Areas Of Focus

Our startups develop solutions in areas such as:

Agri-tech

Technologies that enable sustainable farming and increased food production.

Advanced manufacturing

Technologies that help designers build better products.

Advanced materials

New materials engineered to improve existing products.

Energy

Solutions for storing, generating and distributing energy, and managing consumption.

Transportation

New ways to move people and products using eco-friendly fuel and vehicles.

Waste management

Technologies that treat and recycle industrial and household waste.

Water

Solutions for water purification and wastewater management.

Buildings

PropTech, ConTech, and CleanTech for a better built environment.

Carbon Management

Innovations to capture and utilize excess CO2, at scale.

Our Ecosystem

The MaRS Climate ecosystem consists of entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, policy makers, corporates and world-renowned research institutions.

Our team
Tyler Hamilton

Tyler Hamilton

Senior Director, Cleantech

Tyler Hamilton

Tyler Hamilton is Senior Director of Climate at MaRS and guides all climate-related activities for ventures, corporate partners and investors, including the flagship Mission from MaRS program. He is also on the board of the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association (OCTIA) and a member of the XPRIZE Brain Trust. Previous to joining MaRS, Tyler spent two decades as a journalist and wrote extensively about Canada’s clean technology sector and global cleantech trends. Most recently he was editor-in-chief of business and sustainability magazine Corporate Knights. He also spent 13 years at the Toronto Star, where he reported on Canada’s energy sector and wrote a popular weekly column on clean energy technologies and trends. In 2011, Tyler authored Mad Like Tesla, a book that examines the various barriers to clean energy innovation and surveys the landscape of some potentially world-changing clean technologies. A recipient of the Cleantech Group’s “Pioneer” award for his early writings on the sector, Tyler was also recognized in 2016 on Canada’s “Clean50” list for his thought leadership on clean energy and climate issues.

Ana Gonzalez Guerrero

Ana Gonzalez Guerrero

Senior Manager, Climate and Cities

Ana Gonzalez Guerrero

Ana is the Senior Manager, Climate and Cities at MaRS, where she leads the implementation of CAANZero, a pilot program seeking to unlock finance and increase capacity for small and medium municipalities advancing climate solutions. Prior to her role, she led an Innovation Fund across six countries through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Partnership for Municipal Innovation in Local Economic Development. Ana also worked closely with local-level actors through the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program, supporting over 340 local governments in their efforts to act on climate across Canada. In 2017, Ana co-founded Youth Climate Lab, where she oversaw the operations, programs, and co-led the vision and strategy of the organization. She is the Vice-Chair of the Tamarack Institute’s Board of Directors, and served as an advisor to Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy. Ana holds an MSc Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment as a Linbury Trust Scholar from the University of Oxford.

Ria Perrault

Ria Perrault

Manager, Climate Programs

Ria Perrault

Ria leads Mission from MaRS: Better Buildings and Public Procurement and supports a number of other Mission from MaRS projects and communications. She has spent several years working on environmental and policy issues in the built environment, and is driven by the need to create a more sustainable future. Ria earned an M.Sc. in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Ottawa in 2023, and previously graduated with high distinction from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in Architecture.

Niyat Gebreab

Niyat Gebreab

Senior Associate, Cleantech and Climate

Niyat Gebreab

Niyat is the Senior Associate, Cleantech and Climate at MaRS Discovery District where she works on engagement opportunities for ventures and investors, and leads Mission from MaRS programming dedicated to accelerating the commercialization and adoption of Canadian carbon removal solutions. She holds a B.A. with Honours in Environmental Studies and Cognitive Science.

