Tony Van Marken

Partner and co-founder of First Ascent Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in enterprise software in Canada and the USA.

Former CEO of Architel (acquired by Nortel for $400 million)

Former CEO of Vox Telecom (acquired by Investec PE)

Holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Has attended executive education courses at the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), the Chicago Booth School of Business, the London School of Economics, Rotman School of Management, Wits Business School (South Africa), and the Oxford Saïd Business School.

Tony was honored in 1998 as one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40, received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Association

Canadian Venture Capital Award in 1996 and was a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award (1998).

He climbed Everest in 2005, becoming the first South African to climb all seven of the original continental summits. He has completed over 35 climbing expeditions to over 70 peaks across all seven continents.