Executive Management
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Darcy has over 20+ years of senior executive experience building successful companies and brands spanning, Asia, Europe and North America. He has a proven track record in C-suite and senior leadership roles at IMG Canada (now Endeavor LLC), Logic Technologies Inc, JT International S.A. and MASEV Communications Inc, that was acquired by IMG Canada. His experience spans corporate, agency, and entrepreneurial environments across free-to-play Mobile games, FinTech, esports, Blockchain, FMCG/CPG, Digital Marketing & Media and Sports & Entertainment industries.
Jason Bailey
Executive Chair / CEO
East Side Games Group
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Jason is a founder of East Side Games, Canada’s leading independent gaming studio. Jason is considered one of Canada’s most experienced gaming entrepreneurs. Prior to East Side Games, Jason was a founder of Super Rewards, which he sold in 2009. Super Rewards was a social game monetization platform which helped pioneer the free to play game model that is ubiquitous today. Over the last 20 years he has been mentor to and investor in a variety of Canadian startups and technology companies.
Darcy has over 20+ years of senior executive experience building successful companies and brands spanning, Asia, Europe and North America. He has a proven track record in C-suite and senior leadership roles at IMG Canada (now Endeavor LLC), Logic Technologies Inc, JT International S.A. and MASEV Communications Inc, that was acquired by IMG Canada. His experience spans corporate, agency, and entrepreneurial environments across free-to-play Mobile games, FinTech, esports, Blockchain, FMCG/CPG, Digital Marketing & Media and Sports & Entertainment industries.
20+ Years
in Mobile Games
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Jason is a founder of East Side Games, Canada’s leading independent gaming studio. Jason is considered one of Canada’s most experienced gaming entrepreneurs. Prior to East Side Games, Jason was a founder of Super Rewards, which he sold in 2009. Super Rewards was a social game monetization platform which helped pioneer the free to play game model that is ubiquitous today. Over the last 20 years he has been mentor to and investor in a variety of Canadian startups and technology companies.
Jim MacCallum
CFO
East Side Games Group
CPA, CA, CFA
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Jim is a CPA, CA and a CFA with over 20 years of finance experience. Most recently Jim was SVP, Finance and Acting CFO at Westport Fuel Systems and prior to Westport held senior roles at Amica Mature Lifestyles, Absolute Software and Cisco Systems. Jim has extensive capital markets, acquisitions, and international experience having worked for four years in California and two years in Russia. Jim articled with KPMG in Vancouver, British Columbia and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
20+ Years
in Finance & Accounting
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Studio Head
Josh Nilson
GM Studios
Eastside Games
LDRLY Games
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With 12 yrs experience in Information Technology at both Enterprise and start up companies. For the last 6 years, he has been specializing in the mobile and social game space, Josh had previously worked at Relic Entertainment, where he contributed to critically and commercially acclaimed RTS games Dawn of War II and Company of Heroes.
20+ Years
in Tech & Games
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With over 20 years in games and tech, the East Side Games (ESG) co-founder and ex-CEO is continuing to drive the business and culture at ESG. Under his leadership, ESG’s awards in 2020 included Pocket Gamers Top 50 Mobile Game Makers, Globe and Mail Top 400 Canada’s Top Growing Companies, the winner in the first ever BC Business “Business of Good Awards” in the Indigenous Prosperity category.
Board of Directors
Jason Bailey
Executive Chair | CEO
East Side Games Group
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Jason is a founder of East Side Games, Canada’s leading independent gaming studio. Jason is considered one of Canada’s most experienced gaming entrepreneurs. Prior to East Side Games, Jason was a founder of Super Rewards, which he sold in 2009. Super Rewards was a social game monetization platform which helped pioneer the free to play game model that is ubiquitous today. Over the last 20 years he has been mentor to and investor in a variety of Canadian startups and technology companies.
Darcy has over 20+ years of senior executive experience building successful companies and brands spanning, Asia, Europe and North America. He has a proven track record in C-suite and senior leadership roles at IMG Canada (now Endeavor LLC), Logic Technologies Inc, JT International S.A. and MASEV Communications Inc, that was acquired by IMG Canada. His experience spans corporate, agency, and entrepreneurial environments across free-to-play Mobile games, FinTech, esports, Blockchain, FMCG/CPG, Digital Marketing & Media and Sports & Entertainment industries.
