Richard Black
InvestorManaging Partner and Co-Founder at First Ascent Ventures
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
About
Co-founder and Managing Partner of First Ascent Ventures with over 28 years of experience in senior roles at some of Canada's largest VC firms.
Invests in
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningEnergyEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Experience
- First Ascent VenturesManaging Partner and Co-Foundercurrent2015 — presentToronto, Canada Area
- SportlogiqInvestor and Observercurrent2018 — presentCanada
- UpchainInvestor and Directorcurrent2017 — presentOntario, Canada
- Assent Compliance IncInvestor and Observercurrent2016 — present
- ALPHA MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInvestor and Directorcurrent2010 — presentToronto, Ontario, Canada
- AquamInvestor and Directorcurrent2007 — presentToronto, Ontario, Canada
- Walsingham Growth PartnersGeneral Partnercurrent2005 — presentToronto, Canada Area
- ScribbleLiveInvestor and Director2015 — 2018Canada
- Helix Investment LtdVice- President and Partner1991 — 2011Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- RBC Capital MarketsManaging Director2002 — 2003Toronto, Canada Area
- OpenTextInvestor and Director1993 — 2003Canada
Education
- Ivey Business School at Western UniversityHBA1987 — 1991
Same school
Also attended Ivey Business School at Western University192
ØysteinInvestor at InvestinorVivek RamaswamiPartner at Madrona Venture GroupRay SharmaFounding Partner, CEO at Extreme Venture PartnersHa DuongVP Finance & Operations at Luge CapitalJasmine YangVice President at Sapphire VenturesJaye LandowHead of Investor Relations at FJ Labs
+ 186 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Upchain2
Also worked at Assent Compliance Inc2
Also worked at ScribbleLive2
Also worked at RBC Capital Markets102
Jaya GuptaInvestor at Foundation CapitalIsabella VahdatiPrincipal at Brighteye VenturesRanieri PaternòPrincipal at Marlin Equity PartnersHunter MerghartVenture Partner at Castle Island VenturesLan WuAnalyst at FusionMeera BissoondeealInvestor at 13books Capital
+ 96 more
Investments
Led
Architel SystemsAtrion InternationalCRS RoboticsESI SoftwareListenUP! CanadaLogicVisionOpenText CorporationSyndesis Limited
Board seats
Assent ComplianceDarwinScribbleLiveShinydocsSportlogiQThentiaUpchain
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at First Ascent Ventures
Jake Diamond
Analyst at First Ascent Ventures
Kate O'Brien
CFO at First Ascent Ventures
Michael Jenkins
Associate at First Ascent Ventures
Noah Chaikof
Vice President at First Ascent Ventures
Tef Shojai
Executive Assistant at First Ascent Ventures
Tony van Marken
Managing Partner and Co-Founder at First Ascent Ventures





















