In Between Meetings, Craig D’Cruze shared his path from professional chef to venture capital, beginning with his teenage stock trading. He discussed the firm’s investment thesis targeting legacy industries, how he evaluates founders, and the strengths of Calgary’s collaborative startup ecosystem. Craig also emphasized the importance of celebrating realistic $20M–$50M exits to attract more local investors and keep capital flowing into the region.
Takeaways:
- From chef to VC — turning a love for food into a passion for investing
- Started trading at 14, turning $50 into $4K to help pay for culinary school
- Core thesis: back first movers in slow, legacy industries
- Looks for founders he can have a beer with, who show honesty and humility
- Sees ~800 deals/year — quick “no” saves everyone time
- Calgary’s ecosystem is collaborative and relationship-driven
- “Screw the unicorns” — celebrate realistic $20M–$50M exits to attract investors
Craig D’Cruze is COO at Inverted Ventures with 15+ years in equities markets and a strong belief that emerging technologies can solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Before investing, he built a successful career as an award-winning Executive Chef, leading large teams for Marriott, Delta Hotels, and the University of Calgary. Today, his passion for numbers and finance fuels his work in early-stage venture capital and cryptocurrency portfolio development.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
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