Katherine Festeryga

Katherine Festeryga

Manager, Climate Programs (AgTech)

Katherine Festeryga

Katherine Festeryga holds nearly a decade of experience in both the public and private sectors, helping to shape policy and advocate for policy priorities in Canada. Katherine recently launched agricultural technology startup, Edie Farming, building Ontario’s first commercial rooftop greenhouses at scale which won the City of Toronto’s Women4Climate award in 2024. Previously, Katherine was on the policy and communications team at Sidewalk Labs - a landmark Google company that applied forward-thinking urban design and cutting edge technology to the world’s biggest challenges. Prior to Sidewalk Labs, Katherine led legislative and strategic policy communications for NAFTA negotiations and Buy American tariffs for the Province of Ontario at the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth. Katherine holds her Master’s of Public Policy, specializing in climate impacts on food supply at Northwestern University and is a University of Western Ontario graduate with a BA in History and double major in Political Science, as well, she currently sits on the board of North York Harvest Food Bank.

Sophie Meslin

Sophie Meslin

Associate, Climate Programs

Sophie Meslin

Sophie is the Associate, Climate Programs at MaRS, where she supports programming to advance a more sustainable, competitive and resilient agri-food system in Canada. Prior to joining MaRS, she was a venture capital analyst at BDC, supporting founders scaling low-carbon solutions. She previously consulted on agri-food carbon insetting programs at FoodBridge, designed corporate ESG strategies at SLR Consulting, and supported the development of The Carbon Guild at Viresco Solutions, a digital platform designed to improve producer access to verified carbon markets. Sophie holds a BComm from Queen’s University, where she focused on sustainable finance and systems change.

Olivia Lang

Olivia Lang

Coordinator, Climate Programs

Olivia Lang

Olivia is the Climate Programs Coordinator at MaRS where she helps advance the Mission from MaRS: Better Buildings program working with ventures to scale decarbonization solutions in Canada’s building sector. Prior to joining MaRS, Olivia worked with cleantech innovators at Intelligent City, coordinated sustainability engagement programs in partnership with the City of Vancouver, and led a business consultant team on sustainability strategies for Racing to Zero. Olivia holds a Masters of Business Management from the University of British Columbia as well as a BA in Human Geography where she focused on sustainability, urban planning and global affairs.

Mick Malowany

Mick Malowany

Senior Manager, Corporate Innovation

Mick Malowany

Mick Malowany is the Senior Manager, Climate with MaRS’s Corporate Innovation team. He focuses on facilitating discourse and fostering relationships between large corporate partners and the Canadian cleantech innovation ecosystem. The overarching purpose of his work is to accelerate adoption of cleantech solutions and advance the transition to a sustainable economy. Towards this purpose, Mick brings capabilities in scenario analysis, adaptive pathways, interdisciplinary collaboration, systems thinking, and institutional dynamics, as well as subject matter expertise in green infrastructure and urban sustainability. Prior to joining MaRS, Mick spent three years leading innovation strategy and human-centred design research projects with Deloitte’s D.Studio and Doblin consulting practices; and five years leading large technical implementations with IBM and Loblaw Digital. Mick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Harvard University and an MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge.

Sue Talusan

Sue Talusan

Director, Climate Impact Accelerator

Sue Talusan

With twenty years of experience in data analytics, evaluation, research, design, development, and innovation, Sue is an expert in the end to end innovation process. While at MaRS, Sue has been the lead designer and project manager on complex projects and programs in the areas of social and municipal procurement innovation, systemic design, experiential futures, and social innovation. She is currently leading the design, strategy, and product development of an innovation ecosystem impact accelerator, and supporting the public procurement – net zero mission. Sue is also the Co-Founder and Director of Operations for Creative Reuse Toronto.

Ian Spence

Ian Spence

Senior Manager, Business Development

Ian Spence

Ian Spence is a Senior Manager in Business Development at MaRS. His work ignites meaningful relationships between Canada’s brightest climate tech ventures and the greater, national, and international corporate ecosystem. He is passionate about unlocking the potential of Canadian innovation around the world. His approach to adoption collides industry narratives and re-focuses the power of technology to build better societies and businesses, wherever they may be. Prior to joining MaRS, Ian had a multidisciplinary background with organizations in energy, advanced AR/VR, IT, and consumer technology. Ian has 15 years of experience in sales and marketing and holds a BA Double Honours in Biology and Geography, Wilfrid Laurier University.

