SFU VentureLabs

Andrew Elphinstone serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at SFU VentureLabs, bringing over 30 years of management experience in technology business development and B2B relationships. He has co-founded and exited a technology company and led the expansion of business units and product development functions across startup and established organizations in the UK and Canada. His work has resulted in intellectual property, novel technologies, and products and services delivered to major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in North America and Europe.

Bruce H. Clarke serves as Chairman of the Byron Bay Community Association and holds a committee member position with the organization. He has board-level experience in the legal services sector and possesses expertise in negotiation, management, risk management, alternative dispute resolution, and strategic planning.

Chris Stairs is co-founder and managing partner at Venture Primer, where he developed a SaaS platform for sales-readiness targeting early-stage founders. With over 25 years in business development and venture advisory, he has guided more than 150 early-stage ventures through financial modeling, fundraising, and go-to-market planning, contributing to over $15 million in startup capital raised. His prior experience includes directing $130 million in global revenues for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, serving as VP of Sales for a publicly traded EdTech company, and holding faculty and advisory roles with SFU Beedie School of Business, SFU VentureLabs, BCIT, and Tamwood Global StartUp School.

Chuck Hamilton is an Executive in Residence at SFU VentureLabs who advises startups and organizations on leadership, innovation, and technology. His background includes roles as Chief Learning Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and executive at IBM, alongside work as a startup coach and associate faculty member. His writing on leadership and organizational development has been published in Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, Canadian Business, and other publications.

Dave Thomas is a Senior Partner at Rocket Builders and Managing Director at Macsailing. He advises technology companies and manages the Market Readiness Program at Rocket Builders, with prior roles including Director of Programs at Venture Labs and General Manager of the Canadian Financing Forum from 2003 to 2010. Thomas has held management positions at four venture-backed technology companies, serves as an angel investor and adviser, holds an MBA from UBC, and has coached Canada's Olympic Sailing Team.

Floyd Sijmons is an operations executive with over 15 years of experience in scaling startups and managing organizational transformation across B2B SaaS and multi-sided marketplace businesses. As Operations Director at New Ventures BC, he advises and mentors founders while serving as an investor and advisor to early-stage companies. He holds a Master of Science in Strategic Management from RSM Erasmus University.

Giovanni Gerbolini is an entrepreneur and engineer serving as Entrepreneur in Residence at SFU VentureLabs. In 2019, he co-founded a medical technology startup that developed a portable electronic device for medication dosing and consumption tracking, where he served as COO with responsibility for fundraising, product development, regulatory approvals, and operations. He also works with venture capital firms as a venture partner and scout, with accelerators as a mentor, and with startups as a fractional COO and advisor across industries including health tech, biotech, clean tech, and consumer electronics.

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Grant R. Jay is a senior advisor for growth and go-to-market execution at Rocket Builders with over 15 years of experience in business development and enterprise sales. His background spans satellite technology, quantum cybersecurity, industrial AI and IoT, human capital management systems, and heavy industry sectors including mining, utilities, and infrastructure. He has expertise in translating complex industrial workflows into enterprise contracts within regulated environments and leveraging Canadian innovation grants and procurement frameworks to commercialize advanced technology solutions.

Hamish Dobson is an executive-in-residence at SFU VentureLabs. He has domain experience in video systems, security technology, optical and telecom networking, and semiconductors, and works as a product executive and advisor.

Jacque-Lynne Johnson is an intellectual property and project management professional with a background in academic research science and expertise in technology licensing and research commercialization. Over the past decade, she has worked with researchers and innovators to develop strategies for protecting and commercializing novel technologies, while managing large project portfolios. Her experience spans ecosystem development, problem-solving, and collaboration across research and innovation sectors.

James Derbyshire is Chair of Ionomr Innovations Inc and serves as a board member and advisor to growth-stage companies. He brings over 24 years of CEO experience across six exited startups, has raised over $100 million in funding, and has managed multiple acquisitions and IPO preparations on major exchanges. Derbyshire serves as a mentor through organizations including New Ventures BC and CDL Vancouver, and maintains angel investment activity dating to 1992.

