Jordana Barmish is a venture consultant for startups, investment firms, and innovation groups. As a former clinician turned executive, she blends healthcare knowledge with commercial acumen to help organizations navigate customer discovery, business model development, fundraising, operations, and growth strategy. She has held leadership roles in corporate and academic spinouts, including serving as a strategic partnership executive for Comcast’s first healthcare venture and as the first CEO of Cogwear, a neurotech company. She is also engaged by investment groups for deal sourcing, due diligence, and company creation. Jordana has helped researchers and clinicians to launch and scale companies through her work for PCI Ventures, Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners, and WorldUpstart. She has advised multiple early-stage health tech companies and sat on several boards. Her multifaceted experience enables her to drive strategy, operations, and growth in early-stage health tech startups.

Jordana Barmish is a venture consultant for startups, investment firms, and innovation groups. As a former clinician turned executive, she blends healthcare knowledge with commercial acumen to help organizations navigate customer discovery, business model development, fundraising, operations, and growth strategy. She has held leadership roles in corporate and academic spinouts, including serving as a strategic partnership executive for Comcast’s first healthcare venture and as the first CEO of Cogwear, a neurotech company. She is also engaged by investment groups for deal sourcing, due diligence, and company creation. Jordana has helped researchers and clinicians to launch and scale companies through her work for PCI Ventures, Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners, and WorldUpstart. She has advised multiple early-stage health tech companies and sat on several boards. Her multifaceted experience enables her to drive strategy, operations, and growth in early-stage health tech startups.

Greg is a 15-year go-to-market (GTM) veteran in the B2B SaaS space, and has spent the past 3 years building out and supporting the GTM motion for a B2C strategy as well. Greg’s experience includes being a quota carrying individual closing $1M ARR deals, growing a Customer Success program from scratch  to $50M in ARR, and now, holding full Revenue accountability (Sales, Marketing, and CS) as a founding Executive team member. Greg has worked directly with Board of Directors, and participated in Series A and B fundraising processes as a Revenue executive.  

Greg’s had deep experience in Edu-Tech, but has consulted with businesses in a variety of SaaS sectors.  

Outside of SaaS/Tech, Greg grew up with a dad who is an entrepreneur and ran a successful retail operation for 30+ years. Much of what he applies in his business career today was what he learned working in all aspects of the family business from the age of 12…and ultimately, business comes down to working hard, and doing right by the people you impact: Customers, Suppliers, Team Members, and your community.

Greg is a 15-year go-to-market (GTM) veteran in the B2B SaaS space, and has spent the past 3 years building out and supporting the GTM motion for a B2C strategy as well. Greg’s experience includes being a quota carrying individual closing $1M ARR deals, growing a Customer Success program from scratch  to $50M in ARR, and now, holding full Revenue accountability (Sales, Marketing, and CS) as a founding Executive team member. Greg has worked directly with Board of Directors, and participated in Series A and B fundraising processes as a Revenue executive.  

Greg’s had deep experience in Edu-Tech, but has consulted with businesses in a variety of SaaS sectors.  

Outside of SaaS/Tech, Greg grew up with a dad who is an entrepreneur and ran a successful retail operation for 30+ years. Much of what he applies in his business career today was what he learned working in all aspects of the family business from the age of 12…and ultimately, business comes down to working hard, and doing right by the people you impact: Customers, Suppliers, Team Members, and your community.

Don has over 30 years of experience in the regulation of medical devices in Canada. He was employed with Health Canada from 1982-2014. His experience includes compliance monitoring and enforcement; technical / scientific evaluation of high-risk medical devices; establishment licensing; interpretation of legislation and regulations; redesignign the Canadian Medical Devices Program including the drafting and implementation of the 1998 Medical Devices Regulations; and held senior management positions of national regulatory programs, including Director, Medical Devices Bureau. He is currently established as a consultant (BOYER@ReglulatorySolns) and can provide regulatory intelligence, strategy and solutions to industry clients. He has an HBSc from the University of Toronto and holds the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC), is a Fellow of RAPS (FRAP). In 2022 he received the Founder’s Award from RAPS which recognizes exemplary regulatory professionals shaping regulatory policy and practice, contributions to education and mentoring, and volunteering in leadership positions to advance the profession.

Don has over 30 years of experience in the regulation of medical devices in Canada. He was employed with Health Canada from 1982-2014. His experience includes compliance monitoring and enforcement; technical / scientific evaluation of high-risk medical devices; establishment licensing; interpretation of legislation and regulations; redesignign the Canadian Medical Devices Program including the drafting and implementation of the 1998 Medical Devices Regulations; and held senior management positions of national regulatory programs, including Director, Medical Devices Bureau. He is currently established as a consultant (BOYER@ReglulatorySolns) and can provide regulatory intelligence, strategy and solutions to industry clients. He has an HBSc from the University of Toronto and holds the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC), is a Fellow of RAPS (FRAP). In 2022 he received the Founder’s Award from RAPS which recognizes exemplary regulatory professionals shaping regulatory policy and practice, contributions to education and mentoring, and volunteering in leadership positions to advance the profession.

Andrew is an experienced physician leader who has extensive knowledge of hospital operations and healthcare analytics. He completed his MBA focusing on healthcare entrepreneurship and innovation, working with several venture capital firms to develop healthcare investing theses and leading diligence efforts on potential investment opportunities. Andrew is very excited about developments in digital health and medical technology and is open to assisting with entrepreneurial challenges that may arise. 

Andrew is an experienced physician leader who has extensive knowledge of hospital operations and healthcare analytics. He completed his MBA focusing on healthcare entrepreneurship and innovation, working with several venture capital firms to develop healthcare investing theses and leading diligence efforts on potential investment opportunities. Andrew is very excited about developments in digital health and medical technology and is open to assisting with entrepreneurial challenges that may arise. 

Past Experience: Veterinary radiologist, contract research, preclinical and translational drug development, medical devices

How Howard can help you with your venture:
Following an academic career at the University of Guelph, I have worked in contract research for the last 20 years. Now I work as a consultant with a number of established companies as well as start-ups. Most of my work has been in preclinical and translational aspects of drug development, but also with medical devices. This has involved multiple disease categories.

In this area of research, transitioning from a university-based laboratory to a start-up company often involves animal work outside of the university. My broad experience in selecting or developing animal models and study design, as well as finding the best contract research organization, can be an asset to any growing company.

While much of my career has involved imaging, including all imaging modalities across the full range of species, I am equally at home with non-imaging based work. I am closely involved with the newly established University of Guelph Bench to Bedside Institute for Translational Health Research, where one of my roles is business development, which includes engaging with start-up companies where a clinical trial in naturally occurring disease in companion animals can be a means to derisk a human clinical trial. I am also an active angel investor, having been a member of the Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN) for several years. As a result, I fully understand the issues associated with starting up a company.

I am available for discussions and greater engagement at any stage in the development of a new company. Please do not be put off by the fact that I am wearing a tie in my picture. I was brought up in the UK where it was mandatory to wear a tie from primary school through high school and for parts of a professional university programme. Instead of rebelling against ties, as many of my friends did, I grew to like them. Now a tie is part of my brand, I am the tie guy which makes me easy to remember.

Past Experience: Veterinary radiologist, contract research, preclinical and translational drug development, medical devices

How Howard can help you with your venture:
Following an academic career at the University of Guelph, I have worked in contract research for the last 20 years. Now I work as a consultant with a number of established companies as well as start-ups. Most of my work has been in preclinical and translational aspects of drug development, but also with medical devices. This has involved multiple disease categories.

In this area of research, transitioning from a university-based laboratory to a start-up company often involves animal work outside of the university. My broad experience in selecting or developing animal models and study design, as well as finding the best contract research organization, can be an asset to any growing company.

