Andrew Abouchar: Partner

Andrew Abouchar is a founder and Partner of Tech Capital Partners where he focuses on investment opportunities in the enterprise software and systems, semiconductor and cleantech sectors.

While working for a number of years at Toronto-based Working Ventures Canadian Fund Inc. (acquired by GrowthWorks), Andrew created Waterloo Ventures, the first Community Small Business Investment Fund to launch in Ontario. In 2001, Andrew partnered with Tim Jackson to create Tech Capital Partners Inc., a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology businesses.

Andrew has over 15 years of experience as an investor in emerging technologies. Actively involved with a number of companies, he currently serves as a director on the boards of Avvasi (www.avvasi.com), Covarity (www.covarity.com), and Sidense (www.sidense.com). Andrew has also been a Director of Sirific Wireless (acquired by Icera Inc.), Software Innovation / Coreworx (acquired by Acorn Energy - NASDAQ: ACFN), and VideoLocus (acquired by LSI Corporation - NYSE: LSI).

As an advisor to both the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, Andrew serves as Chair of the Idea to Innovation Investment Review Committee of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and is a member of the Accelerator Investment Review Committee of the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE). He is also Vice-Chair of the board of directors for QuantumWorks, a network of researchers committed to furthering quantum research in Canada.

Andrew holds Bachelor of Applied Science (Mechanical Engineering) and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Waterloo. He is a Certified Corporate Director, a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Chartered Accountant.

Tim Jackson: Partner

Tim Jackson is a founder and Partner of Tech Capital Partners where he focuses on investment opportunities in the wireless, communications, new media, and internet sectors. In March 2010, Tim also assumed the roles of CEO of the Accelerator Centre and Associate Vice President Commercialization at the University of Waterloo.

Prior to co-founding Tech Capital, Tim was CFO and CEO at PixStream, a technology company focused on distributing and managing digital video across broadband networks. At PixStream, Tim successfully raised over $60 million in equity capital and negotiated the $550 million sale of the company to Cisco Systems, one of the largest technology company acquisitions in Canadian history.

Experienced in executive leadership roles, Tim has acted as CFO, CEO or board member for numerous technology companies including: Bering Media (www.beringmedia.com), ecobee (www.ecobee.com), FibreTech Telecommunications (www.atrianetworks.com), LiveHive Systems (www.livehivesystems.com), Metranome (www.metranome.net), PostRank (www.postrank.com), Q9 Networks (www.q9.com), Sandvine (TSX:SVC; AIM:SAND) (www.sandvine.com), and VideoLocus (acquired by LSI Corporation - NYSE: LSI).

Actively involved in the not-for-profit sector, Tim was awarded the inaugural Annual Barnraiser Award for “inspirational, collaborative achievement” in Waterloo Region in 2009. In 2007, Tim was honoured with the Legacy of Leaders Award from the City of Waterloo and the Leadership Award from the Volunteer Action Center. Tim currently chairs the Waterloo Public Library Board, the Board of Centre In The Square, and the Steering Committee for Capacity Waterloo Region. He is also President of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and was formerly chair of the Waterloo Regional Children’s Museum Board.

In 2009, Tim was named a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (FCA), the highest designation the Institute confers, awarded for outstanding career achievements as well as outstanding service to the community and the profession. Tim also received an Award of Distinction from the Institute in 2006. In 2007, Tim received the 50th Anniversary Alumni Award from the University of Waterloo and a School of Accountancy Fellowship was named after him in 2005.

Tim has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Waterloo and is a Chartered Accountant.

Jacqueline Murphy: Partner

Jacqui Murphy is a Partner at Tech Capital Partners where she focuses on investment opportunities in the new media, internet, wireless, and communications sectors. Jacqui joined Tech Capital in 2001 and has more than a decade of experience building and investing in early-stage technology companies.

Having worked with many early-stage technology companies, Jacqui is committed to helping entrepreneurs succeed and readily shares her knowledge, resources and network of professional contacts with Tech Capital’s portfolio companies. She currently serves as a director on the boards of LiveHive Systems (www.livehivesystems.com), Overlay.TV (www.overlay.tv), and PostRank (www.postrank.com).

