ABOUT VERDEX CAPITAL

A Purpose-Driven Evergreen Venture Capital Investor

Our mission is to advance Canadian agriculture by investing in venture and community development.

Verdex’s venture development mandate is largely fulfilled by our venture studio, Carrot Ventures. Carrot offers a way forward for agricultural technologies that do not have a clear path to market. By combining promising IP with strong leadership, Carrot forms and funds new companies with global market potential.

Verdex’s community development efforts are evolving, and we need your help.

We seek input from everyone involved in the Canadian AgTech innovation, venture development, equipment and producer community. We seek to understand your needs and the biggest obstacles you face. Our goal is to ensure our investments address core industry challenges.

Your experience and insights are essential in guiding our efforts. Please Share Your Thoughts.

CORE VALUES

A culture based on purpose, principles and values.

PURPOSEFUL

We Focus On Creating Value.

GROWTH

We Invest In High-impact Opportunities.

DISCIPLINED

We Are Responsive And Forthcoming.

RESPECTFUL

We Are Collaborative Leaders And Teammates.

PURPOSEFUL

We Focus On Creating Value.

GROWTH

We Invest In High-impact Opportunities.

DISCIPLINED

We Are Responsive And Forthcoming.

RESPECTFUL

We Are Collaborative Leaders And Teammates.

INVESTMENT STRATEGY

Operating as Verdex Capital

Our current strategy is to co-invest with industry leaders in initiatives that advance Canadian agriculture.

AgTech IP owners seeking investment are directed to our venture studio Carrot Ventures.

Our community development strategy is evolving. We are conducting an extensive industry survey to determine where to focus to maximize our impact on the sector.

We also continue to invest as a limited partner in select North American venture capital funds.

AVAC Group – 2016 to 2023

During this period, we focused on three areas.

  1. Alberta Enterprise Corp engaged AVAC to manage Accelerate Fund I to stimulate entrepreneurship and angel investing in Alberta.
  2. We accelerated our pace of investment as an LP in select North American venture capital funds.
  3. We re-focused our direct investment strategy and launched an AgTech Venture Studio called Carrot Ventures. Our goal is to leverage our experience to increase the success rate of new AgTech ventures.

AVAC Ltd. – 1997 to 2016

We launched AVAC Ltd. to invest in Alberta’s under-served agricultural sector. We also had a role in helping develop Alberta’s nascent innovation ecosystem.

Over time we expanded our mandate to invest in Alberta ICT companies as well as participating as a limited partner in select Ag and Tech venture capital funds.

THE VERDEX CAPITAL TEAM

Martin Vetter
Martin VetterCEO
Martin has extensive experience in all aspects of venture capital and new product commercialization, which he utilizes to drive strategic and operational goals for the organization.
Jim Hardin
Jim HardinVice President
Jim has many years of experience building and investing in life science and agricultural technology companies, which he applies to creating portfolio value.
Monte Wilson
Monte WilsonCFO
Monte directs all back-office functions for Verdex Capital, including for Carrot Ventures and Accelerate Fund I.
Cindy Seddon
Cindy SeddonFinance & Office Admin
Cindy provides office and financial administrative support for Verdex Capital, including for Carrot Ventures and Accelerate Fund I.
Danny Way
Danny WayInvestment Manager
Danny is an experienced tech founder and investor driving formation, financing, and scaling of new ventures.
Kelly Krahulic
Kelly KrahulicInvestment Manager
Kelly draws on her experience at the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship to source and vet compelling agricultural and food production technologies.
Louis Brown
Louis BrownInvestment Manager
Louis applies his expertise to identify high-potential technologies while supporting new company formation and financing processes.
Martin Vetter
Martin VetterCEO
Martin has extensive experience in all aspects of venture capital and new product commercialization, which he utilizes to drive strategic and operational goals for the organization.
Jim Hardin
Jim HardinVice President
Jim has many years of experience building and investing in life science and agricultural technology companies, which he applies to creating portfolio value.
Monte Wilson
Monte WilsonCFO
Monte directs all back-office functions for Verdex Capital, including for Carrot Ventures and Accelerate Fund I.
Cindy Seddon
Cindy SeddonFinance & Office Admin
Cindy provides office and financial administrative support for Verdex Capital, including for Carrot Ventures and Accelerate Fund I.
Danny Way
Danny WayInvestment Manager
Danny is an experienced tech founder and investor driving formation, financing, and scaling of new ventures.
Kelly Krahulic
Kelly KrahulicInvestment Manager
Kelly draws on her experience at the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship to source and vet compelling agricultural and food production technologies.
Louis Brown
Louis BrownInvestment Manager
Louis applies his expertise to identify high-potential technologies while supporting new company formation and financing processes.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Alf Saller

Alf Sailer

Board Chair

Colette Miller

Director

Graham Drake

Graham Drake

Director

Laurie Powers

Laurie Powers

Director

Jerry Bouma

Director

Myles Hamilton

Myles Hamilton

Director

Alf Saller

Alf Sailer

Board Chair

Colette Miller

Director

Graham Drake

Graham Drake

Director

Laurie Powers

Laurie Powers

Director

Jerry Bouma

Director

Myles Hamilton

Myles Hamilton

Director

Alf Saller

Alf Sailer

Board Chair

Colette Miller

Director

Graham Drake

Graham Drake

Director

Laurie Powers

Laurie Powers

Director

Jerry Bouma

Director

Myles Hamilton

Myles Hamilton

Director