British Columbia Innovation Council

Did You Know

  • A small business registered as an Eligible Business Corporation can accept equity capital directly from investors who may be eligible to receive a 30% tax credit. Read more

Sam Znaimer

Sam Znaimer

General Partner, Ventures West

Sam Znaimer joined Ventures West in 1983, and is a pioneer of the Canadian venture capital scene with 25 years of hands-on early stage technology investing experience. Based in Vancouver, Sam focuses on cleantech and communications investments, and leads the firm's communications practice.

Sam's past investments include Statpower (acquired by Xantrex Technology), OctigaBay Systems (sold to Cray, NASDAQ: CRAY), Convedia (sold to RadiSys, NASDAQ: RSYS) and AudeSi (sold to Wind River, NASDAQ: WIND).

Sam currently serves as a director of Aegis Mobility, QuIC Financial Technologies, SWITCH Materials and Zeugma Systems, and acts as an Observer with BelAir Networks. Sam is a director of the Wavefront Wireless Innovation Society of BC and is a member of the Nanoworks Alberta Steering Committee. Sam was a founding Director of BC Technology Social Venture Partners where he has advised EMBERS, an economic development group in Vancouver's downtown eastside, and now works with SVP's Grants Committee.
Sam received an A.B. (cum laude) in chemistry from Harvard University and a M.Sc. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.