While much of my career has involved imaging, including all imaging modalities across the full range of species, I am equally at home with non-imaging based work. I am closely involved with the newly established University of Guelph Bench to Bedside Institute for Translational Health Research, where one of my roles is business development, which includes engaging with start-up companies where a clinical trial in naturally occurring disease in companion animals can be a means to derisk a human clinical trial. I am also an active angel investor, having been a member of the Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN) for several years. As a result, I fully understand the issues associated with starting up a company.

I am available for discussions and greater engagement at any stage in the development of a new company. Please do not be put off by the fact that I am wearing a tie in my picture. I was brought up in the UK where it was mandatory to wear a tie from primary school through high school and for parts of a professional university programme. Instead of rebelling against ties, as many of my friends did, I grew to like them. Now a tie is part of my brand, I am the tie guy which makes me easy to remember.

Over the last 20+ years, Darren has worked for a global med-tech company as Head of Finance, and then assumed the Sales leadership role on his way to becoming General Manager of the Canadian Division.

It is this broad and deep experience overseeing all company functions that makes him particularly well suited to help start-ups, not only with their finances, but with building their capabilities in the other functional areas as well.  He has been involved in the spectrum of business processes from product concept, R&D, product messaging and launch, right through to market and customer support.

His key differentiator as a Fractional CFO is his experience of having been a business leader. He understands what information is critical to business leaders and his ability to function as their key financial partner helps lighten their load so they can focus squarely on building the business.

He is passionate about helping new companies establish a strong financial foundation and put together a comprehensive business plan of how they are going to be successful in the market.  Working with startups, he helps build the financial and business models that anticipate future challenges so as to chart a successful trajectory for the venture.

Darren would love a chance to engage with you and hear how he may be able to help your company grow.

Over the last 20+ years, Darren has worked for a global med-tech company as Head of Finance, and then assumed the Sales leadership role on his way to becoming General Manager of the Canadian Division.

It is this broad and deep experience overseeing all company functions that makes him particularly well suited to help start-ups, not only with their finances, but with building their capabilities in the other functional areas as well.  He has been involved in the spectrum of business processes from product concept, R&D, product messaging and launch, right through to market and customer support.

His key differentiator as a Fractional CFO is his experience of having been a business leader. He understands what information is critical to business leaders and his ability to function as their key financial partner helps lighten their load so they can focus squarely on building the business.

He is passionate about helping new companies establish a strong financial foundation and put together a comprehensive business plan of how they are going to be successful in the market.  Working with startups, he helps build the financial and business models that anticipate future challenges so as to chart a successful trajectory for the venture.

Darren would love a chance to engage with you and hear how he may be able to help your company grow.

Paul Fitzgerald is the Founder and CEO of Salt & Pepper Media Inc., a well-known public relations firm based in Burlington, Hamilton, and Toronto. The firm also has field offices in Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, New York City, Chicago, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.

He is also a columnist with Entrepreneur Magazine, and his work has frequently appeared in USA Today, CNN International Report, The Toronto Sun, and InventorSpot.com. He is also a new innovations and technology columnist with The Toronto Tribune, The Toronto Post-Gazette and The New York City Herald. Additionally, he hosts the top tech tip spotlight on Halton Outlook Today (HOT) News.

Fitzgerald’s firm works with start-ups of all sizes in Canada and the USA. CNN, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, The Globe & Mail, The Toronto Sun, CTV, Global, CBC, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times are just a handful of media outlets Salt & Pepper Media Inc. works with to help secure news coverage for its clients.

His media company offers a wide variety of services for start-ups and established ventures, which include Press Releases, Public Relations, Social Media, Website Design, Marketing, Communications, Branding, and Business Development.

Fitzgerald is also committed to giving back and is a staunch supported of community outreach with The Burlington Teen Tour Band Alumni, Arts For A Better Tomorrow (ABT) in Los Angeles, and It’s Okay Not To Be Okay in Canada.

He is nearing completion of his PhD in Communication Sciences and holds a Master of Arts (MA) Degree (Interdisciplinary Studies) in Journalism and Communications and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from SMU. He is also a graduate of the Broadcast Journalism Program at Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology in Hamilton.

Paul Fitzgerald is the Founder and CEO of Salt & Pepper Media Inc., a well-known public relations firm based in Burlington, Hamilton, and Toronto. The firm also has field offices in Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, New York City, Chicago, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.

He is also a columnist with Entrepreneur Magazine, and his work has frequently appeared in USA Today, CNN International Report, The Toronto Sun, and InventorSpot.com. He is also a new innovations and technology columnist with The Toronto Tribune, The Toronto Post-Gazette and The New York City Herald. Additionally, he hosts the top tech tip spotlight on Halton Outlook Today (HOT) News.

Fitzgerald’s firm works with start-ups of all sizes in Canada and the USA. CNN, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, The Globe & Mail, The Toronto Sun, CTV, Global, CBC, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times are just a handful of media outlets Salt & Pepper Media Inc. works with to help secure news coverage for its clients.

His media company offers a wide variety of services for start-ups and established ventures, which include Press Releases, Public Relations, Social Media, Website Design, Marketing, Communications, Branding, and Business Development.

Fitzgerald is also committed to giving back and is a staunch supported of community outreach with The Burlington Teen Tour Band Alumni, Arts For A Better Tomorrow (ABT) in Los Angeles, and It’s Okay Not To Be Okay in Canada.

He is nearing completion of his PhD in Communication Sciences and holds a Master of Arts (MA) Degree (Interdisciplinary Studies) in Journalism and Communications and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from SMU. He is also a graduate of the Broadcast Journalism Program at Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology in Hamilton.

Graeme Fraser is a pharmacologist with more than 20 years of operational experience to lead projects from basic research through to completion of clinical proof-of-concept. He has a particular interest to work with early-stage companies seeking to translate basic research discoveries into novel therapeutics. He can bring particular expertise in the space of small-molecule lead optimization, preclinical and early-clinical aspects of drug development, raising venture capital and scientific management of start-up biotech companies.

Currently, he is serving as Chief Scientific Officer of EPICS SA (Belgium), a biotech company focused on small-molecule drug discovery in the field of epigenetics for the treatment of cancer. Previously, Graeme was Chief Scientific Officer of OGEDA SA (Belgium) where he is an inventor of fezolinetant (Veozah™), a product since acquired by ASTELLAS and approved for market in 2023 in Women’s Health. In total, Graeme has led Drug Discovery activities at biotech and pharmaceutical companies in Canada and Europe in the fields of cancer, gastrointestinal disease, endocrinology and pain with 5 products advanced into clinical development. In the biotech space, he has been successful as part of the management team to successfully raise venture capital and ultimately reward investors with two successful exits.

Graeme Fraser is a pharmacologist with more than 20 years of operational experience to lead projects from basic research through to completion of clinical proof-of-concept. He has a particular interest to work with early-stage companies seeking to translate basic research discoveries into novel therapeutics. He can bring particular expertise in the space of small-molecule lead optimization, preclinical and early-clinical aspects of drug development, raising venture capital and scientific management of start-up biotech companies.

Currently, he is serving as Chief Scientific Officer of EPICS SA (Belgium), a biotech company focused on small-molecule drug discovery in the field of epigenetics for the treatment of cancer. Previously, Graeme was Chief Scientific Officer of OGEDA SA (Belgium) where he is an inventor of fezolinetant (Veozah™), a product since acquired by ASTELLAS and approved for market in 2023 in Women’s Health. In total, Graeme has led Drug Discovery activities at biotech and pharmaceutical companies in Canada and Europe in the fields of cancer, gastrointestinal disease, endocrinology and pain with 5 products advanced into clinical development. In the biotech space, he has been successful as part of the management team to successfully raise venture capital and ultimately reward investors with two successful exits.

