About
Sushmitha Thirumalaivasan is a Downtown Development Officer at the City of Kitchener with over five years of experience in economic development, business attraction, and community economic growth. She has led municipally funded initiatives supporting business expansion and entrepreneurship, including a business attraction program that supported 30+ businesses and created 80+ jobs, and programs serving 400+ small businesses through growth planning and commercialization support. Her background combines Chemical Engineering with economic development expertise, and her work has focused on downtown revitalization, cross-sector partnerships, and culture-led community activation initiatives.
Experience
- City of KitchenerDowntown Development Officercurrent2026 — presentKitchener, Ontario, Canada
- School of Cities, University of TorontoLeading Social Justice Cohort - Project: Culture as Infrastructure2026
- Treefrog AcceleratorManager, Business Attraction (JumpSTART Initiative)2024 — 2026
- Treefrog AcceleratorManager, Accelerator Programs2024 — 2026
- Her SamayaFounder & Cultural Experience Director2024 — 2026Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Technology AlbertaStartup-Program Associate2023 — 2024
- Technology AlbertaBusiness Development - FIRST Jobs program2023
- Cohesic IncBusiness Development Associate2022 — 2023Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Areto LabsBusiness Development Consultant2021 — 2022Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Areto LabsSales Specialist2021
- InstaSerumCo-Founder and Business Development Manager2021 — 2022Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Flywheel Pro Bono ConsultingProject Advisor & Consultant2021Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- DMZCo-Founder, Prospeer @Women Founders Launchpad2021
- Brampton Venture Zone by TMUCo-Founder2020 — 2021Brampton, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Engineering, University of AlbertaGraduate Teaching Assistant2017 — 2021Greater Edmonton Metropolitan Area
- City of EdmontonSustainability Scholar - Research Analyst2018Edmonton, Canada Area
- Indian Institute of Technology, MadrasResearch Project Student2015 — 2016Greater Chennai Area
- Orchid PharmaSummer Research Intern2014India
- KENTZ ENGINEERING INDIA PRIVATE LIMITEDWinter Intern2013Greater Chennai Area
Education
- University of WaterlooFundamentals of Community Economic Development Year 1, Economic Development2026
- Toronto Metropolitan UniversityCertificate - Economic Development
- Anna University ChennaiBachelor’s Degree, Chemical Engineering
Skills & more
Business ConsultingSmall Business ConsultingExecutive SupportCivic EngagementEvent ManagementBrand ManagementBusiness Growth2Nonprofit Organizations2Business SupportBoard DevelopmentCommunity DevelopmentPolicy Development1
+12 more
Economic GrowthCommunity EngagementBudget ProposalsStartupsProgram ManagementNonprofit Board DevelopmentBoard GovernanceProgram CoordinationResearch CollaborationRelationship BuildingDriving ResultsAttention to DetailLanguages English
- Verified International Academic Qualifications — World Education Services
- Leading Through Policy Change — The Dais @ Toronto Metropolitan University
- Schulich Venture Certificate — Schulich Startups
- BoardShift Governance Curriculum — CivicAction
- Fundamentals of Agile Project Management — Project Management Institute
- Advanced Grant Writing: Understanding What A Funder Wants — Udemy
- KPMG Career Catalyst: Advisory Virtual Experience Program — KPMG Canada
- Introduction to Strategy Consulting: Virtual Experience Program — Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
- Leadership Fundamentals (20 week course) — Women in Leadership
- Business Development Foundations: Researching Market and Customer Needs — LinkedIn
From Sushmitha's professional profile.
Colleagues at Treefrog
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Sushmitha Thirumalaivasan work?
- Sushmitha Thirumalaivasan is Manager, Programs at Treefrog.
Same school
Also attended University of Waterloo343
Chamath PalihapitiyaFounder & CEO of Social Capital; CEO of 8090; All-In co-hostKarim GillaniGeneral Partner at Luge CapitalRohan MongaInvestment Associate at Luge CapitalAndrew MiklasGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorAniTalent Team at Hummingbird VenturesAlex KolicichInvestment Team at 8VC
+ 337 more
Also attended Toronto Metropolitan University7
Teija BeanHead of Product Design, Studio at Forum VenturesAlejandro PeredaAssociate at Forum VenturesCassandra DrakeFractional Expert, Digital Marketing at DMZMelissa DurrellVP of Marketing & Communications at Roseview Global IncubatorHarry DeardenClient Liaison/Business Analyst at Roseview Global IncubatorAlison CowlingMarketing Manager at Alacrity Canada
+ 1 more
Also attended Anna University Chennai16
Pavan OngoleAdvisor at MFV PartnersSeshadri SundaramChief Technology Officer at APXConnor DuffyInvestment Manager at Clean Growth FundLakshman Pachineela SeshadriIndependent Consultant at The Yield Lab Asia PacificAravind GanesanDirector of Capital Markets at Hum CapitalYogesh AnandChief Business Officer - International Operations at Pidilite Industries Limited
+ 10 more
Shared employers
Also worked at DMZ13
Matt SaundersCo-Founder and Partner at Fastbreak VenturesMana HosseiniManaging Partner at Apex Innovative Investments VenturesCameron WalkerInvestor at Boreal VenturesAdunni RufaiExpert-in-Residence, User Experience Design at DMZCassandra DrakeFractional Expert, Digital Marketing at DMZChris SnoyerFounder Network - Sales and GTM Strategy at DMZ
+ 7 more
Also worked at Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta3
Also worked at City of Edmonton1
Also worked at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras16
Raghu MadabushiInvestment Director at Samsung Catalyst FundNarendra BhandariGeneral Partner at SeafundVenkat ViswanathanAdvisor at AvilaSri Jaya Surya A PInvestment Analyst at VenturEastDr Ashok JhunjhunwalaAdvisor at Kalaari CapitalAditya RayInvestment Fellow at Shastra VC
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