SERVICES
Investing for Growth
Technology Startup Investing
We provide Angel and Seed round investment into technology companies. Focusing on digital disruption in niche segments with a strong TAM and reoccurring revenue model.
Coaching and Strategic Planning
We provide coaching to founders and entrepreneurs to help navigate the startup world. From strategic planning to business model design, customer market fit and fund raising, we help grow successful business.
Crypto DeFi Lending
The world is changing and we are leading the charge to new forms of lending, investment and business models. We are working with startups and seasoned investors to realize the new economy.
We’re Good with Numbers
25
Years of Experience
46
Companies
21
Projects a year
ABOUT
Brodie Desimone
Operator. Capital Strategist. Board Advisor.
Brodie works at the intersection of technology, finance, and execution — helping
companies navigate growth, capital allocation, and structural complexity.
Current Roles
Partner — Brightwork Ventures
COO — Tequila Swim Inc
Partner — Kelowna e-Foil Adventures
Chairman — Trellis
Board Member — Perfectly Snug
Investor in Residence — Accelerate Okanagan
Founding Director & Fund Manager — 2019 OKGN Angel Summit
Background
Brodie began his career founding and exiting three startups before joining
Microsoft, where he spent over a decade leading digital strategy across forestry, mining, retail, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors.
He later served as Chief Technology Strategist in San Francisco, guiding high-growth companies through cloud adoption and infrastructure modernization.
In 2015, he returned to Canada to co-found Brightwork Ventures — focusing on disciplined capital allocation, governance, and scalable operating systems.
What He Does Today
Through Brightwork Ventures and related companies, Brodie:
-
​Deploys private capital across real estate lending and early-stage technology
-
Advises founders during scale and capital events
-
Structures mortgage portfolios and funding strategies
-
Serves in governance and board leadership roles
-
Bridges technology decisions with business outcomes​
-
Teaches e-foiling
His strength lies in pattern recognition across roles — founder, operator, investor, and board member — allowing him to identify risk, misalignment, and opportunity early.
Areas of Experience
-
Technology and SaaS
-
Construction and Real Estate Lending
-
Forestry, Retail, Healthcare, Mining, Telecommunications
-
Core Focus:
-
Capital Strategy
-
Structured Finance
-
Operational Scale
-
Technology Infrastructure
-
-
M&A and Exit Advisory
Beyond Business
Outside of work, Brodie pursues immersive experiences that demand preparation and precision — sailing, scuba diving, e-foiling and long-distance travel. Disciplines that mirror his approach to building companies.
​
Advisory & Board Engagements
Brodie works with founders, CEOs, and investors navigating growth, capital decisions, and strategic inflection points. For consulting or board inquiries, connect directly.
Rick Ross
Founding & Managing Partner
Rick Ross is a technology-driven entrepreneur and capital partner with over three
decades of experience spanning business ownership, enterprise infrastructure,
and private lending.
He combines hands-on operating experience with deep technical systems
knowledge a perspective that informs Brightwork’s approach to business.
Early Career
Rick entered the music industry at 18, launching and operating a music
store and recording studio. After seven years of building and exiting
the business, he transitioned into enterprise technology.
Enterprise Technology Experience
Rick spent over a decade working across Microsoft and Cisco technology
stacks, specializing in:
-
VoIP architecture
-
Network security
-
LAN/WAN infrastructure
-
Enterprise systems management
He worked with Fortune 500 organizations throughout the Seattle region,
supporting mission-critical infrastructure and consulting engagements across
multiple firms.
This period developed his systems-level thinking and risk awareness — capabilities that translate directly into capital evaluation and operational oversight.
Entrepreneurship & Brightwork
Rick later founded Anrias (later becoming Brightwork Ventures), focusing on technology consulting and infrastructure services.
In 2015, Brodie joined the company, allowing Rick to step back from day-to-day leadership while remaining involved in strategic direction.
In 2025, Rick rejoined as Managing Partner to lead and expand the firm’s private lending portfolio. His focus includes:
-
Lending oversight and risk assessment
-
Deal structure evaluation
-
Capital deployment discipline
-
Portfolio performance monitoring
His technical background informs a detail-oriented approach.
Current Focus
Rick maintains a strong interest in:
-
Blockchain and distributed ledger systems
-
Digital asset ecosystems
-
Network decentralization
-
Virtual and immersive environments
His perspective blends deep, hands-on technical experience with an ability to identify structural shifts early. Rick has a strong instinct for pattern recognition across rapidly changing environments, allowing Brightwork to anticipate risk, adapt to evolving markets, and remain positioned at the leading edge of technological and capital trends.
Beyond Business
Outside of work, Rick is an avid reader, writer, gamer, scuba diver, e-foil instructor and world traveler often exploring new destinations by motorcycle.
​
Companies
CONTACT
Let’s Work Together