Benjamin Garden, VP of Analytics at Iris Pricing Solutions in Toronto, brings over 15 years of experience in leveraging analytics and AI to drive business growth and profitability. With a rich background in team leadership across global markets and expertise in areas like pricing strategy, marketing analytics, SaaS solutions, and strategic planning, Benjamin combines technical proficiency with a passion for fostering innovation and organizational excellence. He is a member on the Board of Directors for THRIVEfunds, an anti-poverty Non-Profit organization. His commitment to professional development makes him a valuable mentor, ready to share his insights and experience in navigating complex business environments. 

Benjamin Garden, VP of Analytics at Iris Pricing Solutions in Toronto, brings over 15 years of experience in leveraging analytics and AI to drive business growth and profitability. With a rich background in team leadership across global markets and expertise in areas like pricing strategy, marketing analytics, SaaS solutions, and strategic planning, Benjamin combines technical proficiency with a passion for fostering innovation and organizational excellence. He is a member on the Board of Directors for THRIVEfunds, an anti-poverty Non-Profit organization. His commitment to professional development makes him a valuable mentor, ready to share his insights and experience in navigating complex business environments. 

Bassma is a dynamic healthcare innovation executive, holding a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and distinguished as a serial entrepreneur driven by a fervent commitment to advancing innovative healthcare solutions. Dr. Ghali possesses a well-established expertise in research and development, leading diverse teams through the entire spectrum of product development in the medical technology and digital health arena, from proof of concept to successful product launch. 

Her proficiency spans numerous clinical applications of biomedical engineering, encompassing areas such as medical device technologies, health monitoring, virtual care systems, machine learning (AI), and comprehensive data collection and analysis. Fueled by her entrepreneurial spirit, she has spearheaded the establishment and leadership of multiple health technology startups, focusing on the creation and launch of pioneering wearable medical devices and remote patient monitoring platforms, all in alignment with her vision of enhancing health outcomes. Throughout these ventures, Dr. Ghali has worn various hats, assuming roles in product management and development, team building and leadership, fundraising initiatives, as well as the establishment of processes and strategic partnerships. 

Dr. Ghali’s academic background includes a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto, a M.A.Sc. from McMaster University, and a B.Eng. from Ryerson University

Bassma is a dynamic healthcare innovation executive, holding a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and distinguished as a serial entrepreneur driven by a fervent commitment to advancing innovative healthcare solutions. Dr. Ghali possesses a well-established expertise in research and development, leading diverse teams through the entire spectrum of product development in the medical technology and digital health arena, from proof of concept to successful product launch. 

Her proficiency spans numerous clinical applications of biomedical engineering, encompassing areas such as medical device technologies, health monitoring, virtual care systems, machine learning (AI), and comprehensive data collection and analysis. Fueled by her entrepreneurial spirit, she has spearheaded the establishment and leadership of multiple health technology startups, focusing on the creation and launch of pioneering wearable medical devices and remote patient monitoring platforms, all in alignment with her vision of enhancing health outcomes. Throughout these ventures, Dr. Ghali has worn various hats, assuming roles in product management and development, team building and leadership, fundraising initiatives, as well as the establishment of processes and strategic partnerships. 

Dr. Ghali’s academic background includes a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto, a M.A.Sc. from McMaster University, and a B.Eng. from Ryerson University

William has been teaching corporate finance, investments, management economics, and financial history for 15 years, first at the Rotman and now at DeGroote.  He has some experience working with SMEs on financial modelling, working capital, valuation, and organizational design. 

William has been teaching corporate finance, investments, management economics, and financial history for 15 years, first at the Rotman and now at DeGroote.  He has some experience working with SMEs on financial modelling, working capital, valuation, and organizational design. 

Bruce is an innovative Product Marketing Executive with proven success leading Go-To-Market software product launches in a fast paced, high tech and healthcare growth sectors. He is a recognized thought leader, experienced in pioneering new ideas and business models to drive new product launches. With 20+ years of senior marketing management and business development expertise he is able to assist companies in the mobile, medical, SaaS and enterprise software sectors with successful commercialization of their products and services.

Bruce is an innovative Product Marketing Executive with proven success leading Go-To-Market software product launches in a fast paced, high tech and healthcare growth sectors. He is a recognized thought leader, experienced in pioneering new ideas and business models to drive new product launches. With 20+ years of senior marketing management and business development expertise he is able to assist companies in the mobile, medical, SaaS and enterprise software sectors with successful commercialization of their products and services.

Shane Kilpatrick is the Founder and former CEO of Membio, a high-growth Canadian biotech start-up that was acquired in 2024. With degrees in Biology (BSc), Chemical Engineering (MASc), and Business (MBET), he combines deep technical expertise with entrepreneurial vision. For many years, Membio focused on manufacturing fully functional red blood cells outside of the body for use in transfusion medicine, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The company strategically pivoted to commercializing the biomanufacturing technologies they developed for cost-effective at-scale manufacturing. Within 12 months they began generating revenue using an MVP product and were acquired by an industry leading company shortly thereafter. 

Shane Kilpatrick is the Founder and former CEO of Membio, a high-growth Canadian biotech start-up that was acquired in 2024. With degrees in Biology (BSc), Chemical Engineering (MASc), and Business (MBET), he combines deep technical expertise with entrepreneurial vision. For many years, Membio focused on manufacturing fully functional red blood cells outside of the body for use in transfusion medicine, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The company strategically pivoted to commercializing the biomanufacturing technologies they developed for cost-effective at-scale manufacturing. Within 12 months they began generating revenue using an MVP product and were acquired by an industry leading company shortly thereafter. 

David is a Business Lawyer and Principal at Crescendo Law. Crescendo Law is a business law firm serving entrepreneurs, business owners and investors in Toronto, Hamilton, and Southern Ontario. The firm delivers sophisticated business law advice in the following three practice areas: 1. Corporate Law, 2. Commercial Law, and 3. Corporate Finance. 

David is a Business Lawyer and Principal at Crescendo Law. Crescendo Law is a business law firm serving entrepreneurs, business owners and investors in Toronto, Hamilton, and Southern Ontario. The firm delivers sophisticated business law advice in the following three practice areas: 1. Corporate Law, 2. Commercial Law, and 3. Corporate Finance. 

Ken Kron is an accomplished molecular biologist and team leader with extensive experience in RNA therapeutics, gene editing, high-throughput screening, and next generation sequencing techniques. Most recently serving as Director of Biology at Deep Genomics, he led multidisciplinary teams in the development and validation of AI-informed RNA therapies, spanning antisense oligonucleotides, small RNAs, and RNA editing modalities. With a foundation in cancer epigenetics and transcriptional regulation research from his post-doctoral fellowship at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Ken has consistently driven scientific innovation and cross-functional collaboration throughout his career. He has played a pivotal role in scaling experimental platforms, mentoring emerging scientists, and publishing impactful findings in top-tier journals such as Nature Genetics and Cancer Cell. Ken holds a PhD in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology from the University of Toronto, where he investigated prognostic DNA methylation events in prostate cancer, and a BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Guelph.

Ken Kron is an accomplished molecular biologist and team leader with extensive experience in RNA therapeutics, gene editing, high-throughput screening, and next generation sequencing techniques. Most recently serving as Director of Biology at Deep Genomics, he led multidisciplinary teams in the development and validation of AI-informed RNA therapies, spanning antisense oligonucleotides, small RNAs, and RNA editing modalities. With a foundation in cancer epigenetics and transcriptional regulation research from his post-doctoral fellowship at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Ken has consistently driven scientific innovation and cross-functional collaboration throughout his career. He has played a pivotal role in scaling experimental platforms, mentoring emerging scientists, and publishing impactful findings in top-tier journals such as Nature Genetics and Cancer Cell. Ken holds a PhD in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology from the University of Toronto, where he investigated prognostic DNA methylation events in prostate cancer, and a BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Guelph.

