Tech veterans join C100's board to bolster support for ambitious Canadian founders and amplify global impact in the evolving tech landscape.

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA — August 1, 2023 — C100, the Canadian non-profit committed to empowering the most daring tech founders building in Canada to realize their groundbreaking visions, proudly announces two strategic board appointments. By enlisting visionary tech veterans Mike Wessinger and Lara Cumberland, C100 fortifies its unrivalled global network of exceptional talent and unprecedented access, empowering Canada's most daring founders to realize their ambitious visions. 

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Mike Wessinger was appointed as Co-Chair, effective July 1. Wessinger is co-founder, former CEO, and current executive chair of PointClickCare, one of Canada’s most successful private tech companies, and brings a wealth of experience and leadership. His expertise will be invaluable as C100 executes a renewed focus on empowering Canada's boldest and most innovative tech founders by leveraging a global network of Canadian tech leaders.

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"This is the first time in C100’s history that we’ve had a tech founder co-leading our board, and that’s an intentional shift,” says Ray Newal, C100 CEO. “Having an exceptional entrepreneur of Mike's calibre as co-chair is essential in our quest to serve founders. Mike's vast experience and knowledge from building a Canadian unicorn will be invaluable to achieving our goal of fueling the next generation of ambitious and daring Canadian tech leaders."

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Mike Wessinger has served on C100’s board of directors for the last year and joins co-chair Janet Bannister. “I truly believe we have all the ingredients to establish Canada as a tech powerhouse where we punch above our weight globally,” he says. “C100 can help spark the Canadian tech ecosystem and be an indispensable resource to founders and tech leaders.”

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C100 also announced Lara Cumberland, COO at Pacaso, the leading technology-enabled real estate marketplace that helps people buy and co-own a luxury second home, has joined its board of directors. Cumberland has over 20 years of experience working at leading technology companies like Meta, PayPal, eBay, and IBM. 

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Working out of San Francisco, where Afraj Gill, C100’s Entrepreneur in Residence who plays a pivotal role as a dedicated full-time executive, is also based, Cumberland’s experience building, scaling and optimizing complex operations at some of the world's leading tech companies will be instrumental for the founders that C100 is supporting. 

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"I am honoured to join the C100 board at such a crucial time," said Cumberland. "My experience and Valley presence provide me with a unique perspective on how to support exceptional founders who are building in Canada. C100’s devotion to driving the building of global companies in Canada resonates with me, and I’m excited to play a small part in helping achieve that.” 

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In the constantly shifting landscape of technological innovation, Canada is emerging as a fertile ground for ambitious founders, and C100’s strategic initiatives are designed to ensure that Canada is a launchpad for the world’s most talented entrepreneurs. Wessinger and Cumberland’s guidance and expertise will assist in amplifying C100's impact and fostering a more robust support system for the promising future of Canadian technology.

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About C100

C100 nurtures an unparalleled global network of builders and operators, providing an unfair advantage for daring founders to build globally impactful companies in Canada. Established in 2009, C100 is a non-profit association with a mission to showcase exceptional leadership, harness extraordinary global talent, and fuel daring entrepreneurial ambitions in Canada. We believe in a Canada that provides our most daring and ambitious founders with an even starting line compared to other parts of the world. 

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Media Contact:

Marie Cook

Senior Communications Manager

mcook@thec100.org

647-637-8803

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