Brightspark Welcomes Claire to the Team: Strengthening Our Leadership for the Long Run

Posted by Brightspark on Feb 04, 2025

We are excited to announce that Claire Fauquier has joined Brightspark as Venture Partner, bringing with her a decade of experience as a venture investor, angel investor, and operator across the US and Canadian tech ecosystems. Claire’s experience with founders, startup mindset and passion for supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs align perfectly with the values that define our firm.

The Journey to Brightspark

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Claire’s journey is a combination of diverse experiences and a commitment to supporting founders. As a Dalhousie University Commerce graduate and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Claire’s academic background laid the foundation for her career path.

Before joining Brightspark she held the role of Senior Vice President of Business Operations and Strategy at Running Tide, an ocean-based carbon removal startup. There, she played a key role in scaling the company and building and leading the Business Operations team, driving everything from strategic planning to fundraising and investor relations.

She also spent almost a decade in New York City in Venture Capital, first with Alpaca Ventures and then with Highland Capital Partners, giving her a unique perspective on both the investor and operator sides of the business.

After 13 years, Claire is happy to be back home in Canada and re-engage with the Canadian tech ecosystem. As Brightspark’s newest addition, she is eager to dive head-first and contribute to its continued growth, while also bringing valuable insights from her experience in the US. She’s especially motivated by the opportunity to help shape Brightspark’s future. “I’m excited to think about the evolution of Brightspark and how I can play a role in writing the next chapter, building on the firm’s 25+ years of success.” - Claire Fauquie

Shaping the Next Generation of Leaders

At Brightspark, we believe that the core of our team culture is what sets us apart. It’s not just about the investments we make, but about the relationships we build, the way we collaborate, and the shared passion and vision we have for tech startups. “Having Claire as part of the team is a testament to the culture we worked hard to build - one that values long-term commitment to both our portfolio companies and team”. - Mark Skapinker

We are especially excited to welcome Claire to our Toronto office, further reinforcing our presence in Ontario. Her addition is proof of our commitment to support founders across Canada. We look forward to what comes next and are confident that she will fit right in. 

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