2024 Ivey Alumni Achievement Award Recipient
Ray Sharma, HBA ’96
Ray Sharma, HBA ’96
In celebration of Global Ivey Day, the Ivey Alumni Network Board hands out the Ivey Alumni Achievement Award to recognize the amazing accomplishments of our alumni community. Our 2024 award recipient, Ray Sharma, HBA ’96, will be honoured on May 9 at the GID Power Lunch at One King West in Toronto.
Ray Sharma, HBA ’96, Founder of Extreme Venture Partners, is the 2024 recipient of the Ivey Alumni Achievement Award. He is a highly respected, innovative leader with significant achievements in investment banking, as well as venture capital. Sharma and Extreme Venture Partners, Canada's top seed stage venture fund, have led, funded, or founded 100+ startups with exits to Apple, Google, Electronic Arts, McKesson, Salesforce, and many others. He also founded several national hackathon organizations, such as the Great Canadian Appathon, Canadian Open Data Experience, and Hackergal, all with the intent of giving back to the community while improving national productivity.
After graduating from Ivey, Sharma spent 10 years working on Bay Street and Wall Street in investment banking research. During this time in his career, he became the top-ranked technology analyst for five of eight eligible years, based on both Greenwich and Brendan Woods International surveys of fund managers. In 2001, he was Vice President, Mobile Internet Devices and Applications at Credit Suisse First Boston, reflecting a long-term professional focus on mobile and applications.
In 2007, Sharma founded Extreme Venture Partners, followed by Xtreme Labs, the largest app developer worldwide at the time of exit in 2016. Xtreme was responsible for billions of cumulative app installs worldwide, including apps for CIBC, Globe and Mail, Expedia, Groupon, and many others. The most famous app built was Matchbox, subsequently renamed Tinder.
Community service is an integral part of Sharma’s business philosophy. He aims to successfully blend business excellence while giving back to the community. “I believe strongly in business karma. And by leading by example. My hope is that others will follow a similar model of thought — we do not need to wait until the end of our career to give back and it is possible to balance profit with social responsibility.”
Sharma served for four years on the Ontario Judicial Council, the oversight and regulatory board of the judicial system. He then served six years as a member of the Board of Trustees with the Royal Ontario Museum. He’s been an advisor to the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario on open data strategy. Sharma authored a chapter with the CIO of the Government of Canada on the role of 5G on citizen services. He also currently serves on the Technical Advisory Committee of Duality Accelerator at the University of Chicago, the most advanced program in the U.S. focused on quantum science technology and its applications.
With plans to continue running Extreme Venture Partners, Sharma says, “My increasing focus for the coming years is on writing and sharing knowledge and information for the purposes of helping evolve the system.” He has keynoted hundreds of events and intends to publish books on innovation and entrepreneurship in the near future, with the goal of using the material for lectures.
Career Milestones
- 2020-2024 – Technical Advisory Committee, Duality at University of Chicago, world’s most advanced quantum accelerator program.
- 2022 – Led community development efforts in Africa through the creation of Pacer Venture Partners and Optimus AI Labs in Lagos, Nigeria.
- 2015 – Founded Hackergal, national charity dedicated to addressing the gender imbalance within coding.
- 2012 – Oversaw development of the prototype “Matchbox,” created in a hackathon within Xtreme Labs, subsequently renamed Tinder.
- 2009-2019 – Served on Ontario Judicial Council, as well as Royal Ontario Museum.
- 2009-2014 – Developed apps as Founder of XMG Studio that achieved milestones such as hitting #1 worldwide in the App Store; Most Innovative Android App of the Year; Augmented Reality App of the Year; #1 downloaded App in China for an entire month.
- 2008 – Founded Xtreme Labs; at time of exit in 2016, Xtreme was the largest mobile app developer worldwide.
- 2007 – Founded Extreme Venture Partners, Canada's top seed stage venture fund.
- 2001 – Became Vice President, Mobile Internet Devices and Applications at Credit Suisse First Boston.
- 1998-2008 – Ranked top tech analyst based on both Greenwich and Brendan Woods International surveys of fund managers for five of eight eligible years; lead analyst on BlackBerry, Handspring, as well as many others.
About the Ivey Alumni Achievement Award
The selected Ivey Alumni Achievement Award recipient has contributed significantly to their companies and communities throughout their career, while upholding the highest standards set forth by the Ivey Pledge. Simply put, they represent the best of our alumni community. An inspiring leader whose accomplishments and influence outpace their tenure, this individual truly brings to life Ivey’s mission. They are thought leaders and catalysts for change whose efforts are creating significant business and social impact.
- Accelerated Career Arc
- This individual has had a unique and impressive career runway to date, their work addressing critical issues facing organizations and society. With an established resume, and at an apex in their career, they continue to express ambitions for the future that are challenging and compelling.
- Clarity of Vision
- This individual leads with a clear vision for the future. They have a proven record of successfully charting new paths for their organizations. Paths that allow them to anticipate market changes, champion continuous improvement and innovate in either established and emerging industries.
- Influence & Interest
- This individual is recognized as a global thought leader and an influential voice in their industry or communities. They inspire others to have an impact on business and/or society. A proven leader and industry elite, their accomplishments peak interest and ignite meaningful dialogue on a large scale.
- Social & Environmental Impact
- This individual has a strong sense of personal purpose and has made an impressive social and/or environmental impact on their organization, industry, community or planet. They respect diversity of thought, identity, and perspective, building inclusive communities that foster innovation, creativity and sustainability.
- Health and Direction of the Business
- The business led by this individual is creating value for stakeholders and/or on a strong growth trajectory, according to publicly available information.
The selection process is administered and facilitated by the Ivey Alumni Network. The Selection Committee consists of a panel of high profile members from the business community and the School.
For more information about the Award, please contact alumni@ivey.ca.
