We are a CPG growth ecosystem

​Built to help CPG Entrepreneurs Grow

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.

 

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$200m

annual revenue achieved by our alumni

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225

brands launched since 2015

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30,000

stores currently stock our alumnis’ products

Founded by Arlene Dickinson

Arlene Dickinson is a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and the founder of Venturepark. With decades of business experience and as the founder of District Ventures Capital, a venture capital fund focused on food, beverage, and health and wellness, she understands firsthand what it takes to build a successful brand. Venturepark was born from her belief that Canadian entrepreneurs deserve access to the right mentorship, community and resources to thrive.

Widely recognized as a long-standing Venture Capitalist on Dragons’ Den, a three-time bestselling author, and an inductee into Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame, Arlene brings a wealth of experience to everything Venturepark does. When you join Venturepark, you are joining a community built by someone who has invested in founders and championed their growth at every stage.

 

Our History

  • Founded in 2015 as District Ventures Accelerator and District Ventures Kitchen
  • March 2021: Launched our first Concept to Market Sprint
  • May 2021, we officially became Venturepark —Canada’s pioneering business growth ecosystem.
  • Month 2023? we hosted out first in person Demo Day
  • June 2024: Hosted our very first Venturepark Summit which has become a yearly event since
  • In 2025, we’re ….

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.

Saadia Syed

Program Lead

Saadia Syed

Program Lead

Saadia brings over a decade of experience in business development, strategic advisory, and venture capital, with a career dedicated to building the infrastructure that helps entrepreneurs succeed. As an Associate Vice President at RBCx, she advised technology clients on scaling strategies and cultivated relationships across Alberta’s venture capital community. Prior to RBCx, she spent five years at Platform Calgary, where she coached over 100 entrepreneurs on market validation and go-to-market strategies, contributing to millions raised from local investors and significant job creation in Calgary’s tech sector.

Saadia has designed and delivered entrepreneurship programs at NAIT, managed accelerators, and established strategic partnerships across post-secondary, government, and private sector organisations. She holds an MBA in Finance from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alberta, and is based in Calgary, where she continues to contribute to the city’s growing innovation ecosystem.
Allison Webb

Allison Webb

Communications and Content Lead

Allison Webb

Allison Webb

Communications and Content Lead

Allison brings over five years of experience in communications and content development, including experience within the health and wellness consumer packaged goods space, with a passion for helping organizations tell clear, meaningful stories. Her background includes content strategy across digital platforms, website management, and the development of educational and multimedia content that builds strong communities. She approaches her work with a balance of creativity and data-driven insight, focusing on content that resonates with audiences and supports meaningful engagement.
As Communications and Content Lead at Venturepark, Allison supports the Growth Hub platform and national CPG founder network through high-impact educational programming, platform development, and industry initiatives. Based in Calgary, she is motivated by building strong founder communities and creating resources that help entrepreneurs grow and scale successfully across Canada.
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.

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