There are rare moments when you meet people who are great strategic thinkers, who can influence, effectively lead, at the same time, get it done. Those qualities personify Andrew Opala, former Chairman and member of the Board of Directors for Altitude Accelerator.
We are excited to present the Altitude Accelerator Award for Board Excellence to Andrew Opala. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership beyond the traditional role of governance and emphasizes the strength of board leadership, effectively advancing the organization through critical milestones and championing initiatives to support the innovation ecosystem.
Andrew Opala has been a member of the Altitude Accelerator Board since 2018. Opala recalls meeting Pam Banks at an event. At the time, he ran an angel group, Mississauga Investment Network, as he recalls about Altitude, “The organization had been around for some time, and they had supported more mature companies that were trying to accelerate growth. They were looking for new board members and learning more about their vision—to support the creation of new business and give independent people a chance to establish their own footprint and grow their ideas into something sustainable— was something I knew I could help with.”
Over time, Opala has seen the space evolve and recognizes that with the rise of the number of accelerators in the region, there is an opportunity to bring in those who have the experience and expertise to ask the tough questions and to give founders the tools to be truly great companies. The mentality he describes is this: “We’re going to teach you to be better founders. The goal would be to take weak companies and help turn them into strong ones, their core discipline. They would be helping the broader ecosystem by guiding founders more closely.”
Opala’s observation is that the hard advice, the tough love, is indicative of the Silicon Valley ecosystem. The Canadian ecosystem is slowly leveraging this approach to enable founder success.
The development of an angel group, managed by Altitude Accelerator, was a new milestone for the organization. In Ontario, no other accelerator owns nor manages an investment arm. Opala recalls when Pam Banks’s vision for Altitude Angels (formerly Brampton Angels): “Pam was always interested in having an angel group. At the time, we had an agreement with Preference Capital and the Mississauga Investment Group to review the deal flow that emerged from an Altitude program, with the potential to invest. Eventually, we formalized a plan to create a dedicated angel group. Brampton, at the time, indicated its support. Pam was the driving force, and I advised on how to run the investor group. Eventually, Pam was able to secure funding from the city and from NACO to help bring it to life.”
Today, Opala is pleased with the outcome the angel group has generated, noting, “The key advantage Altitude Angels has going forward is its independence. It is not tied to a university, not driven by any particular school of thought and not affiliated with a specific industry. Instead, it reflects the broader character of Peel itself. That independence makes the accelerator a stronger platform for a wide range of companies.”
Opala was also part of Altitude Accelerator’s industry working group, which assembled a smaller a more effective team from the board level through regular meetings and clear engagement. He reflects on its effectiveness, adding, “We brought together the right mix of people where everyone had distinct strengths and knew how to contribute. I focused more on deal discussions and creating business-focused tools for companies. Angelo (Rizzo) was strong in business development, and others contributed by opening doors through their own networks. We truly worked as a team, each bringing something valuable to the table.”
During his time, Opala emphasizes the strong sense of commitment, “No one pushed back or said they couldn’t help. We built a board with relevant skills aligned to the focused sectors and we consistently showed up and participated.”
Opala’s Advice to Founders:
As a seasoned investor, entrepreneur and advisor, Opala’s keenly aware of the uncertain times ahead given the geopolitical manoeuvrings, inflation and Canada’s resetting priorities. His advice to founders?
“Let me share the advice my dad gave me. It starts with something simple: Feed yourself first. Make sure you can earn enough to cover your basic needs. If you can do that well and also support your spouse and kids, that matters. If you can go further and support employees too, even better. But it all comes down to one thing: creating real value for other people.
There’s a Japanese concept, ikigai, often shown as a Venn diagram with four overlapping circles. One circle is doing something you’re good at. Another is doing something you enjoy. A third is doing something that’s moral and useful to society. The fourth is doing something that makes money. When all four overlap, you’ve found something close to an ideal. That kind of job is rare.
Many founders misunderstand this. Starting a business is not about personal fulfilment. The core reason to be an entrepreneur is to solve someone else’s problem in exchange for money. If there isn’t money, don’t pursue it as a business. Don’t waste your time or other people’s time.”
“Andrew stepped into leadership at a time when many organizations were pulling back, yet he leaned in—guiding Altitude Accelerator through critical milestones including our move to the Brampton Innovation District, our rebrand, and the launch of our angel investment community. Beyond being a strategic thinker, Andrew is a true operator who understands how companies are built and scaled. He has generously mentored founders, helped forge key ecosystem partnerships, and played an instrumental role in strengthening our Board with leaders who continue to drive our growth. His steady, thoughtful leadership and deep commitment to founders and the innovation community make him truly deserving of this recognition.”
~Pam Banks,
Executive Director, Altitude Accelerator
If you’re interested in joining our community of engaged board members, volunteer advisors, and investors, contact us today.
To learn more about how Altitude Accelerator can support your entrepreneurial journey, visit our program pages.
