Capital Markets & Innovation Leader | Nanotechnologies & Deeptech | Venture Growth

Ray Crowley is an accomplished entrepreneur and innovation leader with over 13 years of experience driving transformative growth at the intersection of technology, strategy, and capital markets. As a former registered Capital Markets Dealing Representative and board member for multiple organizations and as the host for Investment Research Radio, Ray has originated and executed deals from the TSX to NASDAQ, including a mid market acquisition and several go-public transactions-consistently delivering substantial market capitalization growth and shareholder value.

Ray’s expertise spans corporate development, investor relations, and strategic advisory for ventures in advanced materials (including graphene, 2D materials, and nanotechnologies), resources, AI, robotics, blockchain, cleantech, and more. He is recognized for his ability to translate breakthrough scientific advancements- such as next-generation materials, AI and robotics into real commercialization, working closely with universities, corporate venture arms and global industry leaders.

Key Achievements:

• Led investor relations and corporate development initiatives for a long list of public ventures resulting in significant investor returns and hundreds of millions in market cap growth.

• Originated a $13M investment and a subsequent $100M NASDAQ acquisition in electric mobility and cleantech.

• Introduced millions of seed capital for many startups including a GPT Style AI Agent back in 2018 venture years before Chat GPT. Introduced seed capital to an AI & Robotics Agriculture Cleantech venture where he was also VP Corporate Development and forged strategic relationships with Fortune 500 companies such as John Deere, Cargill, and Syngenta in the fields of robotics and AI.

• Founded three technology ventures across software, blockchain, and advanced materials.

Ray excels at identifying emerging trends, connecting capital with innovation, and building high-impact relationships that accelerate deep tech growth. His approach combines technical insight, market strategy, and a passion for commercializing disruptive technologies-delivering long-term value for public companies, startups, and corporate venture partners alike.

Engineer | Entrepreneur | Cryptocurrency Pioneer | Venture Builder

Michael Vogel is a Canadian entrepreneur and technology pioneer best known for founding Netcoins, one of Canada’s most trusted crypto brands. Michael led Netcoins from startup to go-public transaction and subsequent acquisition, where the company experienced remarkable growth to a nearly $1 billion valuation, establishing it as a leader in the digital asset space.

As the founder of Encore Ventures, Michael continues to create and scale innovative startups through a venture studio model, focusing on hi-tech, online, Bitcoin, software, real estate and hardware ventures. Encore Ventures also owns and operates Coinstream, a popular crypto service in the US, further cementing Michael’s role at the forefront of fintech and blockchain innovation.

Michael’s ventures have generated over nine figures in revenue and shareholder value. He has advised and educated banking executives, political leaders, and the public about Bitcoin and the future of finance, and was selected by the US State Department to represent Canada at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Michael is regularly cited in national media as a business and technology thought leader.

Key Achievements:

• Founded Netcoins, led go-public and acquisition. Netcoins scaled to a nearly $1B valuation.

• Founded Encore Ventures, a venture studio building and investing in high-impact tech startups.

• Launched Coinstream, a leading US crypto service.

• Generated over $100M in revenue and shareholder value across multiple ventures.

• Recognized globally as a thought leader in cryptocurrency and fintech.

Michael excels at building ventures that challenge the status quo, harnessing the intersection of technology, economics, and innovation to create lasting impact.

Technology Entrepreneur | Software & Hardware Systems Leader | Innovation Architect

Eli Hini is a seasoned entrepreneur and technology leader with a proven track record of transforming complex ideas into impactful, human-centered solutions. As the founder and CEO of Venovis, Eli has built a reputation for delivering secure, scalable software and embedded systems across industries ranging from avionics and robotics to cybersecurity and industrial IoT.

With early roots in avionics software and robotics, Eli has designed and developed mission-critical systems for high-stakes environments. He has played instrumental leadership roles at three cybersecurity firms, architected media streaming infrastructure for leading global platforms, and enabled advanced control and monitoring for industrial IoT and robotics systems.

Eli’s expertise spans iOS, macOS, and Linux application development, embedded systems, software security, and agile product development. He is passionate about creating simple, secure, and intuitive solutions-leveraging AI, mobile-first design, and automation to solve real-world problems and optimize everyday tasks.

Key Achievements:

• Founded and leads Venovis, delivering innovative software, embedded, and IoT solutions for enterprise clients.

• Designed mission-critical avionics and robotics systems, ensuring reliability and security in demanding applications.

• Led security software development at three major cybersecurity firms.

• Developed media streaming apps and infrastructure for some of today’s top streaming platforms.

• Architected control and monitoring solutions for industrial IoT and robotics.

• Active educator and mentor in software design, development, and entrepreneurship.

Eli thrives at the intersection of technology, design, and business-distilling complexity into elegant, scalable products that drive value for clients and end users alike.

Business Advisor | Engineer |  Venture Capital Associate 

Tim Yau is a seasoned professional engineer, venture capital associate, and startup advisor with over 18 years of experience at the intersection of advanced engineering, business strategy, and venture growth. As an associate of Vine Ventures and their venture studio firm, Eden Advisors, Tim advises startups pioneering AI, electronics, automation, IoT, and IIoT—supporting the next generation of disruptive technologies.

Tim is also an independent consultant, where he advises companies on engineering strategy, operations, and product development in IoT, IIoT, and SaaS. He has delivered large-scale infrastructure and electronics initiatives, including managing projects totalling ~$200 million for BC Hydro. His previous corporate leadership roles include Energy Efficiency Auditor, Project Manager, and Western Regional Manager at Energy Network Services.

In the startup ecosystem, Tim is a serial co-founder and advisor at heart, serving as a fractional COO or CTO for early-stage tech ventures. He helps teams navigate technology evaluation, product-market fit, and fundraising. As an associate at Vine Ventures, Tim scouts, evaluates, and supports high-growth startups, and actively refers founders to the boutique advisory firm Eden Advisors for additional strategic guidance.

Tim is a trusted advisor to local and international firms through previous business advisory engagements with Element Consulting Engineers and GLG, respectively, where he shares insights on emerging technology trends and best practices.

He holds a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designation in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, a Progressional Program Certificate in Executive Coaching through the University of Cambridge, and a Professional Program Certificate in Systems Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Key Achievements:

• Associate at Vine Ventures, supporting scouting, technical due diligence, and growth for emerging to mature tech companies.

• Independent Consultant through TY Engineering Canada, advising on business operations, engineering strategy, and SaaS/IoT/IIoT development.

• Co-founded and advised multiple startups; serves as fractional COO and CTO for a variety of portfolio companies with Eden Advisors and Vine Ventures.