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After years of building and investing in tech ventures, Garry Chan is now creating the kind of support system he once wished he had. At the heart of it all? Helping Canadian startups build ethical, impactful AI from the ground up, scaling from 1 to 100
Garry wears many hats: technology entrepreneur, investor, advisor, but above all, he’s a builder. With a career that spans artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and mentorship, Garry has become a go-to name in Canada’s tech ecosystem. As ventureLAB’s Chief AI Officer / Head of AI Initiatives, he’s not just following the AI wave, he’s helping build a Canadian ecosystem of AI-powered startups and shape its direction.
Garry’s journey has always been about more than just launching tech, it’s about building with purpose. At ventureLAB, Garry supports early-stage companies in refining and scaling their AI solutions. His mission? To help startups grow locally while thinking globally.
“I wish I had a ventureLAB in my early days,” says Garry. “If I want to build AI capabilities, I want a place where I can find the tools, the partners, potential customers and people who can brainstorm with me on how to build and scale tech.”
That sense of collaboration is at the core of his work. At ventureLAB, it’s not just about innovating fast, it’s about doing it right and doing it together.
Making AI Accessible and Accountable
At AI Partnerships Corp, where Garry serves as CTO, he’s tackling one of AI’s biggest hurdles: accessibility and optionality. The company helps businesses of all sizes tap into AI by building a global affiliate network and investing in enterprise-grade technologies. It’s part of a broader mission to democratize AI, not just for the biggest players, but for everyone.
Garry’s educational path is just as diverse as his professional one. He holds a BSc from the University of Calgary, an Executive MBA from Rotman School of Management, and an MSc from Carnegie Mellon University. It’s a powerful combo of technical depth and business acumen, exactly what’s needed when navigating the world of AI.
As first-time entrepreneurs, he and his cofounders often times had to adapt and learn on his own in real-time as they scaled the business. In hindsight, he felt he could have made fewer mistakes, worked even more effectively if there was a strong and supportive community of peers and partners. After all, entrepreneurship could be a pretty lonely journey.
The Right Way to Build AI
For Garry, building great AI isn’t just about what it does; it’s about how it’s built. “We need to build software with the right approach and the right people,” he says. “That way, you have a solid foundation from which to scale the technology, and not have to keep fixing what should’ve been done right the first time.”
His approach combines ethical frameworks with practical tools, pushing companies to think bigger and better. In his world, AI isn’t just powerful, it’s responsible, scalable, and designed to solve real problems.
A Passion for Growth, On and Off the Clock
Outside of the office, Garry is just as committed to growth, as a dad, a cook, and an adventurer. He loves hiking, skiing, badminton, and whipping up culinary creations with his son. His time at George Brown College’s culinary school taught him a lot more than recipes, it taught him the value of creativity, precision, and mixing things up. Some of Garry’s favorite recipes are a fusion of Asian and European foods, bringing together the best flavors.
Whether he’s blending French techniques with Hong Kong or Japanese flavors in the kitchen, or merging ethics with innovation in the boardroom, Garry is always exploring, learning, and refining.
Shaping the Future of AI in Canada
With his unique blend of technical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and collaborative mindset, Garry is helping define what the future of AI can look like in Canada, and beyond. Through his work at ventureLAB and AI Partnerships Corp, he’s enabling startups to scale AI solutions that are not only cutting-edge but also meaningful and responsible.
In a world where AI is advancing by the second, Garry Chan is asking the right questions, building the right teams, and helping Canada lead with integrity, creativity, and purpose.
