t.samek@sygertech.com
Tom Samek specializes in repositioning technology companies to improve performance, raise subsequent rounds of financing, and attract strategic partners. He also conducts due diligence mandates for venture capital firms analyzing potential investments. Tom has personally helped over 50 companies in highly technical and industrial markets attain their business objectives by identifying opportunities to sustain competitive advantage, devising innovative marketing strategies, and developing business plans that have closed financing. Tom began his consulting career at Coopers & Lybrand where he helped start the company's strategy consulting practice to technology firms. He holds an MBA degree and a B. Sc. in mathematics and computer science from McGill. He is an IBM Certified e-Business Consultant and has substantial technical knowledge and experience in Information Technology. Representative projects include:

• Developed strategy through a series of sessions with the management team of a CDX traded firm with embedded publishing technology for high-end printers. Repositioned the firm as a provider of essential publishing, delivery and archiving infrastructure for the insurance industry resulting in international expansion and a strategic buy-out by a major US player.
• Through comprehensive intelligence gathering involving interviews with key industry leaders, prepared an in-depth analysis of the e-Support industry in order to reposition a root-cause analysis tool vendor as a solutions provider to e-Support Communities. The work lead to improved sales, and directly influenced the venture investors to provide additional funding and attract additional management resources.
• For a teleservices firm that had reached a plateau, worked with the founders to eliminate a series of strategic initiatives that were diluting effort and conducted a series of meetings with management to find a path to renewed growth. Based on industry intelligence, prepared an in-depth analysis of value drivers in the industry, and convinced the owners to sell the firm at the height of the market.

b.lachapelle@sygertech.com
Benoit Lachapelle specializes in the financial management of small and medium sized technology companies. His vast financial and operational experience includes devising creative business and financing strategies; developing detailed financial projections and revenue models; troubleshooting with bankers, lawyers, accountants and shareholders; and appraising technology companies for investment, sale and acquisition. Benoit is a CMA with a Bachelor's degree in business administration with accounting specialization from HEC Business School, and a Diploma in Technology Management (in progress) from Polytechnique of Montreal. His 25 years of experience comes from financial responsibility in numerous small and medium-sized technology companies including the VP Finance and Human Resources of a 100-person firm. He is a member of the Business Institute of Appraisers and the Licensing Executive Society, the President and founder of the CDEC Anjou/Montréal, a founding member of the local Center of Development for Anjou/Montréal, and chairman of a local investment organization. Representative projects include:

• Overseeing all financial and treasury functions for a fast growing early stage holography venture
• Developing financial strategy and tactics for a computer telephony company that resulting in $5 million of government and bank financing with no equity dilution and a government financed project that provided $10 million in funding
• Involvement in financial restructuring and mergers of miscellaneous companies

p.desmarais@sygertech.com
Patrick Des Marais builds technology ventures by working with entrepreneurs, executives and investors to achieve business objectives. He has proven experience in helping senior management formulate and implement winning strategies, diagnosing complex business issues including partnerships and team dynamics, and evaluating opportunities for investments and acquisitions. Patrick has a bachelor's degree in engineering and post-graduate studies in technology management from Polytechnique of Montreal, and is a member of the Quebec Venture Capital Association Reseau Capital. Prior to founding Sygertech, his work experience included management positions in technology and manufacturing companies as President and as Operation Manager in start-up, turn-around and growth situations. Representative projects include:

• Board member and advisor to the president of a highly successful mid-sized industrial technology company
• Advisor to the president of a software vendor for attaining a second round of financing and subsequently reposition the firm for acquisition by a public company
• Advisor to the president of an early stage holography technology company on operational and strategic issues
• Packaging an e-Commerce company to be acquired by a major financial institution

n.gordon@sygertech.com
Neil Gordon specializes in growing nanotechnology ventures and in helping investors evaluate nanotechnology opportunities. He has hands-on experience in launching new technologies, developing business plans and marketing plans, defining market opportunities and sales tactics, and describing advanced technology to non-technical people. Neil has a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from McGill University, an MBA from the University of Western Ontario, and 20 years of senior management, marketing, and operational experience with diverse technology companies and as co-founder of two technology start-ups. He is on the Advisory Board of the Nanotechnology Opportunity Report due out in February 2002, a contributor to the former About.com Nanotechnology site, and on the Nanotechnology steering committee for the City of Montreal. Representative projects include:

• Business plan, financing and technology/marketing due diligence for a developer of catalytic nanopowders and ceramic membranes
• Technology and market analysis for a nanolithography company
• Technical and economical due diligence of a developer of nanomaterials for environmental applications
• Market assessment and classification of nanotechnology industry by applications, materials, properties, production methods, media outlets and financiers
• Development of a database of over 1,000 nanotechnology research centers and companies

a.berrekia@sygertech.com
Dr. Berrekia is a physicist who specializes in the technical evaluation of projects in photonics, electronics, information technology and imaging. She has diverse experience in analyzing and defending eligibility of R&D tax credit claims and government grants, writing technical project descriptions, implementing R&D management systems, and managing research protocols during project development. Amalia has a Master's of science degree in photonics from the University of Strasbourg and a Ph.D. in solid state physics from the University of Paris VI. Her 14 years of experience was obtained in various research labs at Louis Pasteur University and with Sygertech. Sample projects include:

• Technical evaluation of diverse projects for investors such as the Medical Standard Operating System
• Preparation of successful technical project descriptions for R&D tax credits and government programs for over 70 companies including information technology, artificial intelligence, electronics, instrumentation and equipment, telecommunications, photonics and imaging
• Successful defense of claims with government auditors in 25 mandates
• Establishment of R&D management methodology for 12 companies

s.janknecht@sygertech.com
Sophie Janknecht is a chemical engineer who specializes in defining and progressing technological advancement in chemical engineering and biotech research projects. Sophie has diverse experience in working with clients to maximize the maximum eligible R&D tax credits and government assistance, preparing technical files for government programs, supervising engineers and researchers to effectively manage and document their work, and advising companies for process improvements in product development. Sophie has a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering with a specialization in biotechnology from Polytechnique of Montreal, and a Masters degree in pulp and paper technology from the University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres, and is a member of the Order of Engineers of Quebec, the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, the Pulp and Paper SR&ED committee and the regional SR&ED consultative committee. She has over 12 years of industrial experience as a research engineer, manager and consultant. Representative project experience includes:

• Preparation of successful technical project descriptions for R&D tax credits and government programs for over 45 companies in pulp and paper, textile, food-processing, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, process chemistry, software, manufacturing and metallurgy
• Successful defense of claims with government auditors in 12 mandates
• Establishment of R&D management methodology for 8 companies

d.letourneau@sygertech.com
Daniel Letourneau is an industrial chemist who specializes in evaluating projects for government assistance programs and chemical production. He has extensive experience in technical project descriptions for R&D tax credits and government grants, technology transfer, and product management from R&D labs to production plants to industrial sales. Daniel has a bachelor's degree in industrial chemistry and a diploma in science administration from McGill University, and is a member of the Order of Chemists of Quebec. His 20 years of work experience covers R&D, quality control, technical services, new technology implementation, industrial process supervision and sales in various industries such as pharmaceutics, commercial alcohol, plastics, paper, paints, urethane resins and food. Daniel won a gold medal at the 1992 Brussels Paints Olympiads and second prize for a presentation at the 1993 Chicago Paint show. Sample projects include:

• Development of technical descriptions and claims defenses for R&D tax credits and government grants for various chemical companies, engineering companies, consumer product manufacturers, and paint and ink producers
• Participation in the development and production of new chemical products including glue, paints, alcohol, pigments and polyurethane resins
• Process improvements and production cost reductions in a fermentation plant, paint mill, polyurethane mill and pigment company