I am a highly entrepreneurial, strategic-minded and effective business development/partnering executive and consultant to the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. I offer extensive experience licensing, acquiring and divesting companies, products and technologies in major markets throughout the world, including the U.S. and Canada, Europe and Asia.

My goal in working with McMaster-originated companies is to help founders i) determine the commercial value of their opportunity, and ii) develop and execute a meticulous and thorough strategic plan that will result in company success.

This will include mentoring and advising founders in the areas of:

• Market Research – Understanding drivers that characterize the commercial opportunity
• Opportunity Assessment – Valuation of the commercial opportunity
• Strategic Planning – Creating and executing a development/commercialization plan
• Due Diligence – Preparing for scrutiny from potential strategic partners
• Strategic Partnering – Identifying, negotiating and securing strategic partners for development/commercialization

If you believe I may be able to help you, please reach out. I look forward to hearing from you!

I am a highly entrepreneurial, strategic-minded and effective business development/partnering executive and consultant to the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. I offer extensive experience licensing, acquiring and divesting companies, products and technologies in major markets throughout the world, including the U.S. and Canada, Europe and Asia.

My goal in working with McMaster-originated companies is to help founders i) determine the commercial value of their opportunity, and ii) develop and execute a meticulous and thorough strategic plan that will result in company success.

This will include mentoring and advising founders in the areas of:

• Market Research – Understanding drivers that characterize the commercial opportunity
• Opportunity Assessment – Valuation of the commercial opportunity
• Strategic Planning – Creating and executing a development/commercialization plan
• Due Diligence – Preparing for scrutiny from potential strategic partners
• Strategic Partnering – Identifying, negotiating and securing strategic partners for development/commercialization

If you believe I may be able to help you, please reach out. I look forward to hearing from you!

Andrew McDowall, P.Eng is a Executive Director with 17 years of expertise in KPMG’s Incentives practice, specializing in leveraging tax credits and direct funding support to foster innovation in businesses. A graduate of the Mechanical/Automotive Engineering program at the University of Windsor, Andrew began his career at the University of Windsor/DaimlerChrysler Automotive Research and Development Centre, where he contributed in the Automotive Structural Durability Lab for four years. 

At KPMG, Andrew has consulted across diverse sectors, including IT, software, digital media, manufacturing, health tech, and engineering. His work involves helping companies identify the best sources of non-dilutive funding such as preparing Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) claims, which enables him to swiftly assess the relevance of company activities to available tax credits and funding programs.  

Andrew has participated in various government diligence projects. Notably, he has worked with Industry Canada (ISED) on government due diligence related to the Automotive Investment Fund, the Automotive Supplier Investment Fund, and the Advanced Manufacturing Fund, focusing on innovative technologies within the automotive sector. Additionally, he has partnered with organizations of all sizes to enhance the tracking and identification of R&D activities through improved internal cost tracking and document management systems. 

Andrew’s commitment to advancing Canada’s innovation landscape is further reflected in his active participation in strategic consultations and public presentations, notably speaking at Collision and Web Summit Masterclasses since 2022. 

Andrew McDowall, P.Eng is a Executive Director with 17 years of expertise in KPMG’s Incentives practice, specializing in leveraging tax credits and direct funding support to foster innovation in businesses. A graduate of the Mechanical/Automotive Engineering program at the University of Windsor, Andrew began his career at the University of Windsor/DaimlerChrysler Automotive Research and Development Centre, where he contributed in the Automotive Structural Durability Lab for four years. 

At KPMG, Andrew has consulted across diverse sectors, including IT, software, digital media, manufacturing, health tech, and engineering. His work involves helping companies identify the best sources of non-dilutive funding such as preparing Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) claims, which enables him to swiftly assess the relevance of company activities to available tax credits and funding programs.  

Andrew has participated in various government diligence projects. Notably, he has worked with Industry Canada (ISED) on government due diligence related to the Automotive Investment Fund, the Automotive Supplier Investment Fund, and the Advanced Manufacturing Fund, focusing on innovative technologies within the automotive sector. Additionally, he has partnered with organizations of all sizes to enhance the tracking and identification of R&D activities through improved internal cost tracking and document management systems. 

Andrew’s commitment to advancing Canada’s innovation landscape is further reflected in his active participation in strategic consultations and public presentations, notably speaking at Collision and Web Summit Masterclasses since 2022. 

Nabeela is a Principal at TELUS Global Ventures, where she invests in impact-first startups addressing challenges in agriculture, health and the environment. Nabeela cut her teeth in venture at Relay Ventures, where she focused on transformative fintech and AI solutions at the early stage.

As an advocate for women’s empowerment, she co-founded the Canadian Women in VC community and was an activator at Coralus (fka SheEO). Prior to joining the venture ecosystem, Nabeela had a short half-life as an Electro-Optics Engineer. Nabeela holds a B. Eng. in Engineering Physics from McMaster University. She is the recipient of Corporate Knights’ Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders (2022). 

Nabeela is a Principal at TELUS Global Ventures, where she invests in impact-first startups addressing challenges in agriculture, health and the environment. Nabeela cut her teeth in venture at Relay Ventures, where she focused on transformative fintech and AI solutions at the early stage.

As an advocate for women’s empowerment, she co-founded the Canadian Women in VC community and was an activator at Coralus (fka SheEO). Prior to joining the venture ecosystem, Nabeela had a short half-life as an Electro-Optics Engineer. Nabeela holds a B. Eng. in Engineering Physics from McMaster University. She is the recipient of Corporate Knights’ Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders (2022). 

Marcia Mohammed is the founder of Social MD (@socialmdteam), where she helps businesses grow through digital marketing.  

Before she started her company, Marcia spent over 18 years as a digital marketing and sales professional for companies like Yahoo, Bell, and Tor Star Media. 

After a successful career helping corporate brands like BMO, Unilever, and Kimberly Clark, Marcia now focuses on partnering with small to medium-sized businesses where she shares her industry expertise and passion for marketing.

Marcia Mohammed is the founder of Social MD (@socialmdteam), where she helps businesses grow through digital marketing.  

Before she started her company, Marcia spent over 18 years as a digital marketing and sales professional for companies like Yahoo, Bell, and Tor Star Media. 

After a successful career helping corporate brands like BMO, Unilever, and Kimberly Clark, Marcia now focuses on partnering with small to medium-sized businesses where she shares her industry expertise and passion for marketing.

Alexander Morsink is a Co – Founder and Managing Director of Equivesto, a Canadian equity crowdfunding platform.  In addition, Alexander is the Ultimate Designated Person and a Dealing Representative of Equivesto’s Exempt Market Dealer Subsidiary.

Before founding Equivesto, Alexander worked for several years at Scotiabank in both Corporate Banking and Commercial Banking, with some experience from Private Equity thrown in for good measure.  Alexander has a Bachelor of Commerce from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

Alex is passionate about Canadian startups and small business.  The ‘why’ behind Equivesto is all about improving access for both companies and investors to exciting opportunities, and changing the way businesses succeed.  Alex understands the challenge of getting Angel or VC funding, with such a small percentage of companies raising capital that way, and knows that the success of your business shouldn’t depend on knowing the right people or looking a certain way.  As part of his efforts to support Canadian entrepreneurs, Alex has presented at several Universities across Canada on this topic and is often a guest judge at pitch competitions across Canada including The CNE Emerging Innovators, Business in the Streets, and is a perennial feature of TorontoStarts events.

