Private Capital Pioneer Insights An interview with Robin Louis, CVCA past-president (2003 – 2005) By Steve Hnatiuk, Lighthouse Equity Partners
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obin Louis is quick to point out, although I respectfully disagree, that he is not in fact a pioneer of the Canadian private capital industry. “The industry started 20 or 30 years before I became involved in VC in 1991,” is Robin’s upfront caveat. Admittedly, 1991 might not have been the dawn of the private capital industry in Canada, but it coincides with the beginning of a period of great growth and professionalization of venture capital and private equity as asset classes. A lot has happened in the past two decades, and whole new generations of GPs are now driving venture and PE firms across Canada. And, as you will find in Robin’s comments, there are lessons to be learned from the past. I caught up with Robin in Vancouver recently to talk
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Private Capital § Quarter 2 § 2014
about his time as CVCA president – now a decade ago – and to share insights and perspectives on the evolution, opportunities and challenges facing the industry. Now retired, Robin spent much of the prior 20 years fundraising, investing and building Ventures West – the largest private independent Canadian venture fund management firm of its era. How do you feel about your time as head of CVCA and as an investor in the Canadian market? Robin Louis: Venture capital is a wonderful occupation – you get to work with great people and follow interesting ideas. There is lots of variety and, if you do it well, you make lots of money.