Priya Balakumar

Priya Balakumar brings over eight years of experience in business development, client relations, and strategic advisory, with a focus on supporting innovative companies as they scale across global markets. At ventureLAB, Priya supports the Canada Catalyst Soft Landing and Start-up Visa programs, as well as TechEdge, ventureLAB’s scale-up initiative for HardTech and AI companies.

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As a key point of contact for founders, collaborators, and internal teams, Priya plays a vital role in shaping the founder journey and strengthening ventureLAB’s innovation ecosystem. She contributes to the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of ventureLAB’s international programs, creating high-impact experiences for scaling startups.

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Prior to joining ventureLAB, Priya held roles at Intellectual Property Ontario and Global Affairs Canada, where she managed large client portfolios and supported both Canadian and international businesses in their growth journeys. She holds an MSc in Management from Ivey Business School and a Bachelor of International Business from Carleton University, including an international exchange at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico.

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With global experience and a strong network across Ontario’s innovation ecosystem, Priya is passionate about enabling inclusive growth and helping startups unlock their potential in the Canadian market.

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