Alexander Morsink is a Co – Founder and Managing Director of Equivesto, a Canadian equity crowdfunding platform.  In addition, Alexander is the Ultimate Designated Person and a Dealing Representative of Equivesto’s Exempt Market Dealer Subsidiary.

Before founding Equivesto, Alexander worked for several years at Scotiabank in both Corporate Banking and Commercial Banking, with some experience from Private Equity thrown in for good measure.  Alexander has a Bachelor of Commerce from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

Alex is passionate about Canadian startups and small business.  The ‘why’ behind Equivesto is all about improving access for both companies and investors to exciting opportunities, and changing the way businesses succeed.  Alex understands the challenge of getting Angel or VC funding, with such a small percentage of companies raising capital that way, and knows that the success of your business shouldn’t depend on knowing the right people or looking a certain way.  As part of his efforts to support Canadian entrepreneurs, Alex has presented at several Universities across Canada on this topic and is often a guest judge at pitch competitions across Canada including The CNE Emerging Innovators, Business in the Streets, and is a perennial feature of TorontoStarts events.

As one of the co-founders of Mabel’s Labels, Tricia has experienced everything on the spectrum from Idea to Acquisition. Mabel’s Labels is a direct-to-consumer custom printing company that started at $0 and was 100% bootstrapped with no investors or debt. While most manufacturing is done in-house, some off-shore production was outsourced to meet the demands of retailers such as Target and Walmart, for non-custom products. Mabel’s Labels was sold to Avery Products in 2016. Tricia was deeply involved in the acquisition process and lead the negotiations and presentations.

Tricia was the VP of Marketing & Product Development from 2002-2016 and focused on community building, digital selling, branding, and product design. When the business was successfully sold, Tricia took on the role of General Manager from 2016 – 2020.

For the past year, Tricia has been consulting with companies looking to increase their brand profile, create a solid marketing plan tied to powerful goals and find creative solutions to production issues. As an “ideas person”, Tricia has a lot of energy for entrepreneurs, their ideas, and making the most of every opportunity. “Let’s have some fun!”

As one of the co-founders of Mabel’s Labels, Tricia has experienced everything on the spectrum from Idea to Acquisition. Mabel’s Labels is a direct-to-consumer custom printing company that started at $0 and was 100% bootstrapped with no investors or debt. While most manufacturing is done in-house, some off-shore production was outsourced to meet the demands of retailers such as Target and Walmart, for non-custom products. Mabel’s Labels was sold to Avery Products in 2016. Tricia was deeply involved in the acquisition process and lead the negotiations and presentations.

Tricia was the VP of Marketing & Product Development from 2002-2016 and focused on community building, digital selling, branding, and product design. When the business was successfully sold, Tricia took on the role of General Manager from 2016 – 2020.

For the past year, Tricia has been consulting with companies looking to increase their brand profile, create a solid marketing plan tied to powerful goals and find creative solutions to production issues. As an “ideas person”, Tricia has a lot of energy for entrepreneurs, their ideas, and making the most of every opportunity. “Let’s have some fun!”

Andrew began his career in the tech and innovation ecosystem at SVB where he was one of the first 10 employees brought on to help build and expand SVB’s operations across Canada. As SVB continued to grow, Andrew moved into Relationship Management and has been focused on supporting, mentoring, and learning from early-stage founders ever since.

Andrew is now a VP on the RBCx Banking team, having joined in September 2023 to help build out its Early-Stage Banking practice. With a strong focus on connecting founders with capital and resources, in the last year Andrew has introduced dozens of founders to VCs and Angels across North America, two of which recently resulted in term sheet offerings.

Andrew began his career in the tech and innovation ecosystem at SVB where he was one of the first 10 employees brought on to help build and expand SVB’s operations across Canada. As SVB continued to grow, Andrew moved into Relationship Management and has been focused on supporting, mentoring, and learning from early-stage founders ever since.

Andrew is now a VP on the RBCx Banking team, having joined in September 2023 to help build out its Early-Stage Banking practice. With a strong focus on connecting founders with capital and resources, in the last year Andrew has introduced dozens of founders to VCs and Angels across North America, two of which recently resulted in term sheet offerings.

As a Financial Services leader with 17+ years of strategy formulation and project execution across retail, corporate and institutional spaces; my experience covers enterprise transformation, digitalization, risk management frameworks including ESG and cybersecurity/technology risks. Over the last 10 years, I have taken executive level leadership assignments to establish and enhance infrastructure and first line of defence (FLOD) across corporate/commercial lines of businesses and geographies. Having worked with numerous international institutions and consulting firms, I have a globally connected mindset, exposure to different cultures and am used to working across different time zones and managing remote teams. My goal is to make the risk management frameworks more than just a control suite – I establish and lead these frameworks to be an enabler and infrastructure for healthy growth of the business/organization. I believe in data driven robust processes where all stakeholders agree upon, and informed decision making leveraging these processes to manage risks. I avoid a 0-risk approach and believe it is against the business objectives. I understand the strategic, business and operational perspectives well enough to implement a framework that will help re-invent the organization to progress to the next stage.

My strengths include entrepreneurial mindset, strategic thinking, deep knowledge of banking business processes, rational data driven approach, working with multifunctional teams across different regions, improving organizational effectiveness and strategic leadership.

As an Industrial Engineer, I hold an MBA in Banking and Finance, and I am a designated FRM (Financial Risk Manager), PMP (Project Management Professional), Change Management Practitioner (PROSCI, ADKAR methodology and Proxima) and Specialized in Materiality of ESG Factors and ESG Risk Management.

As a Financial Services leader with 17+ years of strategy formulation and project execution across retail, corporate and institutional spaces; my experience covers enterprise transformation, digitalization, risk management frameworks including ESG and cybersecurity/technology risks. Over the last 10 years, I have taken executive level leadership assignments to establish and enhance infrastructure and first line of defence (FLOD) across corporate/commercial lines of businesses and geographies. Having worked with numerous international institutions and consulting firms, I have a globally connected mindset, exposure to different cultures and am used to working across different time zones and managing remote teams. My goal is to make the risk management frameworks more than just a control suite – I establish and lead these frameworks to be an enabler and infrastructure for healthy growth of the business/organization. I believe in data driven robust processes where all stakeholders agree upon, and informed decision making leveraging these processes to manage risks. I avoid a 0-risk approach and believe it is against the business objectives. I understand the strategic, business and operational perspectives well enough to implement a framework that will help re-invent the organization to progress to the next stage.

My strengths include entrepreneurial mindset, strategic thinking, deep knowledge of banking business processes, rational data driven approach, working with multifunctional teams across different regions, improving organizational effectiveness and strategic leadership.

As an Industrial Engineer, I hold an MBA in Banking and Finance, and I am a designated FRM (Financial Risk Manager), PMP (Project Management Professional), Change Management Practitioner (PROSCI, ADKAR methodology and Proxima) and Specialized in Materiality of ESG Factors and ESG Risk Management.

Ingrid is an immigrant originally from Brazil, and is a successful entrepreneur with more than 10 years in tech, and a mentor for startups across North, South and Central America.

Founder and ex-CEO of SafetyDocs Global, she focused on managing the development of client-centred solutions, optimizing efficiency and lowering operations costs worldwide. She Started her company in Brazil and expanded it internationally. Her company went thru prestigious acceleration programs: Google for Startups, The Accelerator Center and Latam Startups.

Ingrid’s experience as a founder allowed her to develop a lot of skills to mentor and advise founders globally. She has developed international projects in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, the USA, Vietnam, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Jamaica, El Salvador and Canada.

In Canada, she is an active mentor in multiple innovation hubs, backing early-stage founders on their day-to-day challenges.

