CEO
Angela is a strategic growth leader with over 20 years of experience in scaling B2B companies. At Acetech, she champions bold leadership, peer learning, and clarity in decision-making guiding tech founders to navigate scale with confidence.
Barb Kinnaird
Roundtable Facilitator
Barb is a results-driven visionary leader with decades of experience driving life-science innovation. She served as CEO of Response Biomedical, leading operational excellence and global expansion in point-of-care diagnostics. Now she advises technology companies and health investment groups, bringing a rare combination of scientific precision, operational scale, and market insight.
Carl Saunders
Roundtable Facilitator
Carl is a seasoned technology executive, entrepreneur and mentor with extensive experience leading and scaling high-growth companies. Through Acetech’s Founder Growth Program, he helps founders strengthen their leadership capabilities, navigate complex business challenges, and build sustainable growth strategies. Carl brings a practical, founder-focused approach grounded in real-world operating experience and a passion for developing the next generation of technology leaders.
Catherine Dahl
Roundtable Facilitator
Chris Shachtay
Events, Membership, Market Growth and Partner Development
With more than 20 years of experience in technology and cybersecurity sales and marketing, he is passionate about connecting people, growing communities, and creating opportunities for meaningful business relationships.
Houston Mo
Finance & Accounting
Houston brings over 15 years of experience in finance, governance, and strategic asset management. He helps organizations build strong financial foundations by providing oversight on budgeting, reporting, compliance, and long-term planning. Known for turning complexity into clarity, Houston ensures Acetech’s financial stewardship supports sustainable growth and lasting member impact.
John Diack
Roundtable Facilitator
John is a seasoned executive and mentor with deep experience in scaling technology companies. He facilitates peer discussions that challenge assumptions, encourage accountability, and support leadership growth.
Marianna Cherniuk
Marketing and Community Engagement
With over 10 years of experience in B2B marketing, demand generation, and community building, she helps grow Acetech’s brand, membership and ecosystem partnerships. Her background spans high-growth technology companies, where she has built marketing programs, generated revenue pipeline, and fostered engaged business communities across North America.
Rehana Razack
Head of Operations
Rehana focusing on onboarding, relationship management and community coordination. With over a decade of experience across social enterprise, health, operations, and administration, she is passionate about building strong relationships and creating meaningful member experiences.
Board of Directors
The Visionaries Guiding Acetech’s Mission
Our Board of Directors is made up of seasoned leaders, founders, and innovators who bring deep experience, sharp insight, and bold vision. They don’t just advise, they help shape the future of Acetech and the BC tech ecosystem. Together, they ensure we stay founder-first, values-aligned, and relentlessly focused on supporting tech CEOs and scaling companies across British Columbia.
Udi Daon
Chair
Udi is a purpose-driven health tech entrepreneur and Chair of Acetech, committed to accelerating innovation across BC’s tech ecosystem. As founder and CEO of DAANAA, he blends scientific insight with bold, systems-level thinking championing visionary founders and building companies that create meaningful global impact.
Amin Yazdani
Vice Chair
Amin is a serial entrepreneur and the Co-founder & CEO of Craver, a fast-growing platform helping restaurants and franchises streamline mobile ordering and loyalty. With a background in computer engineering and a drive for customer-first innovation, he’s scaling solutions that power thousands of businesses across North America.
Mehrsa Raeiszadeh
Vice Chair
Mehrsa is a dynamic tech operator and community builder, bringing deep experience in scaling startups and empowering founders. As Co-Founder of MintList and an active voice in BC’s innovation ecosystem, she combines operational excellence with a passion for inclusive growth—driving meaningful change as a board member at Acetech.
Angela Robertson
CEO
Angela is a strategic growth leader with over 20 years of experience in scaling B2B companies. At Acetech, she champions bold leadership, peer learning, and clarity in decision-making guiding tech founders to navigate scale with confidence.
