Growth Acceleration Program

Krista has been the driving force behind the creation of Momentum, a MaRS program helping scaling Canadian companies reach $100 million in revenue by 2024. Krista has been a passionate innovator and builder of technology-based businesses for over 30 years. She has spent her career working in and advising over 200 organizations, including public companies, high-growth firms and startups. Krista is an engineer, entrepreneur, mentor and expert problem solver. She has a unique combination of strategic, technical, operational and marketing expertise. And she is known for her comprehensive knowledge of the existing and emerging enterprise tech stack (architectures, technologies) and commercialization practices. Her greatest joys come from working with and learning from diverse, talented and ambitious people, as well as being a mother to three amazing young adults.

Dennis is Chief Venture Advisor and VP, Venture Programming at MaRS. Dennis is an experienced startup entrepreneur and C-suite executive, having scaled companies from incubation to more than $50 million revenue. He has been at MaRS since 2017 as a co-founder of and Executive in Residence in our Momentum program, a launchpad for global powerhouse companies. Dennis came to MaRS following his sale of TransGaming Inc., a leading digital media company in the cloud-based game market which he helped start and take public. In addition, he is an accomplished financial transaction advisor, having been involved in over $500 million of financing and M&A transactions in the past 10 years. He is also past-CEO of Equation Angels, Canada's second largest Angel network, whose model he helped architect in 2017. Dennis is a Chartered Business Valuator and holds a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Asvini leads projects focused on the implementation of strategic priorities across the MaRS Venture Services team. Most recently, she’s helped run the Women in Cleantech Challenge, a joint collaboration between MaRS and Natural Resources Canada. The goal of the challenge is to identify and empower top female innovators from across the country who are developing technologies to tackle the world’s most daunting environmental challenges. Prior to joining MaRS, Asvini worked at Oracle Canada where she headed projects that introduced customized software solutions to improve operational efficiency and client management processes. Before that, Asvini worked at a boutique consulting firm where she helped clients develop their learning and development strategy. Asvini has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, York University, and a B.A. in economics from the University of British Columbia.

Aoife manages client engagement for two intensive programs at MaRS, including leading the recruitment strategy and onboarding process for companies. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs, meeting new people and building relationships. Prior to joining MaRS, Aoife worked at EY where she managed the Entrepreneur Of The Year Program for Ontario. Aoife has an MSc in Marketing Practice from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and a BComm from University College Cork.

A successful entrepreneur, Mike comes to MaRS as the former CEO of two enterprise software companies working in commercial real estate and retail payments, respectively. He was also a ranked Wall Street analyst, as well as managing director at RBC Capital Markets, where he covered Apple and other technology companies for a decade. Mike holds a master’s degree in engineering from MIT and an MBA from Harvard. He also has certifications from MIT in artificial intelligence and blockchain technology.  

Tony leverages over 25 years of sales and senior leadership experience to challenge and inspire the next wave of Founders in achieving their unrealized potential. He guides management teams in executing growth plans and achieving consistent success where previously they had struggled to meet business objectives. Tony rose through the ranks of Gartner, a leading global research and advisory company. During his tenure, Gartner grew by driving 30+ consecutive quarters of double-digit growth. From individual contributor and sales management to sales leadership and senior corporate leadership, Tony’s charge: to drive consistent growth and retention programs that accelerate business performance across new and tenured sales professionals. As a MaRS Senior Advisor, Tony drives Growth Marketing and Sales Programming for Founders/CEOs and Sales Executives. He mentors’ entrepreneurs, supplying them with the necessary tools, skills and networks to accelerate consistent Growth results. Helping startups prepare for long-term scalability and consistent success. He currently works with ventures at MaRS, MaRS IAF, Stand Up Ventures and BDC.

Kristina joins us as an EIR with a specialization in the marketing function after spending 20+ years in the technology industry. Her most recent corporate experience includes senior leadership roles at Workbrain, DMTI Spatial and Ceridian. Her latest role was as the global Chief Marketing Officer at Ceridian which included a successful IPO on the NYSE and the TSX in 2018. In 2019 Kristina decided to leave her EVP and CMO position to found Cleary Leadership Inc. and now focuses on helping high performing individuals and fast-growth teams accelerate their performance through one-on-one executive coaching and consulting.

As executive in residence at MaRS, Daneal helps high-growth companies solve their unique talent attraction and retention challenges while encouraging them to invest in a people-centered strategy that emphasizes employee experience fundamentals. Her goal is to help companies mitigate future risks and build sustainable and vibrant cultures. Daneal’s fascination with tech began with her first leadership role in 1997, working for the Intel Corporation in China, and strengthened over 15 years of work with some of Toronto’s most innovative startups. She is a sought-out expert, entrepreneur, speaker and coach to founders and their executive teams, and winner of Canadian HR Reporter’s Top 25 HR Professional Award in 2017 and the HRD Reader’s Choice Award for Best Service Provider in 2018. In 2017 Daneal co-produced the inaugural #MoveTheDial event, an initiative dedicated to changing the face of tech leadership in Canada. #MoveTheDial was one of the largest gatherings of tech startup female leaders in Canada, including 100 founders and 40 venture capitalists. Daneal holds a master’s degree in international management and a certificate from the cross-cultural, advanced program in human resource management from the Rotman School of Business, and is a certified executive coach through the Coaches Training Institute.

A senior, award winning global executive leader with over 30 years’ experience, serving in roles such as Chief People Officer, Global Head of Talent as well as SVP, Human Resources for several multinational organizations. Faith is an entrepreneur, Principal & Founder of Infinite Potential HR Consulting & Coaching. She is currently working part time as a Senior Advisor, Talent at MaRS Discovery District. She also recently instructed part-time at York University in the disciplines of Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management. Faith serves as an active Professional Advisory Committee board member for degree programs for Sheridan College. Most recently, Faith has been awarded the 2021 induction into the Sheridan College, Pilon School of Business Hall of Fame. Faith has expertise and specialization in: Talent Management, Organizational Design & Development, HR Strategic Planning, Succession Planning, Talent Acquisition, Performance Management, Employee Relations, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Public speaking as well as media and public relations. Faith’s background has given her broad experience across industries such as, Technology, Pharmaceutical, Engineering, Manufacturing, HR Services, and Insurance.

Richard brings over 20 years of experience as a pharmaceutical industry executive, having led the development of innovative drugs, biologics, medical devices and combination products in several therapeutic areas, including metabolic diseases, regenerative medicine, bone repair and orthopaedics, haematology and nicotine addiction. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for overseeing all aspects of the product development process, from basic research, preclinical safety and toxicology, and clinical research to chemistry, manufacturing and regulatory submissions in the United States, Canada and Europe. He has extensive experience in the management of intellectual property, having successfully defended against and challenged competitors’ claims. Highlights

• Chief Operating Officer at Nicogen Inc.
• Chief Scientific Officer at ApoPharma Inc, a division of Apotex Inc.
• Director, Drug Development at Allelix Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (later NPS Pharmaceuticals)
• Co-founder of the Advanced Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering Consortium
• Served on the Scientific Advisory Committees of Cangene Corporation and Apotex Research
• PhD and Honors B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto

Michael has an outstanding track record of success leading companies to significant profitable growth results in large global public traded and mid-size private equity owned companies. Michael is a recognized leader in business growth strategy, sales excellence processes, product portfolio management, merger and acquisitions, change management and lean process execution. He supports two privately owned companies as an investor and member of the Board and is a personal coach for three CEO’s. Michael has a BS in political science and economics from Texas Lutheran University and completed certification studies at the Institute for Organizational Management at Notre Dame University.