I am a Canadian-based VC investing in the best software companies – wherever they are located. I have two jobs – Co-Managing Partner of the BlackBerry Partners Fund™ and Managing Director of RBC Venture Partners (the venture capital affiliate of Royal Bank of Canada where I am also Vice President, Venture Capital). The BlackBerry Partners Fund is focused on smartphone applications and RBC Venture Partners specializes in financial services and enterprise software. I got into the VC industry in the mid-nineties after being an entrepreneur involved with a bunch of start-ups in the information technology industry. Before that, I learned about financial analysis, research and business plans as an associate with a leading chartered accounting and management consulting firm. I have worked in both Canada and the United States.
I currently sit on the boards of Brickstream, Lumeta, and Igloo Software. I have also served on the boards of Thor Technologies (acquired by Oracle), iPhrase Technologies (acquired by IBM), Inea/Cartesis (acquired by Business Objects), Infobright Inc. and CashEdge (acquired by SIG). I am also the Founder and Chairman of the Financial Services Venture Capital Alliance. I also have the privilege of holding an appointment as Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at the Schulich School of Business (York University) in Toronto.
While running various start-ups I graduated with an MBA and several years before that with a BA degree in Strategic Studies. When I was in high school, programming was done with punch cards. A few years ago I returned to the classroom to obtain an ICD.D designation and graduate from the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Corporate Governance College (Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto).
So, that’s the story. I am looking to partner with exceptional people with great ideas that have huge game changing potential because, if I was smart enough, I would be doing it myself.
Kevin Talbot
Managing Director, RBC Venture Partners
Co-Managing Partner, BlackBerry Partners Fund
