Push Your Potential

Get ready to push your growth and change the future

Slurp founder with productSuper Magic Taste founder with productFounder with product

​We believe great businesses can change the world.

Venturepark Labs is a non-profit supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in the food & wellness categories – we are a CPG ecosystem.

​Being part of the Park allows us to channel the experience and expertise of all the Park to push our entrepreneurs’ potential even further, and make our world even better.

 

PUSH YOUR
IMPACT

PUSH YOUR
GROWTH

PUSH YOUR
POTENTIAL

Icon of a dollar sign with a graduation hat atop it

$200m

annual revenue achieved by our alumni

Icon of a rocket launching

225

brands launched since 2015

Icon of a boxed product being supported by a hand

30,000

stores currently stock our alumnis’ products

Our History

  • Initially founded in 2015 as District Ventures Accelerator and District Ventures Kitchen by Canadian business icon Arlene Dickinson.
  • In May 2021, this initiative became Venturepark Labs—a proud community within Venturepark—Canada’s only business growth ecosystem.
  • In 2024 – things changed?
Arlene Dickinson

Our Team

Marla Larock

Marla Larock

President

Marla Larock

Marla Larock

President

Marla brings 25 years of marketing and innovation expertise in the food and beverage sector across CPG, retail, and restaurant industries in both Canada and Australia. Marla’s experience spans client and advisory roles, where she has successfully driven brand and organizational growth in highly competitive environments. Her impressive portfolio includes work with industry giants like General Mills, Procter & Gamble, Nabisco, Second Cup, Kellogg’s, Goodman Fielder, and Australian icon Arnott’s, managing both market leaders and emerging brands.

As an accomplished and entrepreneurial leader, she’s an invaluable addition to our team in this time of growth and expansion. Her passion for Canadian-led innovation and fostering growth in this space aligns well with our mission of helping early-stage entrepreneurs thrive and overcome barriers they face by increasing access to resources, mentorship, and networks.

In her new role as President, Marla will lead Venturepark in advancing our mission as Canada’s leading accelerator for food, beverage and wellness entrepreneurs. She is committed to expanding our organization’s reach and impact nationally, and furthering important relationships with our valued partners. Marla holds an HBA and MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University.
Andrea Pember

Andrea Pember

Head of Finance

Andrea Pember

Andrea Pember

Head of Finance

Andrea has worked both internationally and in Canada as a financial controller. Andrea has received her Chartered Accountant designation and has held senior finance positions for a range of companies both in the non profit sector and those backed by private equity. She understands the challenges and opportunities experienced by small business and entrepreneurs.
Kalyan Chinnamanthur

Kalyan Chinnamanthur

Head of Program Operations

Kalyan Chinnamanthur

Kalyan Chinnamanthur

Head of Program Operations

Kalyan has many years of experience leading large multinational consumer packaged goods brands in corporate strategy, finance, and operations. As Head of Programs at Venturepark, he is committed to helping entrepreneurs build the fundamentals needed to achieve sustainable growth. Kalyan brings a commitment to continuous improvement and a strong growth mindset to lead the Accelerator team.
Katherine Puhl

Kathryn Puhl

Accelerator Co-ordinator

Katherine Puhl

Kathryn Puhl

Accelerator Co-ordinator

Katherine is a skilled communications professional with a deep background in marketing for small and medium business. At Venturepark she is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the experience for each company in the Accelerator program. Katherine brings to the team her people first approach and her ability to bring to the program high value connections and content that help each company to grow and progress on their own unique journey. 

Michelle Neilson

Michelle Neilson

Accelerator Executive in Residence

Michelle Neilson

Michelle Neilson

Accelerator Executive in Residence

Michelle has experienced the joys and challenges of entrepreneurship firsthand. In 2004 she co-founded McLean Meats, Canada’s first organic and preservative-free deli meat company. Today she is pleased to be sharing insights from her journey and supporting CPG startups as they scale their business. Michelle believes in financial planning as the key building block for success and in forming the company mission, vision and values to guide the many decisions founders face each day. 
Rob Horricks

Rob Horricks

Accelerator Executive in Residence

Rob Horricks

Rob Horricks

Accelerator Executive in Residence

Rob brings his expertise in the consumer-packaged goods retail space to the Venturepark Accelerator Cohort companies. Rob founded Blush Lane Organic Grocery Chain in 2004 and post sale he continued as CEO within the Spud.ca group of companies until 2023.  As an Executive in Residence, Rob shares his expertise in the importance of having a strong business model, strategic organizational structure and all things finance.
Serene Martin

Serene Martin

Accelerator Executive in Residence

Serene Martin

Serene Martin

Accelerator Executive in Residence

Serene has over 20 years of experience in the consumer-packaged goods sector.  She brings hands on experience as the New Business Development Lead for Tree of Life,  a full service nationwide product distributor and partner to Venturepark. As an Accelerator Executive in Residence, Serene shares her expertise to support early-stage consumer packaged goods brands by giving companies insightful and applicable feedback to help them to strategically view their value proposition, branding, distribution and sales channel strategy. 

Marlis Bens

Marlis Bens

Head of Resource Development

Marlis Bens

Marlis Bens

Head of Resource Development

Marlis has a background in leading product development and regulatory affairs in both grocery retail and large-scale food manufacturing.  As part of the Venturepark team she has guided over 150 early-stage food and beverage companies to design and launch and their products through the Concept to Market Sprint program. Marlis believes that every founder’s journey is unique even when they share the common goal to build a great brand.
Lucy Shields

Lucy Shields

Resource Co-ordinator

Lucy Shields

Lucy Shields

Resource Co-ordinator

Lucy brings a diverse set of experiences to Venturepark including a background in food manufacturing. In 2020 she was a key member of the team that lead the building and operation of a plant-based protein manufacturing company in Alberta. Lucy has expertise in building the training, health and safety, human resources, and operational programs that are critical for a growing manufacturing facility. Lucy has a passion for growing great ideas from the ground up and brings this drive and energy to Venturepark.
Stella Antonio

Stella Antonio

Incubator Kitchen General Manager

Stella Antonio

Stella Antonio

Incubator Kitchen General Manager

Stella has formal training as a chef and expertise in leading medium and large scale food production operations. Her unwavering commitment to supporting entrepreneurs, fostering product innovation and community building is key to Venturepark. Stella was named by The Peak Business Newsletter as one of their Emerging Leaders in 2024. With an eye toward the future, Stella is committed to Venturepark’s core values, “We put entrepreneurs first, we are impact driven and we strive for better.”
Hunter Molnar

Hunter Molnar

Incubator Kitchen Member Manager

Hunter Molnar

Hunter Molnar

Incubator Kitchen Member Manager

Hunter has a wide range of food industry experience ranging from the restaurant industry to food production facilities. She brings her diverse range of food production expertise to support the wide range of companies who make their food products at the Venturepark Incubator.  Hunter is focused on helping all members at the Incubator Kitchen to produce their products efficiently and safely and to feel welcome within the Incubator community.

Our Brands

[List of 25 key brand logos]

We bring the big players to the table

Get to know our partners

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