Jon Dogterom

Jon Dogterom

Senior Advisor, Cleantech

Jon Dogterom

Jon is an experienced founder, executive, and board member of private and public entities in energy, mobility, and alternative fuels. He was formerly the Senior Vice President of Venture Services at MaRS. Prior to leading the Venture Services Team, he was the Managing Director of the Cleantech Practice. He is also the founder of the MaRS Advanced Energy Centre.

Prior to joining MaRS, he led business development for Hydrogenics Corporation (now Cummins) through the launch of the company’s fuel cell and hydrogen generation divisions. He also co-founded Sustainable Energy Technologies (now Eguana Technologies), a leading Canadian provider of power electronics for the solar power industry. He has also served on the Energy Transformation Network of Ontario, on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Clean Water Agency, and on the investment committee for Arctern Ventures fund 2.

CLIMATE INNOVATION BOARD

The MaRS Climate Innovation Board provides non-binding, strategic advice to members of MaRS leadership that serve our startup and partner communities.

Paul Murphy

Paul Murphy

Board Chair, Ontario Energy Association

Paul Murphy

Paul has been involved with the planning and operation of the Ontario and North American electric system for over 35 years. A registered engineer, he was formerly president and CEO of IESO.

Lisa DeMarco

Lisa DeMarco

Senior Partner, Resilient LLP

Lisa DeMarco

With over two decades of experience in law, regulation, policy, and advocacy relating to energy and climate change, Lisa represents several governments and energy companies, including the Ontario Energy Board and the National Energy Board.

Nicolle Butcher

Nicolle Butcher

Senior Vice President, Renewable Generation and Energy Markets, Ontario Power Generation (OPG)

Nicolle Butcher

Nicolle is responsible for OPG’s commercial business functions, such as energy trading, acquisitions and contracting. She brings over 20 years of experience in business development, asset management and more.

David McFadden

David McFadden

President and CEO, Generation 4 Capital Corporation

David McFadden

David brings decades of leadership, including more than 30 years at Gowling WLG, and experience on the boards of Toronto Hydro, the Toronto Region Board of Trade, and the Des Nedhe Group.

Steve Baker

Steve Baker

Board Member, IESO

Steve Baker

A Certified Professional Accountant and executive, Steve has over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, always applying sound strategy through the lens of strong financial acumen and governance.

Luke Gilgan

Luke Gilgan

Director of Programs, Gilgan Family Office

Luke Gilgan

Luke completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance Acting at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in 2005, followed by a brief period working in the field.

In 2010, Luke completed York University’s Bachelor of Education program, and went on to spend 4 years teaching in ‘at-risk’ settings in the Toronto District School Board.

Throughout that time, he was also serving as a board member for The Peter Gilgan Foundation. In 2014 he left teaching to lead a strategic review of Foundation giving strategies going forward and began managing the day-to-day operations of the Foundation. He also played a significant role in the development of the Gilgan Family Office throughout that period.

Luke then completed his Executive MBA at the Ivey Business School, graduating in 2020. Currently, Luke is the Director of Programs at the Gilgan Family Office and sits on the Board of Directors of Mattamy Asset Management, where he chairs the Sustainability Committee of the Board. Luke also serves on the Board of Governors at the Stratford Festival of Canada.

Luke resides in Toronto, is happily married, and is the father to a 10-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. They are the accomplishments of which he is most proud.

Marcius Extavour

Marcius Extavour

Chief Climate Solutions Officer, TIME CO2

Marcius Extavour

Marcius Extavour is a scientist and leader working at the intersection of deep tech innovation, business, capital, community, and storytelling to help solve problems that matter to people. As Chief Climate Solutions Officer at TIMECO2, he is building a media engine to help communicate the business value of decarbonization, the energy transition, and nature restoration. A widely published innovation practitioner and speaker, he is an active member of the U.S. National Academies of Science Board on Energy & Environmental Systems, University of Michigan’s Global CO2 Initiative, University of Ottawa’s Institute on Governance, Carbontech Leadership Council of New York University’s Carbon to Value Program, and Neste's Advisory Council on Circular Economy.

