# Chuck Rifici

> Chuck Rifici is an Ottawa-based Canadian entrepreneur, investor and chartered professional accountant. He co-founded Tweed, the business that became Canopy Growth, and served as its first CEO. He later founded Nesta Holding and co-founded Auxly, developing a cannabis financing platform that paired capital with operating expertise. His public LinkedIn profile also identifies him as a co-founder of Hiya Labs.

- **Role:** Co-founder at Hiya Labs
- **Organizations:** Tweed Marijuana Inc. / Canopy Growth Corporation, Nesta Holding Co., Auxly Cannabis Group / Cannabis Wheaton, Hiya Labs, Feather Company, Wikileaf, Aurora Cannabis, Supreme Pharmaceuticals, National Access Cannabis, Select Start Studios, TekSavvy Solutions, Cybersurf, Liberal Party of Canada, Ottawa Humane Society
- **From:** Ottawa, Canada
- **Nationality:** Canadian
- **Education:** BASc, Computer Engineering, University of Ottawa, MBA, Queen’s University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Tweed and served as its first CEO during licensing and public-market entry., Co-founded Auxly and helped develop its early cannabis streaming finance platform., Founded Nesta Holding Co. in 2015.

## Career timeline

- **1995** — Started a dial-up internet service and web-hosting business.
- **2002** — Graduated from the University of Ottawa with a BASc in computer engineering.
- **2005** — Completed an MBA at Queen’s University.
- **2008-2012** — Served as treasurer and finance committee chair of the Ottawa Humane Society.
- **2011-2016** — Served as treasurer / chief financial officer of the Liberal Party of Canada.
- **2012-2013** — Began the venture that became Tweed, co-founding it with Bruce Linton and serving as first CEO. His LinkedIn tenure begins December 2012; accounts date the founding to 2013.
- **2014** — Tweed obtained its federal production licence in January and began public trading in April. Rifici left the CEO position in August and the board in September.
- **2015** — Founded Nesta Holding Co.; joined 3Dponics as an adviser and Aurora Cannabis as a director.
- **2017** — Became chairman and CEO of Cannabis Wheaton, later Auxly; explained that he left Aurora and Supreme boards to avoid potential conflicts.
- **2019** — Received the University of Ottawa Alumnus of the Year award; was Auxly chair and former CEO by the end of the year.
- **2020** — Resigned as Auxly chair and director, announced October 1.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Tweed and served as its first CEO during licensing and public-market entry.
- Co-founded Auxly and helped develop its early cannabis streaming finance platform.
- Founded Nesta Holding Co. in 2015.
- University of Ottawa Alumnus of the Year, 2019.
- Canadian Cannabis Awards Innovator of the Year, 2017, listed on his LinkedIn profile.
- University of Ottawa Faculty of Engineering Entrepreneur of the Year, 2014.
- Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40, 2014.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Research check: his public LinkedIn introduction identifies him as a co-founder of Canopy Growth, Auxly and Hiya Labs. This is the verification month, not a dated appointment announcement.
- **2020-10** — Auxly announced his resignation as chair and director on October 1; he expressed continued support as an investor and ambassador.

## Links

- Website: https://www.rifici.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crifici/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/crifici
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckrifici/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/chuck-rifici
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20