John Seminerio is an entrepreneur and board member with over 40 years of experience in telecommunications, networking, and computing. He co-founded OctigaBay Systems Corporation, which was acquired by Cray Inc. for over $155 million in 2006, and previously served as president and CEO of Abatis Systems Corporation, sold to Redback Networks for $1.3 billion in 2000. He currently serves as board chair of Fusion Genomics Corporation, holds board and advisory positions at several technology companies, and mentors entrepreneurs at SFU Venturelabs.

Lynn Warburton is a Senior Marketing Advisor at SFU VentureLabs with over 20 years of experience in marketing communications and strategy. She operates a creative agency while serving as a fractional CMO, developing integrated marketing and communications strategies across academic, technology, government, and non-profit sectors. Her work has included campaigns to increase student enrollment, government support, public awareness, and partnerships, and has been recognized with Judges' Choice and CASE awards for storytelling and video.

Malcolm Kendall is an executive in residence at Innovation UBC with over three decades of experience founding, operating, and advising technology and life science companies. He co-founded Microbiome Insights and Indel Therapeutics, held leadership roles at Semios Technologies and Inimex Pharmaceuticals, and spent a decade in venture capital at MDS Capital, Hatteras Venture Partners, and Intersouth Partners. Kendall has taught venture creation and biotechnology at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School and SFU's Segal Graduate School of Business, and currently mentors founders through Innovation UBC, CDL, and other programs while advising companies on formation, strategy, and investment readiness through CDG Ventures.

Marni Rabasso is co-founder of Two Pebbles Ventures and brings over 30 years of technology leadership experience, including roles in organizations ranging from 5 to 15,000 employees across three continents. Her background spans high-growth software execution, team building, and global business development, with a focus on decentralization in technology infrastructure. She has worked across diverse international markets in technology commercialization and business scaling.

Michael Staton is a Partner at Hypernova Capital focused on early-stage venture investing. He has founded multiple companies and invests in innovation-focused sectors including education and technology markets in underserved regions globally.

Modestus Obochi is a biotech and pharmaceutical executive with over 25 years of leadership experience across startups and global enterprises. He has led more than $5 billion in strategic transactions, managed P&Ls up to $1 billion, and overseen portfolios spanning branded small molecules, biologics, sterile injectables, cell therapies, and medical devices across more than 100 countries. Currently serving as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Lupin, he brings expertise in M&A, business development, product launches, and portfolio management.

Omar Nsouli is a Marketing Associate at SFU VentureLabs and a marketing student at Simon Fraser University. He has experience in social media, event coordination, and teamwork.

Robert Lewis-Manning is a marine transportation executive and strategic advisor with over two decades of leadership experience across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, currently serving as Entrepreneur in Residence at SFU VentureLabs. His work includes advising technology startups in the defence and maritime-security sectors, supporting business development in the ports sector, and previous involvement in refreshing the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority's strategic direction and building partnerships with coastal First Nations. He holds degrees in Political Science, International Relations, and Business Administration.

Nana Hasegawa is an entrepreneur and engineer who co-founded a medical technology startup in 2019, serving as COO to develop a portable electronic medication dispensing device and oversee areas including fundraising, product development, regulatory approvals, and operations. She currently works as an Entrepreneur in Residence at SFU VentureLabs, and also serves as a venture partner, scout, mentor, fractional COO, and advisor to venture capital firms, accelerators, and startups. Her work spans industries including med tech, health tech, biotech, food tech, ag tech, clean tech, energy storage, consumer electronics, construction, mining, and real estate.

Yutaro Hara is a marine transportation executive and strategic advisor with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, and currently serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at SFU VentureLabs. His work includes advising technology startups in the defence and maritime-security sectors, supporting business development in the ports sector, and assisting organizations at the intersection of commercial activity, public policy, marine safety, and coastal community interests. He holds degrees in Political Science, International Relations, and Business Administration.