In her mission to support immigrant founders, she became the Co-chair of the Brazilian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce in British Columbia, fomenting trade between the two countries. As well as founding the Find A Way Podcast, spotlighting the story of immigrant entrepreneurs.

Ingrid is an immigrant originally from Brazil, and is a successful entrepreneur with more than 10 years in tech, and a mentor for startups across North, South and Central America.

Founder and ex-CEO of SafetyDocs Global, she focused on managing the development of client-centred solutions, optimizing efficiency and lowering operations costs worldwide. She Started her company in Brazil and expanded it internationally. Her company went thru prestigious acceleration programs: Google for Startups, The Accelerator Center and Latam Startups.

Ingrid’s experience as a founder allowed her to develop a lot of skills to mentor and advise founders globally. She has developed international projects in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, the USA, Vietnam, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Jamaica, El Salvador and Canada.

In Canada, she is an active mentor in multiple innovation hubs, backing early-stage founders on their day-to-day challenges.

In her mission to support immigrant founders, she became the Co-chair of the Brazilian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce in British Columbia, fomenting trade between the two countries. As well as founding the Find A Way Podcast, spotlighting the story of immigrant entrepreneurs.

Scott Pundsack is a lawyer and patent agent with over 25 years of experience. Scott has been a partner at a boutique intellectual property law firm and at a full-service national law firm. He is currently Counsel at Smart & Biggar and fractional in-house patent counsel for two startups. Scott is active in patent procurement, dispute resolution and licensing. His work covers most aspects of chemical, mechanical and civil engineering with a focus on medical devices, drug delivery, bioreactors, nanoparticles, membranes, water treatment and building science. Scott is an active angel investor with the Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN) and Element 8 and a member of the McMaster Seed Fund investment committee.

Scott Pundsack is a lawyer and patent agent with over 25 years of experience. Scott has been a partner at a boutique intellectual property law firm and at a full-service national law firm. He is currently Counsel at Smart & Biggar and fractional in-house patent counsel for two startups. Scott is active in patent procurement, dispute resolution and licensing. His work covers most aspects of chemical, mechanical and civil engineering with a focus on medical devices, drug delivery, bioreactors, nanoparticles, membranes, water treatment and building science. Scott is an active angel investor with the Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN) and Element 8 and a member of the McMaster Seed Fund investment committee.

Bruce works for ATS Automation, a Canadian company who is a world leader in automation.  Through his current role in Applications Engineering, Bruce develops automation solutions for clients.n 

Having industry experience in the automotive, aeronautical, consumer products, energy and life sciences sectors as a Mechanical Designer and Project Manager, he is excited to share his experience with entrepreneurs as they bring their ideas to life. 

Bruce works for ATS Automation, a Canadian company who is a world leader in automation.  Through his current role in Applications Engineering, Bruce develops automation solutions for clients.n 

Having industry experience in the automotive, aeronautical, consumer products, energy and life sciences sectors as a Mechanical Designer and Project Manager, he is excited to share his experience with entrepreneurs as they bring their ideas to life. 

Carolynn Reid has spent the majority of her career supporting Hamilton’s small businesses. For the last 20 years, she was a Business Development Consultant with the City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Division having held several key leadership roles that have been of great benefit to the City of Hamilton, its citizens and businesses. Carolynn managed and established the first Small Business Enterprise Centre in the City. She built programs and developed partnerships that assisted hundreds of Hamilton small businesses get off the ground. Carolynn also managed the City’s brownfield portfolio in its very early years and laid the foundation for the redevelopment of hundreds of contaminated sites. For the last 10 years, Carolynn put her efforts into managing the emerging economic sectors of Life Sciences and Digital Media for the City, helping stimulate investment interest, supporting community programs and champions working together to build a better Hamilton.

Carolynn has always and continues to call Hamilton home. Born and raised in this great City, a McMaster University Commerce graduate and community builder to the core, she is excited to join the Forge mentorship team.

Carolynn Reid has spent the majority of her career supporting Hamilton’s small businesses. For the last 20 years, she was a Business Development Consultant with the City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Division having held several key leadership roles that have been of great benefit to the City of Hamilton, its citizens and businesses. Carolynn managed and established the first Small Business Enterprise Centre in the City. She built programs and developed partnerships that assisted hundreds of Hamilton small businesses get off the ground. Carolynn also managed the City’s brownfield portfolio in its very early years and laid the foundation for the redevelopment of hundreds of contaminated sites. For the last 10 years, Carolynn put her efforts into managing the emerging economic sectors of Life Sciences and Digital Media for the City, helping stimulate investment interest, supporting community programs and champions working together to build a better Hamilton.

Carolynn has always and continues to call Hamilton home. Born and raised in this great City, a McMaster University Commerce graduate and community builder to the core, she is excited to join the Forge mentorship team.

Maxim is an outbound growth marketer with over 5 years of experience in helping B2B SaaS startups achieve their revenue and growth goals. He works at LeadGen-Close, a premier outbound prospecting and sales conversion company that provides end-to-end lead generation solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

His core competencies include outbound sales, paid social media advertising, customer relationship management (CRM), and data-driven lead generation and sales conversion. Max uses innovative and proven outbound marketing strategies to attract, qualify, and convert prospects into customers. He also leverages data and analytics to optimize and improve the performance and ROI of each campaign. His mission is to help B2B SaaS startups grow their customer base and revenue with a custom-built sales funnel based on data, not hunches.

Maxim is an outbound growth marketer with over 5 years of experience in helping B2B SaaS startups achieve their revenue and growth goals. He works at LeadGen-Close, a premier outbound prospecting and sales conversion company that provides end-to-end lead generation solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

His core competencies include outbound sales, paid social media advertising, customer relationship management (CRM), and data-driven lead generation and sales conversion. Max uses innovative and proven outbound marketing strategies to attract, qualify, and convert prospects into customers. He also leverages data and analytics to optimize and improve the performance and ROI of each campaign. His mission is to help B2B SaaS startups grow their customer base and revenue with a custom-built sales funnel based on data, not hunches.

Cam has a diverse background in venture capital, finance, health tech, biotech, and AI/ML. Most recently, Cam was a Principal and Head of Ventures at Entrepreneur First, where he led a team of venture partners and coached first-time founders in customer hypothesis validation, market sizing, prototype development, and fundraising strategy. Prior to this, Cam was a Strategy & Investment Lead at Georgian, a venture capital firm, where he identified and invested in market leaders in core banking, applied AI, immersion tech, and cybersecurity. Cam has also held other leadership positions in the Canadian startup ecosystem including at Real Ventures, Front Row Ventures, and Creative Destruction Lab.

Cam has a diverse background in venture capital, finance, health tech, biotech, and AI/ML. Most recently, Cam was a Principal and Head of Ventures at Entrepreneur First, where he led a team of venture partners and coached first-time founders in customer hypothesis validation, market sizing, prototype development, and fundraising strategy. Prior to this, Cam was a Strategy & Investment Lead at Georgian, a venture capital firm, where he identified and invested in market leaders in core banking, applied AI, immersion tech, and cybersecurity. Cam has also held other leadership positions in the Canadian startup ecosystem including at Real Ventures, Front Row Ventures, and Creative Destruction Lab.

Experienced leader with a 20+ year track record of designing and executing go-to-market strategies for scalable growth across various technology sectors. Prior to joining MesoMat, Sam led go-to-market & strategic initiatives for Gatik, where as part of the Founding Team he helped drive Gatik’s meteoric growth – as the market leader in autonomous middle mile transportation – through multiple Fortune 500 client attraction and equity financing events. He was the Founding Director of the Innovation Factory’s Centre for Integrated Transportation and Mobility (CITM), a technology accelerator for CAV (Connected Autonomous Vehicle) technologies. Sam started his CAV journey at the Ontario Centres of Innovation where he managed a sizable innovation funding portfolio. Before entering the technology sector, Sam spent his earlier career focused on education, health promotion, and international development at the MaRS Discovery District, University of Toronto, and United Nations.

