Four more leaders have been inducted into BC Innovators Hall of Fame

Four leaders have been inducted into the BC Innovators Hall of Fame in recognition of their role in helping to boost B.C.’s tech and innovation ecosystem.

Established by the BC Tech Association, a not-for-profit member-funded trade association, the initiative currently recognizes 55 individuals. The honourees recently added are the late Dr. Connie Eaves and husband, Dr. Allen Eaves, Boris Wertz, and Ray Walia.

Drs. Connie and Allen Eaves

Drs. Connie and Allen Eaves are world-renowned for being at the forefront of cancer and stem cell research. The two are among five scientists who published a study that discovered leukemia patients could have healthy stem cells — resulting in a new therapy that became the basis of using patients’ own cells to treat cancer. Both were previously named to the Order of Canada, and Connie has been inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and elected to the London Royal Society — one of the highest honours any scientist can receive.

Connie’s work led to the discovery of the stem cells that make breast tissue and better understanding of the different stem cells that produce blood cells and are semi-dormant and resistant to treatment. She also ran her own lab at the Terry Fox Laboratory, was a professor at UBC's department of medical genetics and the school of biomedical engineering, and was the editor-in-chief of Experimental Hematology, a peer-reviewed medical journal.

With Connie, Allen established BC Cancer’s initial research program and founded its Terry Fox Laboratory. Allen served as the lab’s director, was a professor and head of hematology at UBC, Vancouver Hospital, and the BC Cancer Agency, and spearheaded the BC Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant Program — providing outpatient treatment and supportive care for patients with hematologic diseases. Allen also co-founded STEMCELL Technologies, which has become Canada’s largest biotech company.

Boris Wertz

Boris Wertz is one of the top early-stage tech investors in North America and the founder of Version One Ventures, which holds investments in over 100 companies. Wertz is widely known for his “uncanny ability to find the next generation of leaders.” With Version One focused on backing “mission-driven founders who are early in new areas,” the firm has a history of predicting a few waves, such as vertical SaaS, crypto, and climate. 

Prior to becoming an investor, Wertz built the world’s largest marketplace for new, used, rare, and out-of-print books, Abebooks. After Amazon acquired the company, Bertz got into investing as an angel before starting Version One.

Ray Walia

Ray Walia is a serial entrepreneur and has invested in over 30 startups personally or through his funds. He was named one of Business in Vancouver’s top 40 under 40, selected to represent Canada at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Summit, and listed as one of the 500 most influential business leaders in B.C.

Walia’s accomplishments include co-founding Victory Square Technologies, a tech accelerator, and starting Launch Ventures, which owns and operates innovation labs, investment funds, and private incubators like Launch Academy. To date, Launch Academy has incubated more than 6,000 entrepreneurs, 300 of whom have grown their startups to seed and series A stages and collectively raised $2.5 billion in funding.