As a part of a special Shift series on Inventures 2022, we're presenting an episode for each of the seven content tracks featured at this year's event.
This episode puts a spotlight on the track Redefining Capitalism and features an interview with Ayo Aiyeleye, Director for Capital Access at Alberta Innovates, and Shelley Kuipers, Co-founder and CEO of The51.
Alberta Innovates is the province’s largest research and innovation agency. From funding to commercialization, we are Alberta’s innovation engine. We are working to solve today’s challenges, create new opportunities and forge a healthy, sustainable and prosperous future for Albertans today and for generations to come.
The51 is a Financial Feminist™ platform where investors, entrepreneurs and those who aspire to be, come together for democratized access to women-led capital for women-led businesses. By uniting Canada’s untapped women’s wealth, The51 is creating a new critical mass of women investors, making Canada the centre for women-powered capital.
Redefining Capitalism
Over the past two centuries, capitalism has fueled the industrial, technological and green revolutions, and shaped the global economic landscape. It has lifted millions of people out of poverty, significantly increased standards of living, and resulted in innovations that have radically improved human well-being.
As we journey through the Fourth Industrial Revolution, reinventing capitalism with a focus on ‘true value’ will lead to a world where more companies innovate in ways that contribute to society, and capital markets properly value and reward inclusive, sustainable business practices. Economies that work better for everyone recognize value beyond sticker price.
Hear from the innovators and thought leaders who are reinventing the systems that underpin the global financial services industry as part of the Redefining Capitalism track at Inventures 2022.
Bios
Shelley Kuipers, Co-founder and CEO, The51
An activist in business, entrepreneurship and investment, Shelley Kuipers is building the world she wants to live in. Discovering that the role of “Co-founder” really suits her, Shelley currently co-founds The51, consumer participation company IOVIA and family office Adventure Capital. She also designs clothing through yet another business she’s co-founded, 100% sustainable direct to consumer, House Kuipers. Shelley is also a serial private investor of companies, startups and entrepreneurs who embody the type of future she wants to see across the economic universe: namely, those that are sustainable, feminist, purpose-driven and unafraid to disrupt old systems.
Ayo Aiyeleye, Director, Capital Access, Alberta Innovates
Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs with successful business ventures, Ayo Aiyeleye has extensive experience building and scaling businesses. He is an emerging tech enthusiast with a passion for solving real world problems through innovation. Ayo’s professional experience spans various roles in the Finance industry including Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, and Business Transformation. As the Director, Capital Access at Alberta Innovates, he oversees a portfolio of non-dilutive funding programs in the Entrepreneurial Investments area. He’s also responsible for driving access to private capital by the companies that participate in Alberta Innovates’ funding programs and are seeking follow-on external funding from the private capital community.
Shift by Alberta Innovates focuses on the people, businesses and organizations that are contributing to Alberta's strong tech ecosystem.