Meet Our Team
Shelley Kuipers
Co-Founder, CEO
Shelley Kuipers is investing in the world she wants to live in. As an activist in business, entrepreneurship and investment, Shelley likes to take on the status quo, and seek out democratized business models and platforms.
Previous to co-founding The51, Shelley founded crowdsourcing company Chaordix and technology and marketing firm, Stormworks. She was also the co-founder of IOVIA, based in London, UK. Shelley also collaboratively runs her family office Adventure Capital, with her partner and two sons. Shelley has had the opportunity to live and work in Canada, US and the UK, as well as lead commercialisation efforts across global markets.
Shelley has been early-stage investing for more than 20 years. Her investment experience started in oil and gas, but she quickly diversified her investments into the tech sector with a focus on innovation-driven companies across many sectors. To date her family office has made +30 early-stage investments. Shelley supports many founders, and ventures as an advisor, board observer and director.
Judy Fairburn
Co-Founder, Fund Managing Partner
A change-maker, board director, engineer, Creative Destruction Lab Fellow and early-stage investor, Judy has been at the vanguard of environmental sustainability, corporate/entrepreneurial partnerships and diversity as critical to future-proof business. Along with her impressive experience as a C-suite corporate executive, Judy co-founded a $100 million digital/cleantech venture fund and led substantial change as the first Chair of the consolidated Alberta Innovates. In her spare time (ha) Judy is the very definition of “outdoorsy”, an avid hiker, skier and cyclist.
Alice Reimer
Co-Founder, General Partner
Alice is a successful tech entrepreneur and dedicated community mentor and leader. She co-founded Calgary-based Evoco, leading the innovative software firm from initial concept through to a 2012 acquisition. Evoco's technology became the standard construction management system for global retailers including Home Depot, Walmart and Luxottica. Most recently, Alice was the CEO of Chaordix, a pioneering software leader in the crowdsourcing and open innovation space, with global clients including LEGO, Procter & Gamble, KPMG and IBM.
Alice was the recipient of PROFIT’s W100 designation as one of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs and was named one of Alberta's 50 Most Influential People for 2013. She is on the Board of the A100 and is the Board Chair for Startup Calgary.
Alison Sunstrum
GP, Food & AgTech Fund
With decades of experience in the agrifood, agtech, innovative tech and venture capital industries, you could say Alison always has a lot on the go. Currently, she is the Founder/CEO of CNSRV-X Inc. (Conserve X), a Canadian company developing and investing in emerging technology in agriculture. She is also a Founding Partner and Fellow in the Ag Stream of the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Rockies; and the Supply Chain stream, Montreal. She is also a Venture Partner and LP at Builders VC, a San Francisco/Calgary venture capital fund investing in founders re-imagining large underinvested, antiquated industries.
Chelsea Gillett
Principal, Fund I and II
Having grown up with a climbing wall on the side of her house, it only makes sense that Chelsea jumps and rises effortlessly from chemical engineering, to motherhood, to an MBA (Dean's List), to start-up expert through CDL and now Venture Manager with The51. All while raising a family and--oh right--continuing to literally jump and climb, ski, hike, bike, and occasionally skydive. No big deal.
Carina Ludgate
Advisor
A certifiable expert in all things brand-communication, Carina supports The51 with content strategy, events, and pretty much anything else we can trick her into helping us with. Between mentoring the next generation, volunteering and keeping her heart rate up, Carina is desperately trying to finally finish her MA in Communications at the University of Alberta.
Courtney Dragani
Chief Growth Officer
As one of The51's earliest team members, Courtney Dragani has held several evolving roles with the organization. As Chief Growth Officer she focuses on scaling the business through strategic growth initiatives, business model development, and establishing key partnerships. She plays a central role in identifying opportunities for innovation, aligning teams with growth objectives, and creating new revenue streams. With advanced education from the University of British Columbia in Strategy and UC Berkeley in Product Management, Courtney is skilled at driving community engagement and expanding The51’s influence across Canada’s investment ecosystem.
Iva Kubickova
Community Director
With a decade of experience across the Fin-Tech, Startup, and Social Impact sectors, Iva has honed the art of fostering close-knit communities and forging impactful partnerships. At The51, she leverages her passion for community building to create engaging, dynamic spaces for investors and founders.
Beyond her professional expertise, Iva’s global perspective and lived experiences uniquely position her to build communities that inspire connection, growth, and collective success.
Kulwant Duhra
Investor Services & Operations Manager
When Kulwant isn't driving her basketball-loving boys around, she is probably reading, meditating, and/or cooking something to feed them. And as it turns out, Kulwant's masterful multi-tasking and task-transitioning abilities have served her well; with 15+ years' experience in male-dominated industries like brokerage, private equity, venture capital and banking, Kulwant's corporate cross-functional experience enables her to connect strategy, operations and people to deliver results. Today, Kulwant is proud to apply her skills to powering women in these very same industries by working with investors and keeping us organized at The51, because as she tells her boys: when you empower women, you empower everyone.
