Jeff Keen is a technology entrepreneur with a passion for startups, innovation and community building. His background in the technology industry spans over 25 years ranging from startup founder to senior executive in several high growth technology companies and not for profit organizations.
Jeff's current roles include being a Director with Wheelhouse Ventures, Managing Director of Atrium Ventures and founding board member of the Kelowna Innovation Society.
Prior to that Jeff joined Accelerate Okanagan in 2010 with a mandate to create and deliver programs to help entrepreneurs and founders of early stage technology companies start and grow their businesses. After some early success in the Okanagan, AO's flagship Venture Acceleration Program was shared on a broader scale through BCIC and is now available through a network of 14 delivery partners across the province. Since inception, the Venture Acceleration Program has supported over 550 companies, secure $200M+ of investment, generate $60M in revenue and create over 1,400 jobs.
In January of 2013 Jeff brought together a group of community leaders to brainstorm about the future of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in the Okanagan. The objective was to discuss what good would look like 5, 10 and 20 years out in terms of economic impact, company creation and great employment opportunities for the next generation in our community. The belief was that through a collective voice and shared vision the chances of a positive outcome with significant community impact would be maximized. One of the outcomes of these discussions was the development of the new Kelowna Innovation Centre that opened in April 2017.
Jeff considers it a tremendous privilege to be involved in helping to grow the Okanagan tech community and looks forward to continuing to be involved for many years to come.
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SHOW NOTES: IMPORTANT LINKS
You can follow Jeff on Twitter.
If you're in the tech industry in any form or fashion, from coders to angel investors and everything in between, check out Accelerate Okanagan for a list of job openings, and fun and interesting events that are open to you.
Go to Innovate Kelowna to lear all about the Okanagan Innovation Centre, an amazing building in the heart of downtown Kelowna that Jeff had a major hand in getting off the ground.
Jeff nominates Matthew Bertulli and Brad Petersen from Pela, which is a biodegradable phone case startup that just relocated here, to come on the I Love Kelowna Podcast. Thank you so much to Steve Wandler for nominating Jeff!
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