Dr. Brent Mainprize
MBA, PhD
As an educator, Brent is a Teaching Professor at the University of Victoria Peter B. Gustavson School of Business (www.uvic.ca/gustavsonwhere he teaches Entrepreneurship and Strategy. Over the years he has taught over 100 Entrepreneurship courses to 4,000 students in Canada, Italy, Australia, Scotland, Taiwan, Denmark, and United States.
During his career, Brent has been invited to over 60 Indigenous communities in British Columbia to research and design unique programs that promote leadership and self‑reliance through economic development and entrepreneurship. Brent has had the privilege to help design two unique programs. (1) Indigenous Advancement of Cultural Entrepreneurship program (www.iamace.ca) and (2) Canadian Aboriginal Management Program (www.nwcamp.ca). Both of these programs are a partnership between Tribal Resource Investment Corporation (www.tricorp.ca) and UVic’s Gustavson School of Business.
In 2016, Northwest Aboriginal Canadian Entrepreneurs (NW-ACE™), one of the programs that Brent developed in partnership with Tribal Resources Investment Corporation (TRICORP) and the University of Victoria Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, won national, North American and international educational awards.
Brent has written over 70 entrepreneurial business plans and Strategic Plans, and evaluated over 700 plans. Brent has leveraged his expertise in Entrepreneurial Business Planning to develop the Venture Intelligence Quotient (VIQ) teaching system (www.ventureintelligenceinstitute.com), the VIQCoresmart™ software and their accompanying educational materials. VIQ is a software-driven, web-based tool that aids in the development and formulation of business plans and teaching new venture viability, durability, and credibility.
As an entrepreneur, Brent raised venture capital and commercialized technology and intellectual property in the areas of telecommunications and software. Brent was a judge for CBC’s Dragon’s Den regional screening of entrepreneurs. Brent was recognized as a “Top 40 Under 40” visionary on Vancouver Island.
Brent has held entrepreneurial management positions in the telecommunications high tech sector and continues to balance academic and new venture pursuits. Brent has secured venture capital as an entrepreneur and as a consultant helping high growth companies. As a management consultant, Brent has helped high growth companies secure large private equity placements, prepared for acquisition, and developed a variety of financial models and marketing solutions.
Brent holds an MBA from the University of Victoria with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and new venture start up. He also holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia where he received the Outstanding Dissertation Award for his focus on Entrepreneurial Business Planning and Private Equity Investment Evaluation.
2020 3M National Teaching Fellowship, Canada’s most prestigious award for excellence in leadership and teaching
2016 Harry Hickman Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and Educational Leadership, University of Victoria
2019 Provost's Engaged Scholar Award that honours tenured faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship in their field, as well as inspired teaching and community engagement
2014 Award of Excellence in Innovation, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria
2014 Award of Excellence in Teaching, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria
2014 One of five educators in Canada to receive the Brightspace International Innovation Award in Teaching. Given by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) and Desire2Learn Inc., the award recognized Brent’s curriculum innovations, such as the 7S’s (Seven Steps) of Entrepreneurship and development of enduring partnerships and shared ownership of teaching and learning, which is showcased in his extensive work with local Aboriginal communities