20+ Years
in Mobile Games
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Jason is a founder of East Side Games, Canada’s leading independent gaming studio. Jason is considered one of Canada’s most experienced gaming entrepreneurs. Prior to East Side Games, Jason was a founder of Super Rewards, which he sold in 2009. Super Rewards was a social game monetization platform which helped pioneer the free to play game model that is ubiquitous today. Over the last 20 years he has been mentor to and investor in a variety of Canadian startups and technology companies.
Mike Edwards
Director
Pioneer media inc
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Mike has a wealth of experience in building and scaling technology companies in private and public markets, including the following:
• co-founded AreaConnect.com, a consumer content company which was acquired by Marchex, a Nasdaq listed company, in 2008.
• invested in early stage consumer companies such as Punch’d (later acquired by Google), Wander (later acquired by Yahoo), Summify (later acquired by Twitter), BlueBat Games (later acquired by Novomatic Group, Retsly (later acquired by Zillow) and Password Box (later acquired by Intel).
• co-founded LX Ventures, a publicly listed consumer internet foundry that acquired and scaled Mobio Technologies.
• co-founded Growlab, a seed stage accelerator focussing on consumer facing digital product. Growlab later merged with Extreme Startups to create Canada’s Highline accelerator.
• co-founded Wyley Interactive, a mobile game engagement platform, which was acquired by Zynga, a Nasdaq listed company, in 2014.
• co-founded Creative Labs, a venture capital backed startup foundry that builds consumer technology companies by leveraging the Creative Artist Agency’s access to talent and audience.
• co-founded Argo Blockchain PLC, an enterprise-scale provider of cryptocurrency mining services that listed on the LSE.
20+ Years
in Tech & Venture
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Mike has a wealth of experience in building and scaling technology companies in private and public markets, including the following:
- co-founded AreaConnect.com, a consumer content company which was acquired by Marchex, a Nasdaq listed company, in 2008.
- invested in early stage consumer companies such as Punch’d (later acquired by Google), Wander (later acquired by Yahoo), Summify (later acquired by Twitter), BlueBat Games (later acquired by Novomatic Group, Retsly (later acquired by Zillow) and Password Box (later acquired by Intel).
- co-founded LX Ventures, a publicly listed consumer internet foundry that acquired and scaled Mobio Technologies.
- co-founded Growlab, a seed stage accelerator focussing on consumer facing digital product. Growlab later merged with Extreme Startups to create Canada’s Highline accelerator.
- co-founded Wyley Interactive, a mobile game engagement platform, which was acquired by Zynga, a Nasdaq listed company, in 2014.
- co-founded Creative Labs, a venture capital backed startup foundry that builds consumer technology companies by leveraging the Creative Artist Agency’s access to talent and audience.
- co-founded Argo Blockchain PLC, an enterprise-scale provider of cryptocurrency mining services that listed on the LSE.
Birgit Troy
Director
COO / CFO Canalyst
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Technology finance & operations executive with extensive experience delivering rapid growth in embedded software and SaaS-based industries. Demonstrated ability to formulate and implement processes to execute revenue growth, build high performance teams and close successful M&A transactions. Builds scalable operations to enable sustainable growth in private and public companies.
Finance & Operations Leadership:
✔ VP Finance/CFO, Chartered Professional Accountant
✔ Software, SaaS, Mobile & Cloud Computing
✔ Revenue and Profit Growth
✔ Business Start-ups and Operations Optimization
✔ International Operations
✔ Mergers & Acquisitions and Integrations
✔ Equity & Debt Financing, Investor Relations
✔ Software Licensing Contract Structuring & Negotiation
✔ Sales Compensation Structuring & Employee Stock Option Plans
✔ Intellectual Property Management & Patent Administration
✔ Successful Mentoring & Leadership
✔ Full-cycle Accounting and FP&A
✔ Compliance & Audit
✔ Transfer pricing
✔ Tax & Tax Incentive Programs, SR&ED
Darcy has over 20+ years of senior executive experience building successful companies and brands spanning, Asia, Europe and North America. He has a proven track record in C-suite and senior leadership roles at IMG Canada (now Endeavor LLC), Logic Technologies Inc, JT International S.A. and MASEV Communications Inc, that was acquired by IMG Canada. His experience spans corporate, agency, and entrepreneurial environments across free-to-play Mobile games, FinTech, esports, Blockchain, FMCG/CPG, Digital Marketing & Media and Sports & Entertainment industries.
