ventureLAB Enhances AI Leadership with Appointment of Garry Chan as Head of AI Initiatives

ventureLAB, a prominent global founder community for hardware and enterprise software companies, has announced the appointment of Garry Chan as its new Head of AI Initiatives. Since joining ventureLAB in 2019, Chan has contributed significantly to the organization's mission to empower hardtech founders and enhance Canada's knowledge-based economy. This appointment is pivotal to ventureLAB's three-pillar strategy, focusing on establishing Canada’s leadership in the Semiconductor, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Medical Technology (MedTech) sectors.

Through its Accelerate AI program, ventureLAB has successfully supported over 40 AI companies in achieving product-market fit and scaling their innovative solutions. In his new role, Chan will drive initiatives aimed at expanding development and testing resources like the AI Compute Lab and AI Commercialization Hub. His leadership will also emphasize ethical and responsible AI practices while assisting founders in overcoming infrastructural and developmental challenges.

Chan expressed optimism about Canada's potential in the AI and hardtech sectors, noting the country’s abundance of natural resources and a rich pool of skilled, innovative entrepreneurs. He emphasized the importance of creating a vibrant startup ecosystem that can effectively scale groundbreaking AI startups through strategic public and private investments. In collaboration with founders and partners, Chan aims to catalyze the next wave of AI innovation in Canada.

Garry Chan has already represented ventureLAB on the global stage, including his participation in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit in Serbia in December 2024. His involvement at the summit showcased ventureLAB’s leadership in promoting ethical AI development and fostering international partnerships. Following the summit, ventureLAB solidified a Memorandum of Understanding with several Serbian Science and Technology Parks, which aims to enhance collaboration in hardware technology and enterprise software innovation.

To align with its three-pillar strategy, ventureLAB is working to address vital gaps in infrastructure, talent, and commercialization pathways—essential areas for driving innovation in the Semiconductor, AI, and MedTech sectors. Chan’s leadership is expected to accelerate efforts to enable SMEs to scale AI-driven solutions by leveraging ventureLAB’s extensive resources, mentorship, and global partnerships.

Jane Gertner, Chief Growth Officer at ventureLAB, emphasized the significance of Chan’s appointment, highlighting AI as a central element in global innovation. She stated that his experience will be crucial in assisting Canadian founders to scale their AI solutions responsibly, reinforcing ventureLAB’s commitment to ethical AI innovation that will shape future industries and position Canada as a leader in the sector.

Garry Chan brings over 30 years of experience as a technology entrepreneur and leader, including roles such as CTO at AI Partnerships and managing partner at Procase Consulting. This extensive background equips him to significantly advance ventureLAB’s mission of scaling AI-driven solutions that reflect societal values. Earlier this year, he also led ventureLAB’s submission to the Canadian government's Consultations on AI Compute, advocating for the development of a robust homegrown AI ecosystem in Canada.

In summary, ventureLAB is committed to bridging the gap between hardware, AI, and entrepreneurship in Canada’s innovation landscape, enabling SMEs to provide scalable and impactful solutions that address global challenges. This reflects an ongoing dedication to fostering a strong ecosystem that supports hardtech and AI innovations at a national and global level.