We are a CPG growth ecosystem

Buzzd founders with product

​We believe great businesses can change the world.

Venturepark is a non-profit dedicated to helping early-stage food and wellness CPG entrepreneurs succeed. We provide the programs, mentorship, and community support that help entrepreneurs move from concept to shelf and beyond.

With deep industry knowledge, trusted networks, and Canadian-specific contacts, we give entrepreneurs relevant insights that save them time, help them avoid common pitfalls and set them up for long-term success.

 

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

Founded by Arlene Dickenson

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Our History

  • Founded in 2015 as District Ventures Accelerator and District Ventures Kitchen by Canadian business icon Arlene Dickinson.
  • March 2021, we launched our first Concept to Market Sprint
  • In May 2021, we officially became Venturepark —Canada’s pioneering business growth ecosystem.
  • In 2023? we hosted out first in person Demo Day
  • In 2025, we’ve helped over X CPG entrepreneurs

Our Team

Glen Price

President

Glen Price

President

Glen Price’s journey with Sunterra Quality Food Markets Inc spans over three decades, marked by innovation and entrepreneurial prowess. Armed with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, Glen honed his retail food expertise in Hong Kong before returning to Canada in 1989. Alongside family members, he pioneered the European-style fresh market concept, culminating in the opening of the first Sunterra Market in Calgary in 1990. Since then, Sunterra has expanded to multiple locations across Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer under Glen’s visionary leadership.

Outside of Sunterra, Glen’s influence extends to various boards, including the Vineland Research & Innovation Centre, the Management Advisory Board of the Haskayne School of Business (University of Calgary), the Sunterra Group of Companies, and as an Associate at CDL Rockies AgriFood Stream. His commitment to innovation and community engagement continues to shape the food industry and entrepreneurial landscape in Canada.
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.
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.
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. 

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.

Ted Fleming

Executive in Residence

Ted Fleming

Executive in Residence

In 2017, Ted set out to prove skeptics wrong that a great-tasting, low-calorie non-alcoholic beer could stand tall, and he’s been redefining the category ever since. Today, Partake is an award-winning leader, recognized for its innovation, B-Corp certification, and commitment to business as a force for good. Ted’s journey began after a Crohn’s diagnosis pushed him to give up alcohol. What could have been a setback became the spark for a pioneering brand that landed him on the Globe & Mail Changemakers list, Maclean’s Power 100, and as a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year.

Now, he brings his expertise to Venturepark Accelerator, where he’ll guide and support new and growing CPG brands to think bigger, and scale with purpose.
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.

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