Dr. Extavour’s work has been featured by The Atlantic, New York Times, the Economist, Financial Times, Bloomberg, CNBC, Nature Physics, Physical Review Letters, Applied Physics Letters, PBS NOVA, BNN Bloomberg, Bloomberg Green, and TVO's The Agenda.He speaks globally on themes including the role of business and investing in solving for climate energy and nature, the role of science technology and innovation in building a net-zero nature positive and socially just world, and exponential technologies. In 2019 he was named a 2019 VERGE Vanguard Fellow as one of 20 dreamers, pioneers, entrepreneurs and others leading the clean economy.

He previously served as Chief Scientist and Executive Vice President of Climate & Energy at XPRIZE Foundation where he developed and led the execution of the foundation’s portfolio of energy and climate change innovation programs, including the $100M XPRIZE Carbon Removal funded by the Musk Foundation, and the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE. His work in the private sector includes roles at Ontario Power Generation, Nortel Networks, and the Council of Canadian Academies. Extavour has also shaped government policies and practices supportive of innovation in clean energy and critical materials as congressional AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow in the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources in Washington, DC. He holds a Ph.D. and MSc. in quantum optics and atomic physics, and a BASc in engineering science from the University of Toronto.

Jane Kearns

Jane Kearns

Partner, Evok Innovations

Jane Kearns

Jane is a recognized leader in sustainable innovation and leverages over 25 years of experience in clean technology, sustainability and venture capital. She has co-founded, scaled and exited a renewable energy company.

Prior to Evok, Jane was Vice President, Growth Services and Senior Advisor, Cleantech at MaRS Discovery District, a launchpad for Canadian startups, where she oversaw development and delivery of products and services for 1,100 tech and hard tech ventures.

Jane sits on the boards of Clear Blue Technologies International (TSXV: CBLU) and Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation IV (NASDAQ: DCRD), is an advisory board member for StandUp Ventures and Amplify Capital, and was a member of the Expert Panel on Clean Growth for the Canadian Climate Institute. She is a Cleantech and Energy faculty member at Singularity University, and holds an MBA from Columbia University.

Natalia Moudrak

Natalia Moudrak

Managing Director, Climate Risk Advisory, Aon

Natalia Moudrak

Natalia works with Aon’s clients to help increase resilience against climate-driven physical risks, facilitate transition to the low carbon economy and enable new investment / climate-driven growth opportunities. She also lends her subject matter expertise to drive the placement and development of carbon markets insurance solutions.

Previously, Natalia was a Managing Director, Climate Resiliency Leader at Aon’s Public Sector Partnership team, focused on developing innovative solutions to help public institutions reduce volatility and increase the resiliency of their mission.

Prior to Aon, she worked as a Director of Climate Resilience at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, held sustainability consulting and risk assurance roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada, and was a Board Member at the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative.

She is now a Board Member in Chicago-based Midwest Sustainability Network and represents Aon on FAST-Infra Label Executive Advisory Committee.

Tyler Hamilton

Tyler Hamilton

Senior Director, Cleantech

Tyler Hamilton

Tyler Hamilton is Senior Director of Climate at MaRS and guides all climate-related activities for ventures, corporate partners and investors, including the flagship Mission from MaRS program. He is also on the board of the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association (OCTIA) and a member of the XPRIZE Brain Trust. Previous to joining MaRS, Tyler spent two decades as a journalist and wrote extensively about Canada’s clean technology sector and global cleantech trends. Most recently he was editor-in-chief of business and sustainability magazine Corporate Knights. He also spent 13 years at the Toronto Star, where he reported on Canada’s energy sector and wrote a popular weekly column on clean energy technologies and trends. In 2011, Tyler authored Mad Like Tesla, a book that examines the various barriers to clean energy innovation and surveys the landscape of some potentially world-changing clean technologies. A recipient of the Cleantech Group’s “Pioneer” award for his early writings on the sector, Tyler was also recognized in 2016 on Canada’s “Clean50” list for his thought leadership on clean energy and climate issues.

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