15+ Years
M&A & Finance
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Technology finance & operations executive with extensive experience delivering rapid growth in embedded software and SaaS-based industries. Demonstrated ability to formulate and implement processes to execute revenue growth, build high performance teams and close successful M&A transactions. Builds scalable operations to enable sustainable growth in private and public companies.
Finance & Operations Leadership:
- VP Finance/CFO, Chartered Professional Accountant
- Software, SaaS, Mobile & Cloud Computing
- Revenue and Profit Growth
- Business Start-ups and Operations Optimization
- International Operations
- Mergers & Acquisitions and Integrations
- Equity & Debt Financing, Investor Relations
- Software Licensing Contract Structuring & Negotiation
- Sales Compensation Structuring & Employee Stock Option Plans
- Intellectual Property Management & Patent Administration
- Successful Mentoring & Leadership
- Full-cycle Accounting and FP&A
- Compliance & Audit
- Transfer pricing
- Tax & Tax Incentive Programs, SR&ED
Jonathon Bixby
Founder
Guild Esports PLC
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Jonathan is a serial entrepreneur, active angel investor, board member and speaker.
Jonathan currently invests out of, Stanley Park Ventures and Sitka Capital.
In addition to his investing and entrepreneurial efforts, Jonathan has been active with several non-profit organizations. Jonathan is a sought after speaker on the topics of crypto currency ,angel capital investing, accelerators/incubators and entrepreneurship.
Darcy has over 20+ years of senior executive experience building successful companies and brands spanning, Asia, Europe and North America. He has a proven track record in C-suite and senior leadership roles at IMG Canada (now Endeavor LLC), Logic Technologies Inc, JT International S.A. and MASEV Communications Inc, that was acquired by IMG Canada. His experience spans corporate, agency, and entrepreneurial environments across free-to-play Mobile games, FinTech, esports, Blockchain, FMCG/CPG, Digital Marketing & Media and Sports & Entertainment industries.
20+ Years
in Tech Venture Capital
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Jonathan is a serial entrepreneur, active angel investor, board member and speaker.
Jonathan currently invests out of, Stanley Park Ventures and Sitka Capital.
In addition to his investing and entrepreneurial efforts, Jonathan has been active with several non-profit organizations. Jonathan is a sought after speaker on the topics of crypto currency ,angel capital investing, accelerators/incubators and entrepreneurship.
Derek Lew
CEO
Growthworks Capital LTD.
LLB
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Mr. Lew is the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of GrowthWorks Capital Ltd. (“GWC”), and the President and Chief Executive Officer and/or a director of certain managed funds and operating subsidiaries of GWC, all of which are active venture capital investors. Mr. Lew is also a Partner with Initio Group Inc. (“Initio”), a Vancouver-based early stage angel investment firm, and is a lawyer with experience in the areas of corporate, commercial and real estate law. As CEO of GWC, and at Initio, Mr Lew is involved in overseeing these firms’ venture capital and angel investments, respectively. Mr. Lew was Chair of the British Columbia Innovation Commission (now “Innovate BC”) (2013 – 2018), the Crown agency of the Province of British Columbia responsible for the advancement of innovative businesses and entrepreneurs in the province. He has also been a director of Mobio Technologies Inc., a TSXV-listed company, since November 2012. Active in his community, Mr. Lew is a director of the Frank and Joan Lew Charitable Trust and the FJL Housing Society, which focuses on matters related to social housing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta, and is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
20+ Years
in Venture Capital
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Mr. Lew is the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of GrowthWorks Capital Ltd. (“GWC”), and the President and Chief Executive Officer and/or a director of certain managed funds and operating subsidiaries of GWC, all of which are active venture capital investors. Mr. Lew is also a Partner with Initio Group Inc. (“Initio”), a Vancouver-based early stage angel investment firm, and is a lawyer with experience in the areas of corporate, commercial and real estate law. As CEO of GWC, and at Initio, Mr Lew is involved in overseeing these firms’ venture capital and angel investments, respectively. Mr. Lew was Chair of the British Columbia Innovation Commission (now “Innovate BC”) (2013 – 2018), the Crown agency of the Province of British Columbia responsible for the advancement of innovative businesses and entrepreneurs in the province. He has also been a director of Mobio Technologies Inc., a TSXV-listed company, since November 2012. Active in his community, Mr. Lew is a director of the Frank and Joan Lew Charitable Trust and the FJL Housing Society, which focuses on matters related to social housing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta, and is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.