👋 Hi, I’m Chris Neumann

 

I’m a Partner at Panache Ventures, Canada’s leading pre-seed and seed stage VC.

I spent 18 years in Silicon Valley as an engineer, early startup employee, founder and investor. I helped build the world’s first 100 TB data warehouse, have invested in companies in more than 20 countries, and have mentored startups across 6 continents.

Today, I invest in the most ambitious founders in Canada while sharing my thoughts on startups, VCs and the Canadian tech ecosystem. (Visit the Investments page to learn more about my focus areas as an investor.)

I help Canadian founders win by saying the quiet part out loud.

 

My Writings

The Quiet Part Out Loud is my weekly blog on startups, VCs and the Canadian tech landscape.

Over the course of nearly 20 years in Silicon Valley, it became clear to me that much of the knowledge and experience that is commonplace in the Bay Area is difficult to come by for founders in the rest of the world. My goal in writing this blog is to help bridge that gap for all of the ambitious founders who don’t have direct access to Silicon Valley networks and knowledge.

If you want a quick introduction to my writings, check out My Top 10 Posts of 2023 and My Top 10 Posts of 2022.

…or head to The Quiet Part Out Loud for the full blog.

 

Fast Facts

  • Once upon a time, I was an actual software engineer specializing in distributed systems (BSc from SFU, MS from Stanford)

  • I worked at Motorola back when the Razr was the coolest phone on the planet and was part of the team responsible for this disaster

  • I was the CEO/cofounder of DataHero ($11M raised / acquired in 2015) and the first employee at Aster Data ($53M raised / acquired in 2011)

  • I teach entrepreneurship for the Beedie School of Business and mentor founders through the Creative Destruction Lab

 

It’s Not the Destination

It’s easy to get caught up in the proverbial rat race, especially when you’re working in and around startups. But if you’re intentional and willing to take risks (which is pretty much the definition of being a founder), it’s possible to work hard and have amazing adventures along the way.

Here are some of my life highlights:

  • Dragon boat racing in front of 100,000 people in China

  • Closing a Series A as a founder from an airport lounge in Taipei

  • Hosting fireside chats with founders across 9 UK cities in 5 days

  • Dogsledding in northern Quebec as a “team-building” exercise

  • Eating Kobe beef and singing karaoke with founders in Japan

  • Launching the first ever startup accelerator in Oman

  • Riding camels through the Egyptian desert as part of a MENA CEO summit