Azar Azad is the Co-founder and CEO of A.I. VALI Inc., a med-tech company leveraging AI to enhance clinicians’ ability to interpret medical images in real time and make informed diagnostic decisions. A.I. VALI was recently recognized as one of the Top 5 AI Healthcare Companies of 2024 by Silicon Valley Review. With a Ph.D. in Clinical Biochemistry and a Doctorate in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Azar brings over 27 years of experience as an assistant professor, lab director, and executive.

Her career includes roles as a scientific staff member at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department and as Business Development Officer, where she led the spin-out of Mount Sinai Services Inc. (MSS), a Contract Research Organization (CRO). Under her leadership, MSS became the first Canadian research lab to achieve ISO 15189 certification (per IQMH).

Azar co-founded a second Mount Sinai spin-off and A.I. VALI Inc. as her third venture. She is deeply committed to improving patient outcomes through timely, accurate, and cost-effective diagnoses. A certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Medical Device Auditor, Azar has a proven track record in FDA and Health Canada approvals for medical devices and assays. She has also published over 46 peer-reviewed papers.

Cindy Diogo is the CEO and co-founder of Consoul, a tech-driven platform at the intersection of wellness, technology, and work, dedicated to supporting caregivers by automating tasks and improving access to workplace benefits.

With nearly 20 years in HR and talent acquisition, she has built and scaled teams for global enterprises and deeply understands the challenges of balancing work and caregiving firsthand. Her passion for driving workplace innovation stems from personal experience—navigating the complexities of caregiving while managing a career.

Under her leadership, Consoul is reshaping how caregivers access support, leveraging AI-driven automation and employer-integrated benefits to prevent burnout and improve well-being. Cindy has secured non-dilutive funding, led employer pilots, and is recognized as a thought leader in the future of work. She’s on a mission to make caregiving visible, supported, and seamlessly integrated into modern workplaces.

Danielle Graham is Co-Founder of The Firehood and General Partner of Phoenix Fire, an angel network and fund focused on women in technology. Investing in early stage tech startups and advising for scaling tech at ventureLAB, Danielle is an important part of the angel community network, as a board member, investment officer and advisor to tech incubators. She managed the Market Readiness Fund at Ontario Centres of Excellence, Deloitte Human Capital Consultant and Women in Tech Program Manager at Communitech, and founder of the Fierce Founders Programs, the first female-focused accelerator and bootcamp series in Canada. Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Masters of Arts (M.A.) from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Trinity College, University of Toronto.

Jennifer Edey entered the SR&ED industry in 2010 as a business developer for a boutique SR&ED firm. She immediately fell in love with the industry and became passionate about helping Canadian businesses grow. Jennifer was fortunate enough to work in various roles which allowed her to learn all aspects of the SR&ED program and become an expert in the industry. Jennifer is a Senior Manager in the Global Investment & Innovation Incentives Practice at Deloitte Canada with 15+ years of experience.

Jennifer Martin is a SR&ED Account Executive at Deloitte. Jennifer thrives on helping Start-ups, Tech companies, Manufacturing and Life Science & Medical communities. Jennifer assists Canadian corporations in a variety of sectors, by helping them get sizeable cash refunds via the SR&ED program. Jennifer’s natural relationship-building skills, and genuine desire to learn more about people, lends itself well to assisting founders in their funding journey. Jennifer is always happy to “SR&ED the News” !!!

Having over 15 years of experience in early childhood education, Natalie combines her passion for creativity and wellness to create unique and innovative products that are safe, fun, and beneficial for children. Recognizing the power of play as an essential tool for learning, Natalie set out to craft non-toxic, eco-friendly modeling dough that is as gentle on the environment as it is on little hands. Her award-wining, patent-pending formulation is the eco-conscious choice for parents who care about the planet and their children’s health. Natalie’s mission is to inspire and empower children to learn through play, while also supporting their physical and mental health.

Sherry Shannon-Vanstone is a purpose-driven serial tech entrepreneur known for building high-performing teams and leading start-ups to successful exits, including two IPOs and two acquisitions. With a background as a cryptologic mathematician for the U.S. government and leadership roles in cybersecurity at MasterCard, Cylink, Certicom, and TrustPoint Innovation, she played a pivotal role in the commercialization of Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), securing mobile devices worldwide. In 2018, she founded Profound Impact, an AI-driven data analytics firm matching funding opportunities with researchers.

Sherry has been widely recognized for her contributions, including an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Western University and induction into the Kitchener-Waterloo Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. She serves on boards such as CANARIE and APMA Project Arrow and co-founded Women Funding Women to bridge the funding gap for women-led ventures. A sought-after speaker, she champions leadership, entrepreneurship, and corporate collaboration.

Victoria Marshman is a passionate entrepreneur, coach, and community leader dedicated to empowering women. Since 2015, she has launched and scaled three companies, raised over $300,000 for Canadian charities, and been featured in Vogue, Toronto Star, CTV, and National Post. She is the Co-founder of Mave & Chez, a luxury ergonomic slipper brand designed for women, by women. In under two years, Mave & Chez secured a deal on Dragon’s Den, launched in Nordstrom, served over 5,000 customers, and raised nearly $1 million from investors. A former competitive dancer, Victoria is deeply committed to women’s health and mentorship through her coaching practice, Unstoppably YOU, helping female entrepreneurs grow purpose-driven brands and build their legacies.