Experienced leader with a 20+ year track record of designing and executing go-to-market strategies for scalable growth across various technology sectors. Prior to joining MesoMat, Sam led go-to-market & strategic initiatives for Gatik, where as part of the Founding Team he helped drive Gatik’s meteoric growth – as the market leader in autonomous middle mile transportation – through multiple Fortune 500 client attraction and equity financing events. He was the Founding Director of the Innovation Factory’s Centre for Integrated Transportation and Mobility (CITM), a technology accelerator for CAV (Connected Autonomous Vehicle) technologies. Sam started his CAV journey at the Ontario Centres of Innovation where he managed a sizable innovation funding portfolio. Before entering the technology sector, Sam spent his earlier career focused on education, health promotion, and international development at the MaRS Discovery District, University of Toronto, and United Nations.

Over a decade in product management has honed my vision, drive, and dedication to creating standout digital solutions. With eleven years in the field, I’ve mastered the journey from ideation to delivery, always placing the customer at the heart of every decision. Agile methodologies and a strategic adoption of OKRs guide my approach, ensuring both alignment and measured outcomes. My experience has made me adept at crafting MVPs and wireframes that breathe life into innovative products aligned with market demands.

As a Product Manager, my leadership transcends beyond managing products; I mentor and inspire teams to push boundaries, always upholding a data-driven, user-centric approach. I leverage OKRs to align cross-functional teams with clear objectives, fostering collaboration, and driving impactful outcomes. I’m not just about delivering products; I’m about ensuring that they resonate, make an impact, and drive growth.

Over a decade in product management has honed my vision, drive, and dedication to creating standout digital solutions. With eleven years in the field, I’ve mastered the journey from ideation to delivery, always placing the customer at the heart of every decision. Agile methodologies and a strategic adoption of OKRs guide my approach, ensuring both alignment and measured outcomes. My experience has made me adept at crafting MVPs and wireframes that breathe life into innovative products aligned with market demands.

As a Product Manager, my leadership transcends beyond managing products; I mentor and inspire teams to push boundaries, always upholding a data-driven, user-centric approach. I leverage OKRs to align cross-functional teams with clear objectives, fostering collaboration, and driving impactful outcomes. I’m not just about delivering products; I’m about ensuring that they resonate, make an impact, and drive growth.

Amar is the founder of Amar-VR Law, a modern and mercurial law firm specializing in business and technology law. His aim is to utilize technology to provide innovative legal services that make navigating legal obstacles more accessible and affordable. Amar ensures his clients have an easy, convenient, and memorable experience. 

As an entrepreneur himself, Amar understands that starting a new venture takes courage and is a trying task even without legal challenges. To ease the burden for entrepreneurs, he designed dedicated legal services that help build, protect, and grow start-ups and early-stage companies. 

Amar is the founder of Amar-VR Law, a modern and mercurial law firm specializing in business and technology law. His aim is to utilize technology to provide innovative legal services that make navigating legal obstacles more accessible and affordable. Amar ensures his clients have an easy, convenient, and memorable experience. 

As an entrepreneur himself, Amar understands that starting a new venture takes courage and is a trying task even without legal challenges. To ease the burden for entrepreneurs, he designed dedicated legal services that help build, protect, and grow start-ups and early-stage companies. 

People-focused, experienced Dealmaker and Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting, banking and investment industry. Expert in Negotiation, Needs Analysis, Coaching, Corporate Development, and Leadership.

Passionate about building meaningful relationships with people and making beneficial introductions between people and companies. Every potential transaction starts with a conversation and comes to fruition through the development of relationships and mutually aligned interests. It is my objective to help facilitate this process.

People-focused, experienced Dealmaker and Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting, banking and investment industry. Expert in Negotiation, Needs Analysis, Coaching, Corporate Development, and Leadership.

Passionate about building meaningful relationships with people and making beneficial introductions between people and companies. Every potential transaction starts with a conversation and comes to fruition through the development of relationships and mutually aligned interests. It is my objective to help facilitate this process.

Dr. Yasaman Soudagar received her PhD in 2012 from Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, under the supervision of Dr. Nicolas Godbout (Polytechnique) and Dr. Aephraim Steinberg (University of Toronto), in the field of Experimental Quantum Optics. She then tenured her NSERC industrial postdoctoral scholarship at Attodyne. Soudagar was always interested in understanding how the brain works. An encounter with a neuroscientist made her realize the need for simultaneous multi-region imaging of the brain in the level of neurons. The encounter gave rise to the invention of the multi-region miniscopes and formation of Neurescence in 2015.  In the ensuing 7 years, Neurescence had 2 products on the market and was generating revenue. The highly innovative nature of the Neurescence technology resulted into its acquisition by Bruker (NASDAQ: BRKR) in 2022, giving greater than 20X return to its early investor. Dr. Soudagar is currently the co-Founder/CEO of her second startup, Exhilarare, focused on advanced manufacturing. She is also an investor through Firehood Angels and is currently advising multiple startups in the Life Sciences and Medical Device space.

Dr. Yasaman Soudagar received her PhD in 2012 from Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, under the supervision of Dr. Nicolas Godbout (Polytechnique) and Dr. Aephraim Steinberg (University of Toronto), in the field of Experimental Quantum Optics. She then tenured her NSERC industrial postdoctoral scholarship at Attodyne. Soudagar was always interested in understanding how the brain works. An encounter with a neuroscientist made her realize the need for simultaneous multi-region imaging of the brain in the level of neurons. The encounter gave rise to the invention of the multi-region miniscopes and formation of Neurescence in 2015.  In the ensuing 7 years, Neurescence had 2 products on the market and was generating revenue. The highly innovative nature of the Neurescence technology resulted into its acquisition by Bruker (NASDAQ: BRKR) in 2022, giving greater than 20X return to its early investor. Dr. Soudagar is currently the co-Founder/CEO of her second startup, Exhilarare, focused on advanced manufacturing. She is also an investor through Firehood Angels and is currently advising multiple startups in the Life Sciences and Medical Device space.

Suresh is a technology and business lawyer with a background in engineering and entrepreneurship. He completed his articles at boutique firms in the areas of corporate, technology and administrative law. Over the course of his professional career, Suresh has held executive roles with various organizations, launched three ventures and mentored dozens of startups. He has also worked for leading companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and BlackBerry. Suresh speaks English, French and Tamil.

Suresh has earned four prestigious degrees: Juris Doctor (JD) from Osgoode Hall Law School, Strategic Management (MBA) from Lazaridis School of Business & Economics, Electrical Engineering (BASc) and Liberal Studies (BA) from the University of Waterloo. He was the recipient of the Student Honours Award at Osgoode, CIBC Leaders in Entrepreneurship Award and John McBain International Award for humanitarian work. Suresh is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario. He is an active mentor at various incubators and universities.

Suresh is a technology and business lawyer with a background in engineering and entrepreneurship. He completed his articles at boutique firms in the areas of corporate, technology and administrative law. Over the course of his professional career, Suresh has held executive roles with various organizations, launched three ventures and mentored dozens of startups. He has also worked for leading companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and BlackBerry. Suresh speaks English, French and Tamil.

Suresh has earned four prestigious degrees: Juris Doctor (JD) from Osgoode Hall Law School, Strategic Management (MBA) from Lazaridis School of Business & Economics, Electrical Engineering (BASc) and Liberal Studies (BA) from the University of Waterloo. He was the recipient of the Student Honours Award at Osgoode, CIBC Leaders in Entrepreneurship Award and John McBain International Award for humanitarian work. Suresh is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario. He is an active mentor at various incubators and universities.

