Keith Gillard
CEO at UpperStage.Capital, Chairman of the Foresight Cleantech Accelerator, host of Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Club on Clubhouse.
Keith Gillard is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who has focused the past two decades on cleantech and advanced materials start-ups. Mr. Gillard has provided leadership on the board of directors of dozens of companies, funds, and not-for-profit organizations. He is a proven fund-raiser, deal-maker, and business development matchmaker with an extensive international network, having close relationships with multinational organizations across North America, Asia, and Europe.
From 2010-2020, Mr. Gillard was General Partner of Pangaea Ventures Ltd., where he was a manager of Pangaea Ventures Fund III and IV. During this period, Pangaea’s capital under management increased from $40M to $162M USD, the number of Strategic LPs grew from 7 to 25, and Pangaea secured its first financial institution as an LP. Mr. Gillard worked to generate and evaluate hundreds of new advanced materials opportunities, and led Pangaea’s investment efforts in agricultural technologies.
From 2006-2010, Mr. Gillard served as President of BASF Venture Capital America. He was responsible for the establishment of the Silicon Valley office, as well as a dozen direct and fund investments. From 2001-2006, Mr. Gillard was with Mitsubishi Corporation and responsible for venture investment and business development activities with a specific focus on cleantech. Prior to joining Mitsubishi, Mr. Gillard began his career in investment banking, structuring mergers and acquisitions as well as manufacturing technology joint ventures into China. In the ’90’s, he was a full-time entrepreneur in software and media.
Mr. Gillard is chairman of the Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre and a director of the Canadian Venture Capital Association. He has advised the World Economic Forum on collaborative innovation in chemicals and materials, and serves as an expert panelist for the Global Cleantech 100. He has served as chairman of Vestaron Corporation and as director of NewLeaf Symbiotics, Hazel Technologies, SDC Materials, Sciona, Advanced BioNutrition, Ultracell, and other companies. He is the co-author of “Inside the Minds: Energy Venture Capital Best Practices”, published in 2008 by Aspatore Books. Outside of work, he is a high-energy father of three, a cyclist, and a twice-nominated Canadian Independent Music Award winner.
From 2010-2020, Mr. Gillard was General Partner of Pangaea Ventures Ltd., where he was a manager of Pangaea Ventures Fund III and IV. During this period, Pangaea’s capital under management increased from $40M to $162M USD, the number of Strategic LPs grew from 7 to 25, and Pangaea secured its first financial institution as an LP. Mr. Gillard worked to generate and evaluate hundreds of new advanced materials opportunities, and led Pangaea’s investment efforts in agricultural technologies.
From 2006-2010, Mr. Gillard served as President of BASF Venture Capital America. He was responsible for the establishment of the Silicon Valley office, as well as a dozen direct and fund investments. From 2001-2006, Mr. Gillard was with Mitsubishi Corporation and responsible for venture investment and business development activities with a specific focus on cleantech. Prior to joining Mitsubishi, Mr. Gillard began his career in investment banking, structuring mergers and acquisitions as well as manufacturing technology joint ventures into China. In the ’90’s, he was a full-time entrepreneur in software and media.
Mr. Gillard is chairman of the Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre and a director of the Canadian Venture Capital Association. He has advised the World Economic Forum on collaborative innovation in chemicals and materials, and serves as an expert panelist for the Global Cleantech 100. He has served as chairman of Vestaron Corporation and as director of NewLeaf Symbiotics, Hazel Technologies, SDC Materials, Sciona, Advanced BioNutrition, Ultracell, and other companies. He is the co-author of “Inside the Minds: Energy Venture Capital Best Practices”, published in 2008 by Aspatore Books. Outside of work, he is a high-energy father of three, a cyclist, and a twice-nominated Canadian Independent Music Award winner.
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