**NORTHERN ONTARIO ANGELS NEWS RELEASE**

Northern Ontario Angels is a not-for-profit organization that was formed in 2009.  We connect entrepreneurs to angel investors in Northern Ontario.  For a few years now, NOA has been named as the #1 Angel Organization in Canada.  Our entrepreneurs are from Northern Ontario, but our investors can be from anywhere in the world.

 

To date, we have closed 240 deals, of which 11 are indigenous companies.  Resulting in over 110 million dollars in private angel investments.  57% of our companies are in the technology sector, and 15% are in the mining sector.  NOA entrepreneurs have created over 3,000 full time jobs. 

 

The organization is made up of Board of Directors from across the North, Chaired by Chris Winrow.  The part-time Consultants are led by NOA Executive Director, Mary Long-Irwin. As part of our commitment to our members, we offer access to local investment opportunities, due diligence research and investment pitch information sessions.  NOA Consultants recruit and assist entrepreneurs in getting them to apply and become investment ready to present to local angel investors.  The Consultants also recruit accredited investors to join NOA through an application process.  There are no fees to apply to become a member of NOA.

 

“Thanks to additional funding partner Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), NOA is now able to expand the Consultant services on the ground in Timmins/Kapuskasing and Kenora.  This expansion will provide more opportunities for both entrepreneurs and investors to become involved in the process and ultimately lead to successful businesses starting, expanding and staying in Northern Ontario and providing more employment opportunities.”  Chris Winrow, Chairman NOA Board of Directors.   

 

New to the team, NOA Timmins/Kapuskasing Consultant – Andre Robichaud, fully bilingual in French and English, has strong roots in Northern Ontario.  Andre has served in economic development, municipal planning and business development positions.  He brings years of experience working with public, private and not-for-profit organizations including eight years as the Economic Development Officer for the Town of Kapuskasing, where he championed the creation of quality jobs and promoted economic growth in the community.  Andre is currently Principal of Ontario North Consulting, where he works with private, public, and not-for-profit organizations.  Building on leadership roles with many local and regional boards of directors, Andre has secured over $4.5 million for private and public sector projects over the last five years and has a vast network of contacts and strong relationships within those networks.

 

NOA Consultant for Kenora – Ron Malashewski, is the President of Cliff Lake Capital, and has provided Corporate Consulting Services to start-up, early stage and publicly traded companies across a broad range of sectors for many years. These services include Corporate Development, Business and Strategic Planning/Implementation, Investor and Government Relations and coaching entrepreneurs on preparing to meet with sources of investment capital.  He has worked with clients in a broad range of sectors including Natural Resources (Exploration, Mining and Minerals Processing), Multimedia and Entertainment, Transportation and Logistics, Industrial Technology, Internet Infrastructure and Security and Medical and Veterinary Diagnostic Technologies.   He is currently President of the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce. He is also the Manager of Investor Relations and the Community Liaison for Avalon Advanced Materials’ Separation Rapids Lithium Project near Kenora. Prior to starting Cliff Lake Capital Ltd., he was an Investment Advisor with Richardson Greenshields of Canada and BMO Nesbitt Burns in Calgary, Alberta. Prior to entering the Investment Industry, he held Senior Engineering positions with the City of Calgary Electric System (now Enmax Corporation), a major Canadian municipal electric utility. During his professional career, he has developed many industry contacts across Canada with various levels of investment decision-makers, including Portfolio Managers, Analysts, Financiers, and Technical and Scientific Experts.

 

We also have a new NOA Consultant covering North Bay – Larry Fuld.  Larry was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, He attended the University of Illinois. In 1980, he began a 38-year career in the futures industry. He held memberships on the Mid America and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where he was a trader on the floor of the exchange. He has been a retail broker, written newsletters and founded two Commodity Trading Advisory Firms. In 2002, he became the head trader for a proprietary trading firm, specializing in interest rate derivatives. He managed a 24 hour a day, across the globe operation. In 2009, he left to start his current partnership, LRW Trading.  In addition, for the last three years, he has served as the Chief Investment Officer for Jograh Investments Ltd., a family office investment company. During his career, he participated in the raising of money and invested in several successful startups. He was a member of Heartland Angels, a Chicago based Angel investment club as well as having close ties with several members of Hyde Park Angels. He has experience crafting and negotiating shareholder agreements. Over the years, he has developed a network of accountants, lawyers and patent attorneys with expertise in startups.

 

Together now, NOA Consultants are on the ground covering Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Thunder Bay, Timmins/Kapuskasing and Kenora.

 

Thank you to FedNor, NOHFC, Angel Investors Ontario One, and our Gold Sponsor BDO for your continued support and partnership.

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