The Next 36 has officially rebranded to NEXT Canada in a move that the organization says reflects its expanding scope, with Razor Suleman at the helm as CEO.
Peter Carrescia, who acted as the managing director of The Next 36, will now act as president. NEXT was co-founded by Claudia Hepburn, Reza Satchu, Tim Hodgson, and Ajay Agrawal back in 2010. Its graduates include Bridgit, which raised $2.2 million in April, Kira Talent, which recently raised its $5 million Series A, Nymi, Revlo, and Thalmic Labs.
“I have known Razor for many years and I am very gratified that he has joined our organization,” said Satchu. “With the support of many, we have grown from an idea to the premier destination for the nation’s most talented entrepreneurs. With Razor and Peter at the helm and a strong Board behind them, we are positioned to build on this momentum and establish NEXT Canada as a driving force for our national prosperity.”
Suleman is the founder of Achievers, which he sold for $140 million in 2015.
“There is no shortage of entrepreneurial talent in Canada, but we need to develop a belief that we can build global, game-changing companies,” said Suleman. “In order to realize our own potential, we need to focus on having the best innovation community we can, making sure our brightest people have access to capital, and supporting the companies that we build. That is precisely what NEXT Canada’s programs will aim to accomplish.”
In June, The Next 36 appointed Anthony Lacavera, Chairman of Globalive and John Kelleher, Partner at McKinsey & Company as co-chairs of the company’s board of directors.
