Adam Cragg
Advisor to the President at Innovate Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Overview
Work Experience
Partner
2020 - Current
• Lead investments in early-stage cybersecurity startups, providing strategic guidance for critical growth stages. • Supported founders in scaling their businesses, driving success through industry expertise. • Facilitated Seed and Series A investments ranging from £250,000 to £2,500,000 at Osney Capital.
Executive Director - Interim
2023 - 2024
• Helped navigate a period of transition and oversaw the launch of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking as part of the University's strategic plan, fostering a community of innovative thinkers. • Managed activities to support entrepreneurial student experiences and enable faculty to lead in innovation. • Expanded the community of entrepreneurial and innovative thinkers at the University of Calgary. • Raised over $16m for projects to support entrepreneurs and innovators.
Executive Director
2021 - 2024
Director of New Ventures
2020 - 2021
• Led the development of startup support programs for research-intensive companies, bridging the gap between discovery and economic impact. • Collaborated with researchers, faculty, and students to create societal impact through innovative technology transfer services. • Implemented focused support services to drive economic growth and innovation within the UCalgary ecosystem.
Founding Partner
2016 - 2018
• Managed investments in early-stage ventures across various industries, leading to a Forbes recognition as a top 10 VC globally. • Spearheaded the accelerator program, providing $150k funding and a 12-week curriculum to startups, resulting in Quake being named #2 investor in female-founded companies by CrunchBase. • Collaborated with teams globally to drive innovation and growth, with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Austin.
Quake Capital is a venture firm that helps startups grow by providing seed stage investment through an accelerator program.
Founding Manager, Leslie Entrepreneurs Lab
2014 - 2016
• Developed entrepreneurial classes for NYU students, faculty, and alumni, leading to the establishment of the Leslie Entrepreneurs Lab. • Led workshops on lean startup methodology and customer development, hosting over 100 workshops and hackathons in the first year. • Designed and built the first open prototyping space on campus with 3D printers and a laser cutter for NYU entrepreneurs.
Chief of Staff
2011 - 2013
• Developed programs to enhance entrepreneurial skills of MIT students. • Counseled student entrepreneurs to maximize center resources. • Planned and executed entrepreneurship events attended by hundreds. • Led the redevelopment of the Center’s online presence.