In an emotional announcement at Thursday's Startup TNT spring investment summit in Calgary, community development lead Jesse Wiebe revealed he is stepping away from the Edmonton-based organization to pursue what he describes as a larger, national-scope challenge.
Wiebe's departure marks the end of a five-year tenure during which he helped establish and grow Startup TNT's agriculture and food technology sector programming. The transition will be complete by the end of September, allowing him to move on to his next venture while maintaining close ties with the organization.
A Structural Problem Demanding Solutions
In announcing his move, Wiebe highlighted what he sees as a critical weakness in Canada's startup ecosystem: a fundamental crisis in early-stage capital formation.
"Canada is in the middle of a structural crisis in early-stage capital formation," Wiebe said. "Particularly, the investor base that built the ecosystem over the last two decades is cycling out. Pre-seed deal sizes fell again in 2025, emerging managers raised their lowest total ever reported, and just the re-investment cycle has slowed."
His new role—details of which will be announced in the coming weeks—will focus on addressing these systemic challenges alongside Startup TNT, fund managers, and other organizations working to strengthen venture capital infrastructure across the country.
The decision was clearly personal for Wiebe, who became visibly emotional while thanking colleagues and fellow investors at the Calgary event. His work with the organization helped expand Startup TNT from a weekly Edmonton networking meetup launched in 2019 into a national force, with summits now operating across British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Building Curiosity Over Capital
During his remarks, Wiebe reflected on what he believes makes great investors—and it has nothing to do with the size of their cheque book.
"The best investors are not the ones with the most money, they're the ones with the most curiosity, the ones that show up," Wiebe told the crowd of approximately 50 attendees. "They're the ones who sit across from a founder building something they do not understand, they ask the questions instead of walking away. They get curious."
That philosophy has guided his work at Startup TNT, where he pioneered the organization's expansion into Saskatchewan in 2021 and helped develop specialized programming for the agriculture and food technology sectors. Beyond his role at Startup TNT, Wiebe is also founder of WieGrow Capital and Consulting, which he operates alongside his father, Doyle Wiebe.
TNT's Growth and Evolution
Since its humble beginnings as "Thursday Night Tradition"—a simple weekly networking meeting—Startup TNT has deployed over $21 million into nearly 130 pre-seed Canadian companies. The organization recently restructured, hiring CK Dhaliwal as its first executive director.
The spring summit that hosted Wiebe's announcement showcased the organization's unique investment model. This year, six companies pitched at the Calgary finale after a rigorous eight-week selection process involving 38 applicants. The format differs markedly from traditional pitch events: investors commit $5,000 each before the competition begins, set deal terms in advance, and then watch founders pitch—creating what Wiebe calls a "reverse Dragons' Den."
The winning company receives the $100,000 pot, but deals are typically structured with other finalists as well, reflecting Startup TNT's philosophy that multiple winners can emerge from a single summit.
This article is based on reporting from BetaKit, Canada's leading source for technology and startup news.