Investment Team

In his role as Managing Director of OMERS Ventures, Derek Smyth is responsible for leading investment activities in the North American market focusing on high-growth companies in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. He is a venture capital and technology industry veteran with deep operational experience and investment expertise.

Prior to joining OMERS Ventures, Derek co-managed two VC funds in his role as Partner at Edgestone Capital Partners. He led numerous successful investments for Edgestone, and acted as a board member for many of its funds’ portfolio companies. His extensive operational experience also includes his former roles as President and CEO of solutions provider Bridgewater Systems, and as COO of California-based Ironside Technologies Inc.

Derek’s key accomplishments include guiding companies to dramatic increases in sales, revenue and employees, and through international growth programs.

Derek has led investments in Solace Systems, Shoplogix, pVelocity, CiRBA, Varicent (sold to IBM), Rypple (sold to Salesforce.com), and Rapidmind (sold to Intel).

Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts (Commerce and Economics) Degree from the University of Toronto, and completed Stanford University’s Executive Enterprise Program for Growing Companies.