Eric Agyemang – Changing Lives Award 2025
Founder and Managing Partner, Maple Bridge Ventures
Business Administration – International Business, 2012
Eric Agyemang: Bridging dreams and opportunity
When Eric Agyemang first stepped onto Algonquin College’s campus, he was brimming with excitement. A mature student who had already lived in several countries, Eric saw Algonquin College as more than a school — it was a launchpad for a dream he had carried across continents. “As an adult, you don’t expect to feel that kind of thrill about going back to school,” he recalls. “But for me, it was the culmination of everything I had worked toward.”
That dream was rooted in a passion for global business. Drawn by Algonquin College’s hands-on approach to international trade and the real-world experience of professors like Norman Lomow and Norman Hotchkiss, Eric found himself learning from professionals who had truly lived what they taught. “Their stories gave me grounding,” he says. “They made the world of business feel real and attainable.”
Beyond academics, Algonquin College gave Eric a profound sense of belonging. He met lifelong friends, helped organize multicultural celebrations such as international student events and Diwali, and became a bridge for other international students finding their footing in Canada. One of his most transformative experiences came in his final year, when he joined the College’s Board of Governors. There, as a young international student, he found himself sitting alongside influential community leaders — including future Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and tech executive Michael Tremblay — while learning the language of governance and leadership. “It was a powerful experience,” he reflects. “It opened my eyes to how big decisions are made — and it shaped how I would lead in the future.”
After graduating in 2012 with an advanced diploma in international business, Eric continued to expand his horizons — completing further studies at the University of Ottawa, Sweden’s Lund University, Queen’s University, and later the University of Cambridge. But the spark of curiosity, confidence, and global perspective, he says, was first ignited at Algonquin College.
That foundation carried him to Export Development Canada (EDC) — the organization he had once called “the golden place” for anyone passionate about international trade. There, Eric supported hundreds of Canadian entrepreneurs and high-growth companies expanding into global markets. He thrived in the role, eventually becoming an account manager and trusted advisor to founders scaling internationally. “Going global isn’t for the faint of heart,” he says. “But I was inspired every day by Canadian entrepreneurs who were bold enough to try.”
During his decade at EDC, Eric also began volunteering with the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO) — a nonprofit serving more than 11,000 immigrants and refugees each year. Rising to become its Board Chair, he led through the twin challenges of a historic immigration surge and the COVID-19 pandemic. “Serving at OCISO was deeply fulfilling,” he says. “The more I contributed, the clearer my purpose became.”
Those experiences — the strategic insight from EDC and the human connection from OCISO — became the twin pillars of Eric’s next chapter: founding Maple Bridge Ventures, Canada’s first institutional-grade venture fund dedicated to investing in immigrant founders.
“Maple Bridge is where everything in my life comes together,” Eric says. “It’s about turning the immigrant story into an engine of innovation for Canada.”
Through Maple Bridge, Eric invests in early-stage ventures led by newcomers — founders whose resilience, creativity, and lived experience make them uniquely equipped to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges. The fund focuses on sectors vital to Canada’s future, including Agri-Food and Health Tech.
“Immigrants face barriers others don’t,” he explains. “Their accents, credentials, even their networks can be questioned. But their journeys demonstrate extraordinary resilience and adaptability. We listen to their stories — and we invest in their potential.”
Eric’s work is driven by purpose, guided by economic impact, and fuelled by the excitement of technological transformation. For him, this mission isn’t charity — it’s strategy. “Investing in immigrant entrepreneurs isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing to do,” he says. “If we unlock their potential, we strengthen Canada’s economy and global competitiveness.” He often reminds people, “The immigrant story is the Canadian story. Canada is a nation of immigrants, and supporting them is truly Canadian.”
Today, Eric’s work through Maple Bridge Ventures is reshaping the face of venture capital in Canada — building bridges between untapped talent and catalytic capital to power entrepreneurship and innovation nationwide.
Eric’s impact has not gone unnoticed. In addition to the Alumni of Distinction Award, he was named one of Ottawa’s Forty Under 40, a recognition of his leadership, innovation, and commitment to community. Yet, for Eric, the true reward lies in the lives he helps transform.
“I’m creating champions,” he says. “Their stories will inspire others. Their ventures will shape the future. And that’s the privilege of my work.”
As he looks ahead, Eric remains grounded in the values that brought him to Algonquin College: curiosity, community, and purpose. “Maple Bridge is my calling,” he says. “It’s where everything I’ve done comes together. And this is only the beginning.”
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