Our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors ensures that Volta remains at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada.
The Volta Board of Directors is a group of experienced leaders who bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge to our organization. With a deep commitment to our mission and a proven track record of success, our Board members are instrumental in guiding Volta's strategic direction and supporting our continued growth and success.
Tapajyoti (Tukan) Das is the CEO and Co-Founder of a stealth AI startup based in Halifax. With over a decade in software development, Tukan previously co-founded and led LeadSift, a VC-funded startup that was successfully acquired. He has contributed to organizations like Heart & Stroke and pursued advanced studies in text mining and natural language processing at Dalhousie University. Tukan brings a unique technical perspective to the AI community, emphasizing the value of innovation and practical application through cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions.
Sihan Shi is the Principal and Founder of Sihan Shi Consulting Corp., a Toronto-based firm that helps startups and scaling technology organizations. With over a decade in product development and marketing, Sihan has contributed to organizations like TWG (acquired by Deloitte Canada) and OneMethod. She also served as Senior Director of Client Services, managing a portfolio exceeding $10MM. Sihan brings a unique strategic perspective to the tech sector, emphasizing the value of product thinking and operational design across Fintech, social enterprise, and Web3 industries.
Samuel Lamothe Girard is a seasoned leader in investment capital at the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec (MEIE). As Coordinator and Strategic Advisor within the Direction du développement du capital d’investissement, Samuel oversees the implementation and prioritization of investment capital initiatives across Quebec, ensuring effective collaboration among key stakeholders, including fund managers and institutional partners. Previously, as an expert advisor and analyst, he played a pivotal role in evaluating and recommending indirect investments in venture and early-stage funds, negotiating investment terms, and developing innovative funding solutions aligned with government priorities. Samuel’s leadership has been instrumental in the creation and management of major programs, such as Impulsion PME and the Eurêka Investment Fund, as well as supporting organizations like Anges Québec and Front Row Ventures. His deep expertise in financial analysis, program development, and ecosystem collaboration strengthens Volta’s Board of Directors.
Laura Simpson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Side Door, a Volta resident startup that delivers unique and intimate live performances. With over a decade in the arts, Laura has contributed to organizations like Music Nova Scotia and the Halifax Jazz Festival. She also underwent a mentorship with Warner Bros Records' former president. Laura brings a unique in-house perspective to the board, emphasizing the value of community and mental well-being through live art experiences.
.png)
Matt is Volta's Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for leading initiatives to directly support Founders and the growth of their companies. Matt has been developing and marketing products for over 20 years, and most recently served as the Director of Product at QRA. He was the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Swept, an innovative software for commercial cleaning companies. He holds certifications from Pragmatic Product Management, Google Adwords, Google Analytics and Hubspot Inbound Marketing. An alumni of both Propel and 500 Startups, Matt will be leveraging his unique experience in Product, Marketing and Growth Operations to help Startup teams uncover insights and drive growth by building solutions for their customer's most important problems.
A native of New Brunswick, Rhiannon has over 22 years of experience as a leader in international business spanning Europe, Asia, South and North America. Rhiannon believes in the need to support entrepreneurship and innovation to deliver meaningful change in business, community and social development. She actively supports this belief by serving as a mentor and angel investor. Rhiannon recently returned to Canada to live in Halifax and is working with a group of women to build a venture fund in the region to promote diversity in the early-stage ecosystem.
Jevon MacDonald is Co-Founder and CEO of Manifold. He is also an experienced entrepreneur and angel investor who has founded six companies. In 2013, Jevon co-founded Volta Labs; in 2011, he co-founded co-browsing startup GoInstant, which sold to Salesforce.com in 2012; and in 2007, he co-founded Startupnorth.ca. Jevon is a Fellow of Creative Destruction Lab Atlantic, a Board Member of npm, Inc. and a former entrepreneur-in-residence at Innovacorp.
