Michael Brown
Chairman
Michael is a co-founder and the Chairman of Chrysalix. He is an experienced investor in sustainable energy technologies and is currently the lead partner on General Fusion.
In 1968, Michael co-founded Ventures West Capital and remained President until 1999. Ventures West was one of Canada’s largest private sources of capital for early-stage technology companies. Michael has extensive knowledge of VC financing, recruitment, building valuable companies and IPO assistance. He is a world expert in the fuel cell industry and has been directly involved in several companies in the energy technology space. Notably, he was the first venture investor in Ballard Power Systems in 1987 and remained on its Board until 1998. He was the lead investor in 1978 and Chair of MDI Mobile Data International, the architect of successful turn-around financing for and a Director of MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates (MDA) in 1983. He has been a Director of Questair Technologies, Cellex Power Products, Greenlight Power Technologies, NxtPhase Corporation and several other private and public companies.
Michael’s ROI track record has consistently been >30% for the past three decades. Mr. Brown was a founder and a Director of Fuel Cells Canada, and is a Director of Sustainable Development Technology Canada. In 2005 he received the “Pioneer Award” from the Cleantech Venture Network.
Michael graduated with a BA (Honors in Economics) from the University of British Columbia, and a BA (PPE) from Oxford University. He was a Rhodes Scholar.
