Chris Carder

Executive Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Schulich School of Business, Adjunct Professor, Serial Entrepreneur, Venture Partner

Executive Director, Schulich Startups. Working with startup Founders (especially from Schulich/York)!

Website ↗Linkedin ↗

Experience

Executive Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Co-Director of Entrepreneurial Studies; Adjunct Professor; Jay Smith & Laura Rapp Chair in Innovation & Entrepreneurship · Schulich School of Business - York University
2013 – Present
Leads innovation and entrepreneurship programs at Schulich, supporting a portfolio of over 200 student and alumni companies. Oversees Schulich Startups, co-hosts the Schulich Startups Podcast, and teaches entrepreneurship courses. Works closely with YSpace accelerator program.
Special Advisor on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Office of the President · York University
Provides strategic advisory services to York University's Office of the President on entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives.
Venture Partner · Antler Canada
Venture Partner supporting early-stage startups and investing in new companies through the Antler platform.
Venture Partner · Good News Ventures
Venture Partner focused on impact-driven startup investments.
Special Advisor · MindFrame Connect
Provides advisory support to MindFrame Connect, a national program supporting mental health innovation.
Co-Founder and Chief Commercialization Officer · Kinetic Café (Kinetic Commerce)
Co-founded design, innovation, and technology firm specializing in connected retail experiences and 'store of the future' concepts. Developed the Kinetic Commerce platform for transforming physical spaces including retail, stadiums, museums, and public spaces. Incubated and spun out ventures including Wirkn mobile app platform.

About

Education

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson Polytechnic University)
Bachelor's degree, Journalism · 1995

Areas of Expertise

EntrepreneurshipInnovationDigital and technology sectorEmail marketing and martechStartup advising and mentorshipVenture capital and angel investing

Key Achievements

Built ThinData into Canada's largest email marketing services provider and sold it to TC Media (Transcontinental) for approximately $20 million in 2008Sold first venture, The Competitor sports magazine, to Telemedia/The FAN 590 for $600,000 immediately after graduating universityCreated the Together program in partnership with Startup India, training over 500-1,000 social impact entrepreneurs across six years and awarding over $200,000 in prizesCo-designed and launched Accelerate Newmarket, supporting over 300 startupsCo-designed and created Digital Main Street in partnership with the City of Toronto, a program that scaled nationally to support thousands of small businessesBuilt Schulich Startups into a portfolio of over 200 student and alumni companies

Personality Traits

EnergeticCommunity-orientedSupportiveGenerousAction-drivenOptimistic

Contributions

Created Together Mission, a cross-border entrepreneurship initiative connecting Indian and Canadian student foundersCo-created Digital Main Street, a national program supporting small business digital transformationCo-designed Accelerate Newmarket startup support programBuilt the Schulich Startups ecosystem supporting 200+ venturesPioneered email marketing services industry in Canada through ThinDataDeveloped the Kinetic Commerce platform for connected retail and public space experiences