Rachel Bodor
Senior Analyst
At heart, Rachel Bodor is a scientist. Double-majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology, Rachel began her career with MRI research on placenta & fetal brain development, before completing her Masters of Biomedical Technology with a focus on innovative treatments for Cerebral palsy. Transitioning from the lab to the biotech industry, Rachel completed an internship with the Creative Destruction Lab where she dove into the local startup ecosystem. When she’s not investigating potential ventures for The51, you might find Rachel at the gym, baking, spending time outside or watching crime documentaries (which she assures us is completely normal, and nothing to worry about).
Anita Ludwar
Principal, Food & AgTech Fund
Anita's career is rooted in deep science and technology innovation, with experience supporting innovators from applied research through to commercialization. She has managed multi-million-dollar genomics funding programs, led the inaugural Ag Stream at the Creative Destruction Lab (Rockies), and most recently led innovative projects at a biotechnology-focused supply chain startup before joining The51 Food & AgTech Fund.
Anita deeply values the impact that early-stage innovators can have on the world, especially within agriculture and food, and loves exploring the limits of technology.
Yuan Shi
General Partner, Food & AgTech Fund
With a B.Sc. in environmental engineering from the UofA, a Master of Management from UBC and a diploma in cello performance from The Juilliard School, there’s pretty much nothing Yuan can’t do or make better. We’re humbled and thrilled she’s lending her talents to the Food and AgTech Fund, where she oversees deal sourcing, due diligence, ecosystem-building and portfolio management.As a woman of color in STEM & finance and a first-generation immigrant Yuan is actively involved in projects supporting underrepresented communities, and has delivered initiatives in Canada, Mexico, Cuba, China, and Spain.Prior to her work with The51 Yuan was the Director of CDL-Vancouver, and prior to that she did a host of (predictably) incredibly impressive and important work—all of which makes us fan-girl.
Kebbie Brown
Associate, Food & AgTech Fund
With a degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Queen’s University, Kebbie is innately curious and constantly asking questions - to everyone from founders to farmers (like her dad!) to fellow fitness fanatics (current obsession: road biking). After starting her career in operations roles in fintech and disability tech, she developed a deep passion for supporting early-stage companies who champion positive social change.
In her "downtime", you can find Kebbie volunteering in the angel investing space with organizations like SheBoot, at +19,000 ft trekking some of the world’s tallest peaks, or scuba diving at 100 ft underwater.
Arielle Land
Program Director, Movement51
Arielle is the Swiss army knife of enablement, with a strategic marketing background, a knack for understanding people’s motivations, and a proven track record in building programs and systems to scale for greater impact in B2B tech, SaaS, and B2C environments.
As a high-impact, innovative, and energetic community builder, Arielle leads influential experience programs at Movement51 that reflect business needs, enable internal teams, and unlock customer potential.
Emily McBride
Program Manager, Movement51
Meet Emily, a Health Sciences graduate with a passion for high-altitude physiology who unexpectedly found themselves thriving in the dynamic world of startups. After a captivating research stint in Nepal, Emily graduated in 2018, she embraced the fast-paced environment of a local startup in Calgary.
Emily excels as a strong communicator, building lasting relationships and prioritizing operations across diverse settings. With a proven ability to plan and coordinate, Emily brings enthusiasm and drive to connect and build diverse communities. Beyond the professional sphere, you can find Emily throwing pottery, playing beach volleyball, skiing, indulging in a good read in her spare time, and enjoying moments of coziness while cuddling with her kitties.
Join Us at The51
We are seeking a General Partner to join our firm
The51 is seeking ambitious talent to join its firm and mission.
Five years ago, The51 embarked on a transformative journey, aiming to carve out a space for women as Limited Partners (LPs), Fund Managers, and Founders in the venture capital landscape.
Since then, we've captivated the Canadian venture community, rallying investors from coast to coast, across individual and institutional spheres, culminating in the establishment of two funds, and a partnership in a third sector-specific fund. Our investments span the nation, and we've fostered a thriving community of thousands.
With growing market interest, and the opportunity before us, The51 is recruiting for a General Partner.
We will build our future funds strategy and management with our new General Partner. What will be a constant is that we want to invest in world-changing founders and their vision and ambition to be a winner.
Our LPs are recognized leaders and change makers. Our founders are exceptional, ambitious, and very accomplished.
If you are joining us, this is what we need:
You have investing experience and track record, either as a solo GP, managing partner or senior member of a larger firm.
You’ve also been an operator who has built, raised, sold, and perhaps failed. You understand the experience of being a founder.
You see yourself as a partner to our founders. More than asking questions, you can bring experience, foresight, and championship to help them succeed.
Your experience includes being a market maker or senser, a disrupter and a problem solver, and you have exceptional financial prowess.
You love raising capital and have influence to do so.
You are a community builder (not a networker) and people are attracted to your energy and leadership. You excel at building genuine connections.
You want to go on a journey to revolutionize venture capital, and to deliver exceptional investment returns and impact. Your game of strategy is a long one.
Five years in, we are built by women, and we are building for everyone. We look forward to advancing our mission and opportunity with you.
Venture and operational experience are paramount to us, as is representation from across Canada. Headquartered in Calgary, we're eager to extend our leadership presence to other provinces and cities.
Contact us at iseemyself@The51.com to express your interest.