It all started with a unique solution to our own problem.

Matthew B. Schmidt has significant experience in the venture capital and private equity markets as a strategic investor, builder and operator. Matthew is a technology entrepreneur, film producer and investor. Matthew founded Paradise City Films in 2017. Matthew has directly participated in raising over $60-million of growth capital in the private sector. Matthew has advised numerous companies such as Victory Square Technologies, Immersive Tech, and V2 Games. In 2019 Matthew joined Alpha Esports Tech Inc. as a strategic advisor. Within this role, he continues to find value in sharing resources between people and companies. As CEO, Matthew is passionate about building upon the foundation of Alpha Esports Tech within the fast-evolving sector, focusing on disruptive technology and driving user growth. Upon joining Alpha as CEO Mr. Schmidt has spear headed a $5.8-million dollar raise at $0.35 for going public in Q2 of 2021. Matthew is now focusing on building out the team best suited for future growth, while maintaining a deep sense of culture and purpose.

Miriam Alden is the Founder, Creative Director and CEO of Brunette the Label and Brunette Showroom. Over the past 10 years, Miriam has built and self-financed both a wholesale showroom and a direct-to-consumer fashion label with international reach. Brunette the Label was founded by Miriam Alden in 2014 as an outlet to align her personal values to the product she was already selling in her showroom. Brunette the Label specializes in the coziest loungewear to make you feel like the best version of yourself. Brunette is sold in over 700 stores in Canada and the US, and is quickly growing in Australia and Europe as well. Her popular and signature sweatshirt and product sayings, ‘Blonde’, ‘Brunette’ and ‘Babes Supporting Babes’ are trademarked in Canada and the US. Miriam’s mission is to create a lifestyle of collaboration through her brand, and to change the meaning of the word “babe” to a source of positivity around self-love and kindness. In true babes supporting babes fashion, Brunette the Label has collaborated with a variety of brands and influencers including Juicy Couture and The Birds Papaya.

Nick has spent nearly 20 years leading teams in the development of custom software applications and SaaS for a wide range of industries including fintech, healthcare, ecommerce, and manufacturing. He has spent the last decade of his career as a software development consultant for startups and other rapidly growing companies, helping successfully bring dozens of SaaS products to market. Much of Nick's focus in recent years has been in the fintech space. On the software he lead development on as a CTO, he is responsible for managing more than a half billion dollars annually.

Ms. Choboter, CPA-CA, has over 30 years of extensive experience in financial management and general corporate governance. She has held a number of senior financial management positions in a wide variety of industries including natural resources, technology, pulp and paper and insurance. She has been the CFO of the British Columbia Innovation Council since December 2012. Previously, she served as CFO of Sunward Resources Inc. and has served as an officer of numerous other public companies. Ms. Choboter holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary.

Chartered Professional Accountant with over 45 years’ experience in both the private and public business sectors. Vice President of NYSE listed company from 1998 to 2017 focused on merchant banking activities. Extensive domestic and international experience encompassing both North American and European banking and capital markets, with particular expertise gained in emerging markets and the natural resources sector. 

Based in Europe from 1998 to 2005 and, in particular, oversaw the acquisition, restructuring, integration and ongoing operations of two major corporate groups there until he returned to Canada. One of these was a physical commodities trading company centered in Vienna, Austria while the other was the third largest industrial design, engineering, and fabrication group in the cement industry world-wide based in Cologne, Germany.. Previously served in such capacities as President, Vice President & CFO of junior mining companies, Corporate Secretary and Director in both public and private companies in various industries, and as an independent consultant on a number of diverse projects.

Adrian Duke’s personal and professional journey overlap in a way that balances the scales of inspiration and aspiration. As a managing partner and co-founder of Immersive Tech as well as the CEO and co-­founder of Skyturtle Technologies Ltd, Adrian has brought in over $10,000,000 in revenue, impressed Fortune 500 clients, secured international manufacturing and distribution contracts, and deployed products and services across the globe.  With more than 17 patents pending, recognition by BC Business Magazine as a Top 30 Under 30, Adrian Duke’s results-driven process provides a solid foundation for success.

His company, Immersive Tech has worked with a wide-range of clients, including the Food & Drug Administration, where the team designed, developed, and launched an interactive ‘escape room’ experience for the X Games. The purpose of the experience was to showcase the dangers of smoking and the impact it can have on the lives of those who choose to do it. Providing personalized creative support, Immersive Tech has impressed multinational companies the likes of Intel, Smith & Nephew, Capital One, Allegiant Air, PartnerRe, Kalahari Resorts, just to name a few.  His unique understanding of how to leverage technology results in creative and memorable results clients are after. At the core, Adrian’s vision is to continue developing and evolving his craft to better connect people with ideas that leave lasting impressions.