Barb Kinnaird
Roundtable Facilitator
Barb is a results-driven visionary leader with decades of experience driving life-science innovation. She served as CEO of Response Biomedical, leading operational excellence and global expansion in point-of-care diagnostics. Now she advises technology companies and health investment groups, bringing a rare combination of scientific precision, operational scale, and market insight.
Chris Tumpach
Board Member
Chris Tumpach is the Founder and CEO of Rainforest Automation, a leader in energy-management software and grid optimization. With more than two decades of experience building technology for electrification and utility innovation, he brings strong product, technical, and operational expertise. Chris adds valuable perspective on scaling software in complex industries, supporting Acetech’s mission to help CEOs grow with clarity and impact.
Darren Gibbons
Board Member
Darren is the co-founder and President of ThoughtFarmer, a leading digital workplace platform used by organizations worldwide. With deep experience in building and scaling enterprise software, he brings strong product, technical, and operational insight to Acetech’s Board. Darren offers a grounded founder perspective, helping guide strategy and strengthen Acetech’s mission of supporting CEOs through peer learning and community.
Geoff Dittrich
Board Member
Geoff is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ink LLP, a boutique business law firm advising high-growth and enterprise companies on venture capital, M&A, and complex commercial matters. With deep experience guiding founders through scaling, financings, and major transactions, Geoff brings sharp strategic insight and practical legal expertise. As an Acetech Board member, he adds a strong founder perspective and a clear understanding of the challenges CEOs face as they grow, raise capital, and navigate pivotal decisions.
Rudolph Korompis
Treasurer
Rudolph is a finance and product leader dedicated to making business simpler and more human. With a foundation in accounting and over 15 years of experience in investing, operations, and systems design, he’s refined a long-term approach centered on patience, clarity, and fundamentals. As co-founder of Fingarde, the company behind the AI-powered accounting platform Spendifique, he helps small businesses save time and make smarter financial decisions.
Tiffany Scarlett
Board Member
Tiffany is a former Public Legal Investigator turned legal-tech founder, and the CEO and Founder of MissTiffanyScarlett. With a background in complex investigations and a sharp understanding of legal systems, she brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and entrepreneurial drive. Tiffany’s work focuses on modernizing how people engage with legal information through accessible, tech-forward solutions. She contributes a fresh founder perspective, strong problem-solving instincts, and a deep commitment to empowering others through clarity and innovation.
Acetech Fellows
Celebrating the Leaders Who’ve Shaped BC’s Tech Future
Acetech Fellows are a select group of respected leaders and trailblazers who’ve made significant contributions to BC’s tech community and the growth of Acetech. They bring decades of experience, bold vision, and an unwavering commitment to supporting the next generation of tech founders.
Paulin Laberge
Roundtable Facilitator
Paulin is an accomplished entrepreneur and former CEO who brings both empathy and sharp insight to every roundtable. He empowers founders to tackle complex challenges with confidence and clarity.
David Sutcliffe
Former CEO of Sierra Wireless, board director, and advisor to high-growth tech companies.
David Yoffie
Harvard Business School professor, renowned author, and global expert in strategy and innovation.
Derek Mather
Derek was instrumental in shaping Acetech’s early years, helping launch the first Symposium in 1993 and later serving as Executive Director until 1999.
Ken Spencer
BC tech pioneer, co-founder of Creo, and a dedicated philanthropist supporting education and youth initiatives.
Kathy Troupe
Longtime advocate and connector in the BC tech ecosystem, known for her work supporting founders and scaling companies.
Morgan Sturdy
Accomplished entrepreneur, board member, and active mentor in the Canadian tech landscape.
Phil Dubois
Visionary leader and former CEO with a passion for scaling SaaS businesses and guiding founders.
Ralph Turfus
Founder of Class Software, investor, and champion of entrepreneurship and innovation at SFU and beyond.
Shannon Byrne Susko
She is a bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and leadership coach known for helping CEOs scale with clarity through her Metronomics growth system.
Tom O’Flaherty
Veteran technology executive, investor, and trusted advisor in growth-stage strategy.
Ready to Join BC’s
Sharpest Founder Community?
The room is curated. The conversations are real. The results speak for themselves.
