Keith Ippel
Founder of Spring Activator
Keith Ippel
Founder of Spring Activator
Vancouver, British Columbia
Overview
Work Experience
Steering Committee Member
2024 - Current
Imagine an economy powered by the pursuit of long-term well-being for all in which business and regulatory and financial systems foster an equitable, flourishing, resilient future. That’s the economy Canadians want. Let’s work together to build it. As a member of the Steering Committee, I work with the leaders and partners to accelerate the momentum of our movement through advisory, partner engagement, project ideation and execution.
Co-Founder and Head of Growth
2023
Our objective is attractive performance and meaningful impact.We invest in founders to scale innovations for a more sustainable, healthy and equitable world. We invest in Canadian changemakers at the early stages of their company journeys to promote scalable innovation in planet and human health. Our objective is attractive performance and meaningful impact.
Co-Founder
2022
Spring Investing Collective exists to help everyone to have the opportunity to invest for people, planet and profit. Through the Investing Collective, investors become empowered through experiential education, be in community with like minded investors, and access the best early stage impact investing opportunities in Canada. Through the Collective we will rapidly scale access to early stage impact capital, democratize access to impact investing opportunities, and move the dial on equitable access to capital and investment choice.
Co-founder & Co-CEO
2013
Spring helps entrepreneurs to change the world. We provide the tools, training, and network to values-driven entrepreneurs from launch to $1.5M in revenue. We also equip donors, funders, governments, and ecosystem supporters to launch, catalyze, and capacity build their innovation ecosystems. Our core programs and services include: - The Impact StartUp Visa Accelerator - The Impact Investor Challenge - The Business Resilience Program - The Emerging Impact Investor Program - Funding Roundtables - Ecosystem Consulting & Advisory Services. I have personally run incubation and accelerator programs, workshops, and training for over 2,000 entrepreneurs across 5 continents. Ultimately, we believe that changing the world for the better sits at the intersection of passion, impact, and technology. Since our launch, we've helped over 750 entrepreneurs launch over 500 businesses, create 350+ jobs, and raise over $24 million in early-stage funding. In my role at Spring, I provide overall leadership for the company. In addition, I help entrepreneurs to unlock growth through customer discovery, launch, team development, and scaling and growth strategies that include funding, product line expansion, geographic expansion, and corporate structure. I actively teach and facilitate in all Spring programs and ecosystem capacity advisory, and I am a mentor and advisor to select Spring alumni companies.
International Keynote Speaker
2016
I'm a keynote, speaker & panelist for conferences, workshops and events. I'm able to engage audiences on topics ranging from startups, launching businesses, impact business, the future of work, funding and raising capital, and developing entrepreneurial ecosystems in communities. I speak at conferences and events globally, including: the Peru Venture Capital Conference 2018, TechFest Vietnam 2018, RealTalks Summit 2017, Pecha Kucha (PKN Vancouver), The Impact Hub Global Gathering, the Sea to Sky Summit, the Belgrade Venture Forum, the BC Technology Summit, Startup Hacks, & Lift YQQ.
MBA Startup Lab Instructor
2019
The IE Startup Lab is an incredible program supporting teams in the MBA program go from idea to launch. With an increasing number of impact founders and ideas, I'm proud to be part of the incredible team supporting the them on their journey to change the world.
Faculty, Sustainable Business Leadership Advanced Diploma
2024
Sustainable Business Leadership: Skills and Values (BSUS 5130). Course Details: Sustainable business leaders must be self-reflective, comfortable with uncertainty, open, flexible, and adaptable. As champions for business models and practices that promote social equity and respect planetary boundaries, sustainable business leaders must understand how worldviews shape the actions of business, government, and citizens. In this course, students examine social systems and reflect on the foundational values and skills necessary to navigate these systems and advocate for change. Learn more about BCIT's Sustainable Business Leadership Program: https://bit.ly/3V9MxaG Meet the SBL Faculty: https://bit.ly/459ySoA
Strategic Advisor
2018
Ministry of Programming is a world class technology company focused on helping entrepreneurs to launch and scale well. Focused from MVP to A Round, their works spans product strategy and roadmap, architecture, design and development, advisory, and technology thought leadership and due diligence for fund raising.
Advisor
2014
Leftstuff is tackling a tough problem - how do we prepare for ties when we won't be there for our families. The solution is straightforward, common sense, and dignified in it's approach. With an aging population it's time to put this important topic out there.
Entrepreneur In Residence
2016 - 2024
The Swiss Entrepreneur Program (Swiss EP) is a capacity building program for ecosystem organizations in seven countries - Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, and Vietnam. I work with the global team to capacity build the Swiss EP country teams and their key partner organizations - incubators, accelerators, venture builders, and corporate innovation houses to fill needs in the innovation ecosystem, find financial sustainability, and grow to maximize their impact.
Advisor
2016 - 2023
Zero Waste Market is saving the planet one reusable container at a time! We're on a mission to tackle food waste and plastic pollution and are Canada’s first grocery store to offer package-free whole foods and fresh produce, specializing in local, organic, and ethically sourced items. At Zero Waste Market, customers bring their own containers and reusable bags from home to refill with bulk dry goods, liquids (e.g. olive oil, honey, and yogurt), fresh produce, and cleaning supplies. The sale of bulk food spares resources, eliminates packaging, and saves money! By working directly with customers, suppliers, and local community partners, we are tackling plastic pollution and food waste throughout the supply chain. We envision a world in which people know where their food comes from and are educated about how their food choices impact both their health and the environment.