ventureLAB INNOVATION CENTRE

o/a ventureLAB

Program Associate - 202513

Position Profile

About ventureLAB

ventureLAB is a leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies in Canada. Our organization is led by seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders with decades of industry experience in building IP-rich start-ups, scale-ups, and global multinationals to help businesses scale. Located at the heart of Ontario’s innovation corridor in York Region, ventureLAB is part of one of the biggest and most diverse tech communities in Canada. Since 2011, ventureLAB has enabled over 4,000 tech ventures to create over 6,800 jobs and raise more than $420 million in investment capital through our initiatives focused on raising capital, talent retention, technology and IP commercialization, and customer acquisition. Together with our community of entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and partners, we enable technology startups to accelerate the commercialization of transformational products on a global scale. ventureLAB is home to the Hardware Catalyst Initiative— Canada’s only lab and incubator for hardware and semiconductor-focused companies.

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Our Vision

Born Global. Built to Scale. Inclusive by Design. Inspire a new generation of global founders who choose Canada to scale IP-rich tech titans creating innovative hardware and scale-ready enterprise software solutions that transform communities and establish a blueprint for a more sustainable, inclusive tech ecosystem.

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Our Mission

Powering hardtech founders to build and scale globally competitive ventures that advance Canada's knowledge-based economy

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Our Values — Team RIVIR

• Relentless: We are tenacious and resilient. We follow through and remove roadblocks so together we succeed and go further.
• Inclusive: We are empathetic, open-minded and collaborate respectfully so that we build trust with each other and value diverse opinions, ideas and perspectives to learn and make better decisions.
• Visionary: We inspire bold futures with our founders, team, partners and community by challenging each other respectfully and thinking differently.
• Innovative: We celebrate ingenuity and empower the team to create new ideas, processes and strategies. We are curious and resourceful by asking questions for clarity
• Results: We are proactive and plan. We are accountable and focused. We are direct and transparent through fact-based discussions.

ventureLAB is made up of passionate, driven individuals, and is growing quickly. It is a fast-paced, flexible environment where individual contributors make a big difference and work collaboratively to achieve shared goals. We are proud to be one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures and aGreat Place to Work®.

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Position Profile

Reporting to the Senior Manager – Programs, the Program Associate will support the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of ventureLAB’s programs, with a specific focus on executing high-impact experiences for startups scaling through our international and soft-landing programs under CanadaCatalyst. The Program Associate will serve as a key point of contact for founders, collaborators, and internal teams, playing a critical role in shaping the founder journey and strengthening ventureLAB’s innovation ecosystem.

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ventureLAB seeks resourceful and proactive team members who are energized by working in a fast-paced environment with multiple moving parts. You are comfortable taking initiative, can independently manage program areas, and bring a strategic lens to operational execution. You are curious, collaborative, and bring strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.

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Responsibilities

As a Program Associate, you’ll collaborate cross-functionally to advance ventureLAB’s strategic priorities while leading the execution and delivery of the Canada Catalyst and SUV programs. You’ll play a crucial role in coordinating operations, engaging startups, and maintaining stakeholder relationships to ensure a high-impact, seamless program experience.

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Key Responsibilities

Program Management

• Lead end-to-end delivery of assigned programs: manage application cycles, evaluation, onboarding, milestones, and follow-up.
• Support assessment processes by coordinating application reviews, preparing due diligence materials, and drafting program agreements.

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Startup Engagement

• Source and recruit high-potential startups through outreach campaigns, partner referrals, and cold/inbound efforts.
• Act as a primary point of contact for a portfolio of startups, guiding them from onboarding through program completion.
• Plan and execute program events—workshops, advisory sessions, demo days, and curated community experiences.

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Stakeholder & Ecosystem Engagement

• Work closely with Founder Services to track startup progress and ensure timely closure of milestones.
• Collaborate with Marketing to surface and amplify success stories, share resources via news letters, and keep community channels active.

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Reporting & Operations

• Measure and track program KPIs, participant milestones, and feedback to fuel continuous improvement.
• Maintain accurate CRM data (Salesforce) and prepare reporting-ready documentation.
• Draft internal/external reports, program summaries, impact metrics, and success storytelling forfunders and stakeholders.

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Why This Role Matters

• You’re a key driver in enabling startups to scale and succeed.
• You’ll contribute to building a strong, sustainable Canadian innovation ecosystem.
• You’ll gain hands-on experience managing programs with measurable impact, engaging with founders, mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners.

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Qualifications & Skills

• A post-secondary degree in business, innovation, or a related field, with 3 to 5 years of experience in program delivery, stakeholder engagement, or innovation ecosystems.
• Proven experience supporting entrepreneurs, early-stage ventures, or innovation-driven initiatives; familiarity with the Canadian startup landscape and international founder support is an asset.
• Experience with the Start-up Visa program or other international expansion programs is a strong advantage.
• Strong organizational, project management, and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Proactive communicator with strong verbal and written skills; able to represent the organization with professionalism and credibility.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Proficient with tools such as Microsoft Office, G-Suite, and CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred); experience with Eventbrite, Zoom, or equivalent is an asset.

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Salary Range: $65,000 - $70,000 CAD per annum

In addition to salary, ventureLAB offers a comprehensive benefits package, learning and development opportunities and 4 weeks vacation.

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Why join ventureLAB?

• Opportunity to be part of a dynamic innovation ecosystem.
• Collaborative and inclusive work culture.
• Impactful role in supporting startups and technology leaders.

Our Hybrid Work Structure

At ventureLAB, we have a hybrid work model that balances flexibility for employees with opportunities for in-office collaboration. This position is eligible for remote work. All ventureLAB team members, regardless of hybrid status, are required on-site each Thursday and for events, meetings and other in-person activities.

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How to Apply

Apply by July 23, 2025 to hr@venturelab.ca quoting “Program Associate - 202513” in the subject line. Include your resume, salary expectations, and a brief note telling us why you’d be a great addition to the ventureLAB team. Early submissions are encouraged as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

At ventureLAB, we value diversity, inclusion, and respect. Diverse experience, perspectives, and backgrounds bring great ideas and create stronger teams — we embrace it, because we know that by including everyone, we all thrive. Accommodations are available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the recruitment process.

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We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview willbe contacted.