Prior to joining Tech Capital, Jacqui was Manager of Marketing Operations at Cisco Systems where she led the marketing operations team for Cisco’s video networking business division. Jacqui joined Cisco through its acquisition of PixStream, a technology company focused on distributing and managing digital video across broadband networks. At PixStream, Jacqui was a Director of Marketing responsible for developing domestic and international markets and managing an innovative marketing team.

Jacqui has also been a marketing consultant, published numerous business cases and instructed business courses at both the Richard Ivey School of Business (University of Western Ontario) and Wilfrid Laurier University. She currently sits on the board of directors for Communitech and the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation.

Jacqui holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and has completed the Venture Capital & Private Equity Executive Education program at Harvard, the Entrepreneurship Development Program at MIT, and the study course at the Venture Capital Institute.

Peter Frisella: Venture Capital Associate

Peter Frisella is an Associate at Tech Capital Partners where he evaluates investment opportunities, performs market research, and provides strategic and tactical guidance to Tech Capital portfolio companies. His ability to highlight an organization’s strengths, while effectively targeting areas that require improvement, is an invaluable asset.

Peter joined Tech Capital in 2007 after spending a number of years at Open Text as a Market Intelligence Analyst. At Open Text, Peter researched the enterprise content management sector, developed market and competitive intelligence for the sales and marketing teams, created strategic positioning guides, and drafted market requirements documents and needs assessments.

Prior to Open Text, Peter interned as a Marketing Manager at IBM where he analyzed pricing and sales trends and presented future marketing considerations to sales managers. He also interned as a Marketing Associate at Microsoft where he developed go-to-market campaigns for the education market.

Peter holds Honours Bachelor of Business Administration and Honours Bachelor of Science in Computing and Computer Electronics degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University. He has also completed the study course at the Venture Capital Institute.

Suzanne Hyatt: Vice President Human Resources

Suzanne Hyatt, Vice President Human Resources at Tech Capital Partners, plays a key role in the design, development and implementation of human capital strategies critical to supporting business development and growth. Suzanne specializes in organizational design and development, one on one executive coaching and leadership development, building and developing high performance teams, developing leading practices in the attraction and retention of talent, the creation of total rewards strategies, and the management of organizational change.

With over fifteen years of operational and human resources experience, Suzanne has worked closely with many venture-backed companies and has developed best practices to help entrepreneurs manage the human resources challenges that companies often face in the early stages of their business. Drawing on her considerable cross-functional experience, Suzanne helps entrepreneurs build human resources solutions that support business performance and growth.

Prior to joining Tech Capital, Suzanne was Manager of Human Resources and Operations for Solowave Investments Limited (Private Equity). At Solowave, Suzanne was part of a management team responsible for launching a successful high-growth company. In this role she led the human resources, operations and administrative functions and recruited the company’s first 100 employees.

Suzanne is Co-Chair of the Employer Initiatives Work Group for Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network (WRIEN), is Chair of WRIEN’s Employer Competitive Advantage Forum, and Committee Member of WRIEN’s Marketing Task Force and Ambassador Program. In these roles, Suzanne works as part of a collaborative effort of employers, agencies, government, and educators to attract and support the successful integration of foreign trained professionals into the workplace within Waterloo Region. Suzanne sits on the Communitech Technology Association Recruitment Council and is a member of both the Senior Leaders HR Group and Human Resources Network, Waterloo Region Association of Human Resources Professionals.

Suzanne holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo, a Certificate in Human Resource Management from Conestoga College and has obtained the Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) designation.

Judy Geraghty:  Office Manager

As the Office Manager and Executive Assistant at Tech Capital Partners Inc. Judy is responsible for coordinating and facilitating all administrative activities, planning corporate meetings and events, assisting with marketing initiatives and providing support for Tech Capital’s portfolio companies. Judy is also the company’s primary point of contact for enquiries, visitors and vendors.

Judy brings an extensive background in business and project management to her role at Tech Capital. She studied at both the Schulich School of Business and Wilfrid Laurier University and spent six years as Office and Event Manager at Communitech, Waterloo Region’s high-profile technology association.