Randy brings 30+ years of enterprise B2B sales experience selling a variety of software solutions directly to customers. Randy has worked with many start-ups and large vendors (the likes of IBM, Sun Microsystems, Xerox, etc.). Currently, he consults with start-ups on their go-to-market efforts and develops the skills of the people doing the selling, creating a vision for customers and making sure the staff is executing well. Getting customers is fundamental to launching a company and it requires a lot of diverse skills. It is easy to get lost in the many activities large organizations ask of a vendor. Knowing how to scope your efforts and prioritize activities is key. Having done this successfully for several decades, it is great to be able to coach and mentor others in how to find, develop and close business with some of the largest companies in the world. This is the sweet spot in Randy’s skill set and the focus of his consulting company.

Randy brings 30+ years of enterprise B2B sales experience selling a variety of software solutions directly to customers. Randy has worked with many start-ups and large vendors (the likes of IBM, Sun Microsystems, Xerox, etc.). Currently, he consults with start-ups on their go-to-market efforts and develops the skills of the people doing the selling, creating a vision for customers and making sure the staff is executing well. Getting customers is fundamental to launching a company and it requires a lot of diverse skills. It is easy to get lost in the many activities large organizations ask of a vendor. Knowing how to scope your efforts and prioritize activities is key. Having done this successfully for several decades, it is great to be able to coach and mentor others in how to find, develop and close business with some of the largest companies in the world. This is the sweet spot in Randy’s skill set and the focus of his consulting company.

Ben Su (H.B.Sc.; J.D.) is a lawyer and co-founder of Capita, which is building the world’s first AI lawyer for startups, backed by leading venture capital firms, including Drive Capital, Hyperplane VC, and Fresh Founders.

Ben Su (H.B.Sc.; J.D.) is a lawyer and co-founder of Capita, which is building the world’s first AI lawyer for startups, backed by leading venture capital firms, including Drive Capital, Hyperplane VC, and Fresh Founders.

Dr. Alison Symington provides consultancy services to a variety of industry, academic and government clients in the area of life science strategy particularly in the development of new technologies with a focus on accessing non-dilutive funding. These services include large network applications directly to government or industry bodies as well as industry and or research proposals for funding. Clients have included large academic institutions, not for profit innovation hubs, government, foundations, and SMEs both in Canada and internationally.  Alison works across multiple sectors including healthcare, agriculture, natural resources, and the environment.  She also provides expert reviews to a variety of government funding agencies on funding allocations. Before starting her own consultancy business, Alison was the Vice President, Research and Corporate Development at Ontario Genomics.  In this role, she was responsible for the development and management of large-scale research projects as well as external stakeholder engagement, including government relations.  Alison was a Professor at Seneca where she also coordinated the post-graduate Regulatory and Quality Assurance program. Before joining Seneca College, she was the Manager of Viral Development Laboratory and a research scientist at Sanofi Pasteur for almost 10 years, where she led several new viral vaccine development processes from bench to clinical trials. She received her Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology in 1991. In addition to these activities, Alison is currently the Chair of the Board of Life Sciences Ontario and a Board Member of the Science and Technology Awareness Network, a not for profit focused on science outreach. 

Dr. Alison Symington provides consultancy services to a variety of industry, academic and government clients in the area of life science strategy particularly in the development of new technologies with a focus on accessing non-dilutive funding. These services include large network applications directly to government or industry bodies as well as industry and or research proposals for funding. Clients have included large academic institutions, not for profit innovation hubs, government, foundations, and SMEs both in Canada and internationally.  Alison works across multiple sectors including healthcare, agriculture, natural resources, and the environment.  She also provides expert reviews to a variety of government funding agencies on funding allocations. Before starting her own consultancy business, Alison was the Vice President, Research and Corporate Development at Ontario Genomics.  In this role, she was responsible for the development and management of large-scale research projects as well as external stakeholder engagement, including government relations.  Alison was a Professor at Seneca where she also coordinated the post-graduate Regulatory and Quality Assurance program. Before joining Seneca College, she was the Manager of Viral Development Laboratory and a research scientist at Sanofi Pasteur for almost 10 years, where she led several new viral vaccine development processes from bench to clinical trials. She received her Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology in 1991. In addition to these activities, Alison is currently the Chair of the Board of Life Sciences Ontario and a Board Member of the Science and Technology Awareness Network, a not for profit focused on science outreach. 

Karen is a customer-centric fractional CMO for SaaS and telemedicine startups.  She fixes growth challenges by putting the customer at the core of all business decisions and by helping founders and their teams draw customers in vs pushing the product out to drive revenue. The types of issues she fixes include product development challenges and working towards product-market fit, an unclear vision or brand strategy that isn’t resonating with customers, a lack of brand awareness that is hampering leads and sales, inefficient business processes, hiring the wrong team, or simply not having a strategic business plan in place.

She helps clients solve these problems by designing strategies, processes and tactics focused on the customer which she believes is the secret to business growth. Her clients are pre-revenue up to ARR of $10MM. Karen’s expertise includes business strategy, brand, marketing, product management and operations.

Her diverse industry background which includes technology (SaaS), telemedicine, financial services, gaming/entertainment, photography, government, consumer electronics, and digital media was honed over a 30-year career working for brands such as Fujifilm, OLG, Rogers, Intuit, Microsoft and many others. She now works exclusively with startups, following her passion to give back to the tech community to support innovation and help founders with breakthrough ideas.

Karen is a customer-centric fractional CMO for SaaS and telemedicine startups.  She fixes growth challenges by putting the customer at the core of all business decisions and by helping founders and their teams draw customers in vs pushing the product out to drive revenue. The types of issues she fixes include product development challenges and working towards product-market fit, an unclear vision or brand strategy that isn’t resonating with customers, a lack of brand awareness that is hampering leads and sales, inefficient business processes, hiring the wrong team, or simply not having a strategic business plan in place.

She helps clients solve these problems by designing strategies, processes and tactics focused on the customer which she believes is the secret to business growth. Her clients are pre-revenue up to ARR of $10MM. Karen’s expertise includes business strategy, brand, marketing, product management and operations.

Her diverse industry background which includes technology (SaaS), telemedicine, financial services, gaming/entertainment, photography, government, consumer electronics, and digital media was honed over a 30-year career working for brands such as Fujifilm, OLG, Rogers, Intuit, Microsoft and many others. She now works exclusively with startups, following her passion to give back to the tech community to support innovation and help founders with breakthrough ideas.

David Zak is a Canadian entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience in creativity, marketing, sales, and product development. As founder of ArtResin, he identified a market need for safe, non-toxic epoxy resin and partnered with chemists to create a revolutionary product, growing the brand to $20M+ in annual revenue and expanding globally across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

A natural problem-solver and innovator, David excels in brand development, market research, and product commercialization, with a strong focus on creative design and user experience. Beyond ArtResin, he has successfully launched diverse product lines for industrial and craft markets, driven by strategic planning and data-driven decision-making.

Now, David leverages his expertise to empower fellow entrepreneurs, helping them turn their visions into reality.

David Zak is a Canadian entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience in creativity, marketing, sales, and product development. As founder of ArtResin, he identified a market need for safe, non-toxic epoxy resin and partnered with chemists to create a revolutionary product, growing the brand to $20M+ in annual revenue and expanding globally across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

A natural problem-solver and innovator, David excels in brand development, market research, and product commercialization, with a strong focus on creative design and user experience. Beyond ArtResin, he has successfully launched diverse product lines for industrial and craft markets, driven by strategic planning and data-driven decision-making.

Now, David leverages his expertise to empower fellow entrepreneurs, helping them turn their visions into reality.