Enterprise

Krista is the managing director of MaRS Enterprise. Krista has been a passionate innovator and builder of technology-based businesses for over 25 years, and has personally advised and been actively involved in over 200 startups. For the past four years, Krista has been the driving force behind the creation of MaRS’ globally-leading Enterprise sector. She works with entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, investors and technologists who are applying innovation and cutting-edge technologies to create solutions that are advancing the competitiveness of global workers and workplaces. Krista has experience working in both large public companies and in startups. She is an engineer, entrepreneur, mentor and an expert at solving ambiguous problems. She has a unique combination of strategic, technical, operational and marketing expertise. She is known for her comprehensive knowledge of existing and emerging Information & Communications Technology (ICT) architectures, technologies and innovation practices. Krista and her husband owned a children’s technology educational franchise that fostered early innovation and creativity in robotics, animation, digital art and video game design.   Email: enterprise@marsdd.com

A successful entrepreneur, Mike comes to MaRS as the former CEO of two enterprise software companies working in commercial real estate and retail payments, respectively. He was also a ranked Wall Street analyst, as well as managing director at RBC Capital Markets, where he covered Apple and other technology companies for a decade. Mike holds a master’s degree in engineering from MIT and an MBA from Harvard. He also has certifications from MIT in artificial intelligence and blockchain technology.  

Dennis is an experienced C-suite executive, who has led and implemented short term and strategic plans for companies ranging from startups to $50 million high growth organizations. Most recently, Dennis was CEO of TransGaming Inc., now FinDev Inc. (TSX-V: FDI), a leading digital media company in the cloud-based game market which he helped start and take public. In the past 10 years alone he has been involved in over $150 million of financing and M&A transactions — an activity he continues today as a Partner with DCF Capital Partners​. He is also a CEO member of AceTech Ontario and currently serves as the CEO of The Southwestern Ontario Angel Group. Dennis is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator and holds a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Mark is an operator, entrepreneur and investor who specializes in starting and scaling businesses. He boasts over 25 years’ experience in tech and media, including more than 11 years as a sales and marketing executive at Quickplay. Mark is known for driving international expansion and streamlining sales processes. As an investor, he is the general partner for High Park Angels, a fund for early-stage B2B startups. Mark’s early work experience includes a number of firsts: launching web-based advertising in Canada at Shift magazine, expanding the web presence and digital video syndication strategy at CBC, and forging several cross-media interactive TV experiences for programs like Hockey Night in Canada, and social media pioneer ZeD. Mark holds undergraduate degrees from McGill University and Dalhousie University, and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Filip is an experienced finance and business professional with expertise in operating and financial models, as well as corporate lending, private equity investing, assurance and advisory services. Prior to joining MaRS, Filip worked in corporate finance at CIBC where he leveraged asset-based lending credit transactions across diversified industries in the middle-market and large corporate space. Filip is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a masters of finance from Queen’s University, and a bachelor of commerce from Royal Roads University.

An entrepreneur angel investor, Jenny brings vast experience to the Enterprise team. Prior to joining MaRS, she was co-founder and CEO of Aida (acquired by Vision Critical) and Metafor Software (acquired by Splunk). Jenny also worked for BDC Capital where she led investments in technology startups, and was a consultant with both the Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company. Jenny holds a bachelor of applied science in electrical engineering from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from INSEAD.

Lucas Perlman is the Senior Manager, Partnerships, Enterprise