Sara Holland

I am a passionate advocate of scientist-founders and academic founders in synbio. I was previously a postdoc for 8 years in yeast molecular biology, and I am now a qualified patent attorney helping a range of clients in the biotech space to protect and maximize the value of their IP.

I am passionate about creating social and economic value through the implementation of Synthetic Biology and Genome Engineering. With deep expertise in High Through out Genome Engineering, Lab Automation, Protein Engineering and Cellular Biology, I strive to help entrepreneurs, founders and academicians solve technical and business challenges

MAYUKH GUHA, PHD.

Senior Scientist with Aether Biomachines

Kevin is an entrepreneur and scientist working in building, funding and commercializing new technologies that solve problems that impact health and climate change. He has humble beginnings as a leader of the Queen's University Genetically Engineered Machine team where he graduated with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry. In 2014, after dropping out of grad school, he founded Hyasynth Bio which is creating the future supply chain for the Cannabis industry by producing cannabinoids using engineered yeast instead of growing plants. Hyasynth was part of the first cohort ever of the IndieBio accelerator programs by SOSV and has since been featured as a ClimateTech100 and HealthTech100 company.

Kevin chen

CEO & Founder of Hyasynth

sam riccheza

Proven, respected leader, and advisor with an entrepreneurial spirit refined over 30 years of diverse industry and situational experience delivering bottom-line results. Expertise in developing innovative strategy and building high performing cross-functional technical and non-technical teams. An engaging communicator and relationship builder with a deep passion for building strong connections and networks.

I work with organizations that need leadership, innovative thinking and strategic focus.  I seek organizations that aim to align their strategy with their values.  Having hired and managed many high-performance teams both scientific and non-scientific, I believe the best leaders help those around them find the best in themselves and in others to help them find fulfillment and do their best work.

Senior Life Sciences Executive

I help founders build great companies - especially if they are focused on solving big and impactful problems.I am the Director of Innovation Boost Zone in Toronto, Canada.

Harry Gandhi

Founder of Innovation Boost Zone

I help founders build great companies - especially if they are focused on solving big and impactful problems.I am the Director of Innovation Boost Zone in Toronto, Canada.

Marshall Mayne

Carlyle Peterson Lawyers LLP

A Chartered Accountant and senior executive with a diverse range of executive management experience in both private and public companies and board of director experience in private businesses and public sector entities. He has held senior roles with companies in a broad range of industries including banking, venture capital, aviation, manufacturing and health care. He was the Chief Financial Officer for a publicly traded, multi business line specialty aviation services company that achieved significant growth through acquisition, having built the finance, treasury and reporting infrastructure. He has also held several senior roles in the banking industry including positions where he was the senior executive responsible for lending, risk management, and structured finance with a Canadian Chartered Bank.

Rick jankura

Founder of Innovation Boost Zone

Professional C level finance executive with extensive international experience in raising capital, project and human resource management, finance, accounting, costing, information technology and business development.

Geoffrey De liberato

President Thrive Strategic Business Solutions Inc.

Jeff has a well-developed understanding of how to commercialize technology and services in B2B markets globally. His sales, marketing, and go-to-market strategy acumen have been honed through over 43 years experience in building and managing technology businesses. With 20 years of experience in large enterprise sales, marketing and product management with leading companies including Microsoft, CA, EDS and HP. As a serial CEO over the past 23 years, he has led startups through commercialization, funding, growth, and acquisition in the enterprise Management, Sales Enablement and Cloud Security categories.

jeff campbell

Business Development and Strategy