VenGrowth Private Equity Partners Inc. has further strengthened its Ottawa-based investment operations with two hires.

Paul Smelters joins VenGrowth as investment director and Andrew Vignuzzi as investment associate. Both bring extensive experience in the Ottawa technology community.

“With over $299 million currently invested in 28 Ottawa area companies, VenGrowth is the pre-eminent venture capital investor in this region,” says Pat DiPietro, VenGrowth managing general partner.

“Paul and Andrew will play a leading role in helping the current stable of VenGrowth investee companies realize their full business potential and value on behalf of shareholders, as well as recognizing additional venture investment opportunities for VenGrowth.”

Smelters has worked in the technology sector for over 25 years, with roles in advanced technology design, research & development and business management. He has specific experience in the areas of semiconductors, voice gateways, switching/routing products and wireless networks.

Smelters, who holds a BASc (Electrical Engineering) from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Queen’s University, was with Nortel Networks before joining VenGrowth.

Vignuzzi has held responsibility for designing and developing a range of communication products at Nortel Networks since 1998. Before Nortel, Vignuzzi was a project officer and subject matter expert at the Directorate of Maritime Aerospace Engineering for the Canadian Air Force. He holds a B.Eng (Electrical) from the Royal Military College, an M.Sc. (Electrical Engineering – Signal Processing) from Queen’s University and an MBA (Finance) from the University of Ottawa.

VenGrowth’s Ottawa area investments span a variety of sectors, including: communications, semiconductors & components, internet infrastructure, applications software and biotechnology.

With over $1 billion in assets under management, VenGrowth is Canada’s largest private equity and venture capital firm managing both retail and institutional assets.