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2018 30 Under 30 Winners

Our annual tribute to B.C.'s most promising young business minds never gets old. The fifth edition honours women and men from science, technology, music, food, drink, finance and more

By BCBusiness /

 

NOMINATE OR APPLY FOR THE 2019 30 UNDER 30

 

Credit: Lindsay Siu

From Left: Qayyum Rajan, Brandon Morrison, Alison Carr, Foster Coulson, Julius Makarewicz, Taran Ghatrora, Mohammad Akhlaghi, Blair Mirau, Lesley Anne Brown and Arnaud Petitvallet

In our fifth annual celebration of the province’s brightest young business talent, the bar remains high. This year’s winners—who range from research scientists and beverage makers to a guitar builder and a fintech upstart—take B.C. in new directions

The 30 Under 30 may celebrate young entrepreneurs, but it keeps getting better with age. This year, our winners—including one double act with the same company—represent B.C. from Vancouver to Prince Rupert to Port Alberni. Some hold graduate degrees, while others are college dropouts. Some have global ambitions; others tend to their own backyard. As in previous years, many of these unstoppable women and men have built successful enterprises with a social purpose, whether it’s helping the less fortunate, protecting the environment or taking other steps to do business more responsibly.

Then there are the stories of how they got here—often from other countries and in unexpected ways. After going the distance, the newest 30 Under 30 cohort still have so much ahead of them.

stories by NATHAN CADDELL, DEE HON, NICK ROCKEL, FELICITY STONE + JESSICA WERB

photographs by LINDSAY SIU on location at RENNIE MUSEUM

 

NOMINATE OR APPLY FOR THE 2019 30 UNDER 30

 

Mohammad Akhlaghi | Age: 29

Co-founder and CEO, Parkizio Technologies Ltd.

Brianna Blaney | Age: 29

Founder and managing partner, Envol Strategies

Felix Böck | Age: 29

Founder and CEO, ChopValue Manufacturing Ltd.

Lesley Anne Brown | Age: 29

CEO, Whisky Wisemen Society

Ilya Brotzky | Age: 29

Founder and CEO, VanHack Technologies Inc.

Alison Carr | Age: 27

Buyer and Supplier Relationship Manager, Nada

James Clift | Age: 29

Co-founder and CEO, WorkStory Inc. | CEO, VisualCV Inc

Meredith Coloma | Age: 27

Owner, Coloma Guitars | Co-founder and co-producer, Vancouver International Guitar Festival

Kerryn Cooper | Age: 29

Founder, CEO and co-owner, Heartwood & Co.

Foster Coulson | Age: 28

Co-founder and vice-president, Coulson Ice Blast

Christina Disler | Age: 28

Founder and CEO, Werklab Inc.

Dara Djafarian | Age: 28

President, Creatus Biosciences Inc.

Taran Ghatrora | Age: 26

Co-founder and CEO, Blume

Julius Makarewicz | Age: 28

CEO, Nude Vodka Soda

Connor Meakin | Age: 29

Founder and CEO, Bluebird Provisions Inc.

Naitik Mehta | Age: 22

Co-founder and CEO, NextBillion.org

Blair Mirau | Age: 28

CEO, Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society

Samarth Mod | Age: 29

Co-founder and CEO, FreshWorks Studio

Tamer Mohamed | Age: 29

Co-founder, president and CEO, Aspect Biosystems Ltd.

Brandon Morrison | Age: 29

Co-founder, United & Free Skincare Inc.

Olivia Norton | Age: 29

Co-founder and chief technology officer, Sanctuary AI

Mike Outwin | Age: 29

Co-founder, Director and CEO, Jetti Resources

Holly Peck | Age: 27

Director, Women Who Code Vancouver Network | Research scientist, Sanctuary AI

Arnaud Petitvallet | Age: 27

Co-founder and COO, Wize Monkey Inc.

Qayyum Rajan | Age: 24

Co-founder and Product Manager, iComply Investor Services Inc.

Ainsley Rose | Age: 28

Co-founder and co-CEO, Londre Bodywear Inc. | Principal, Ainsley Rose Photography

Karine Samson | Age: 29

Founder and CEO, Optimal Efficiency

Dhruv Sood + Husein Rahemtulla | Ages: 28 + 27

Co-founders and co-owners, Fresh Prep Foods Inc.

Dana Stephenson | Age: 29

Co-founder and Director of Academic Partnerships, Riipen

Patrick Tolchard | Age: 29

Co-owner, Valley Zipline Adventures Ltd.

 

NOMINATE OR APPLY FOR THE 2019 30 UNDER 30