Meet Our
Founders
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, Germany and the UK, as well as lead global commercialisation efforts across markets in the US, UK/Europe, SE Asia/Australia and Africa.
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 their family office has made +30 early-stage investments.
Shelley’s most notable investment was Solium, which was acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2019 for $1.1B. Shelley supports many founders, and ventures as an advisor, board observer and director, including Bobbie Racette Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus.
Judy Fairburn
Co-Founder, Fund Managing Partner
As Co-CEO and Fund Managing Partner of The51 (Financial FeministTM platform and venture fund), Judy is a change-maker with a proven track record of building cutting-edge business ventures.
She currently serves on the boards of VEERUM Inc. (Builders/BDC co-led Series A), deNova (Series A woman-led protein technology), Petronas Canada and MEG Energy as well as the Business Council of Alberta and the Alberta Securities Commission New Economy Advisory Council. She is also an investor / mentor to several women-led AgTech/CleanTech startups (including SomaDetect, Summit Nanotech and Evercloak) and Creative Destruction Lab Agriculture / Energy founders.
Prior to co-founding The51, Judy served on the Global Advisory Council for Emerald Technology Ventures and was board director of Sustainable Development Technology Canada. She was also the first female Board Chair of Alberta Innovates (health, agriculture, clean energy and digital). A pioneer in corporate/entrepreneurial innovation, she co-founded a $100 million cleantech/digital venture fund (Evok Innovations). Her career includes roles as Cenovus Energy’s Chief Digital Officer, EVP Business Innovation, President Environment Opportunity Fund as well as VP-level operations / P&L / technology development roles. Notable corporate investments championed at an early stage include General Fusion (2020 Series E) and DarkVision (2020 exit).
Judy holds an MSc degree (Chemical Engineering), an MBA and Institute of Corporate Directors designation. She is also a 4th generation farm owner, award-winning Creative Destruction Lab mentor, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, 2013 Clean 16 award winner, and recipient of the 2020 Calgary Influential Women in Business Lifetime Achievement Award.
Alice Reimer
Co-Founder
Alice Reimer 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.
The51 Ventures Board
Andrea Whyte
Corporate Secretary
Andrea is a corporate partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. She is a strategic advisor to The51 and believes in increasing opportunities for women founders in venture funding. Andrea’s practice includes advising companies in areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, governance and general corporate matters. She leads the corporate group at Osler in Calgary and is a member of the Alberta Securities Commission Advisory Committee. Andrea is also a director of a number of public and private companies.