Nazuk Thakkar

Established and led Drive Capital’s Canadian presence for $2.2B U.S.-based fund.

• Built and directed Drive’s Canadian office, owning national ecosystem strategy across Ontario and Canada.
• Cultivated relationships with 200+ founders, advising on go-to-market strategies and infrastructure decisions to drive startup growth.
• Developed engagement strategy with 75+ venture funds, accelerators, and ecosystem operators in Canada and U.S.
• Evaluated 1,000+ startups annually, leading due diligence in fintech, AI, SaaS, and infrastructure investments.
• Collaborated with portfolio founders post-investment, supporting partnerships, financial planning, and investor introductions to maximize portfolio success.
• Hosted 100+ ecosystem events in Toronto, engaging 2,500+ founders, operators, and investors to strengthen community ties and brand presence.
• Operated as a 0→1 builder, launching multi-stakeholder initiatives from strategy through execution.

Led 13 investments, deploying most of a multi-million fund into 21+ startups in 18 months.

• Built and scaled Ripple's co-investor platform, generating over $50M in follow-on capital for startups.
• Collaborated with founders on hiring, go-to-market strategy, financial planning, and capital raising to drive startup growth.
• Designed portfolio partnership strategy with multiple platform partners and perks providers.
• Co-led RippleX Fellowship Program for four years, aiding in acquisitions and enterprise pilots.
• Created curriculum and mentorship structures, enhancing investor engagement and program success.
• Directed programming for underrepresented founders and funders to enhance diversity.
• Partnered with investment, legal, and platform teams to execute structured engagement programs.

First hire spearheading operations and growth initiatives during company scaling phase.

• Led national retail expansion strategy for Ruby's launch in Whole Foods locations nationwide.
• Built and executed early-stage growth marketing strategies, driving thousands of organic engagements.
• Managed brand ambassador and influencer programs, generating hundreds of thousands of social media impressions.
• Owned cross-functional initiatives across operations, marketing, customer experience, and brand partnerships.
• Developed and tested go-to-market strategies across retail, direct-to-consumer, and community-driven channels.