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Team

The principal and founder of Upper Canada Ventures is Graham Matthews. Mr. Matthews launched Upper Canada Ventures in February 2006 with an emphasis of working with growing technology and service businesses and private equity investments. Upper Canada Ventures has worked with a wide range of clients, providing services ranging from valuation and business planning to CFO roles. Investment holdings include technology and service businesses and limited partnership interests.

Mr. Matthews has acted as contract CFO for Iotum Corp, a web communications firm; Peraso Technologies Inc., a fabless semiconductor company; and evandtec Inc. a clean technology water firm (acquired by Newterra/Calco Environmental).

With over nineteen years in the private equity industry, Mr. Matthews has significant experience in financing successful small and medium–sized businesses. Previous to establishing Upper Canada Ventures, Mr. Matthews was most recently General Partner of VenGrowth Private Equity Partners Inc., a large private equity investment firm, where his principal areas of investment specialization were wireless communications, RF and mixed signal semiconductors, and Internet infrastructure. Prior to joining VenGrowth, Mr. Matthews was Vice-President, Investments with Working Ventures, one of Canada’s largest venture capital firms, where he co-founded its Technology Team and was involved in over 15 venture investments. He was directly involved with over $190 million in directly invested capital in 33 companies at these two firms.

As well as assessing investment opportunities, negotiating and financing transactions, and advising investment companies on an on-going basis, Mr. Matthews has been a key player in spinning out new technology businesses from established companies, starting new businesses, recruiting and retaining key Board and senior management members, and facilitating strategic partnerships.

Mr. Matthews has served on several Boards of Directors, including as Chairman of the Board of Q9 Networks Inc. (TSX: Q, later acquired), a company he helped co-found from inception. He has significant experience with successful liquidity events with portfolio companies, including both public offerings, such as RoweCom Inc. (Nasdaq: ROWE, later acquired by Divine Inc.) and VERSUS Technologies Inc. (TSE: V, later acquired by E*Trade Group (Nasdaq: EGRP)) and mergers and acquisitions, such as Philsar Semiconductor Inc. (acquired by Conexant Systems (Nasdaq: CNXT)).

Mr. Matthews holds Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and Master of Business Administration degrees from McMaster University and is a holder of the CFA and CMA designations.