The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Aug. 8, edition that two former bank executives and the former chief technology and product officer of Lightspeed Commerce have joined Framework Venture Partners, as it attempts to raise its second fund during challenging economic times. The Globe's Sean Silcoff writes that two of the new arrivals have joined Framework as partners: Jim Texier, who left Lightspeed last August, and Barbara Dirks, a past executive with Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal and Silicon Valley Bank's Canadian arm. Mike Dobbins, Royal Bank's ex-group head of RBC Ventures and corporate development, has become a venture partner, meaning he will work on Framework's behalf with companies it backs. They join partners Peter Misek, who co-led Framework's spin-out from Business Development Bank of Canada in 2018, and Ajay Gopal. Andrew Lugsdin, Framework's other founding partner, has left his day-to-day role but still represents the company on some boards. The new partners have joined Framework as it raises its second fund, with a goal of securing $250-million (U.S.). The fund closed on $100-million (U.S.) from Framework's past investors in late 2021 and has until December to finish fundraising.