New Mentor
David is an award-winning and experienced startup entrepreneur. After earning his B.A. at Brock University, he founded Trivium Industries, a biodegradable plastic bottle manufacturing company. In 2014, the company was awarded the Ontario Centers of Excellence Entrepreneurship grant, and David was a 2015 Niagara Environmental Entrepreneur of The Year Award Finalist. After negotiating Trivium’s successful buyout, David helped build FinTech startup Curexe, then joined Spark Niagara Innovation & Education Centre. In 2020 he managed their incubator/accelerator program as Director of Strategy & Business Development. Currently, he leads the startup BISEP, and works as a part-time startup consultant
• Founded manufacturer of ecofriendly biodegradable containers for the beauty, alcohol & food sector within the $60 billion annual North American plastics industry. • Built and managed relationships and accounts for over 75 customers, including Fortune 500 brands like Smuckers Jam, Proctor & Gamble and Dial Soap, with products exported to five different countries. • Negotiated acquisition of company by a US-based competitor following multiple competing acquisition offers.
• Mentor for Techstars Canada Startup Weekend focused on solutions for COVID-19 and featured over 50 startups.
• Spearheaded strategic vision and growth of the company along with its incubator programs, developing strategic plan for the next five years including product development, go-to-market, innovation, and business model evolution • Effectively managed two innovation centres serving 38 different startup companies. • Increased incubator revenue by 225% within one year, growing the Spark Innovation Centre team to 12 team members. • Designed and implemented business coaching curriculum for over 25 startup companies on a rotational basis including training on startup funding models, sales strategy and business model creation.
• Trivium recognized as one of the Top 50 innovative businesses in Canada out of over 400 applicants.
• Recognized as founder of Trivium Industries for the company’s innovative and positive environmental contributions
• Awarded $75,000 government grant for Trivium Industries • Chosenfromover100applicantsbyapanelofhig profile judges following extensive application and multiple pitch rounds to win the competition
• Analyze over 30 startup businesses from Niagara Falls and determine winners of five $5,000 startup grants.
30 minute call