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Upasana is a true trailblazer and a dynamic entrepreneur. She is the Vice President of TiE Toronto and the Managing Director of TiE Toronto’s Startup Visa program.
An expert in the Canadian Start-up Visa Program, Upasana has successfully launched several global start-ups in the Canadian market. She is also the co- managing partner at Tangentia Ventures, a Designated Venture Capital group under the Canada Start-up Visa Program. With a wealth of legal experience from her time practicing law with one of Toronto’s leading law firms, Lerners LLP, she brings unique insight into the Canadian legal and regulatory system – an invaluable asset backing her expertise in advocacy, negotiating, critical thinking, and problem-solving!
Upasana is an unstoppable force in providing exceptional service, which has positioned her as a trusted advisor to business owners, start-ups, and organizations.
With such formidable background knowledge and experience, she is arguably building a best-in-class Startup incubation program in Canada’s Start-up ecosystem, helping startups succeed in breaking into Canada’s competitive market.
Being an entrepreneur herself, Upasana has the acumen and empathy to aid entrepreneurs through the daunting process of expanding their ventures to Canada. Her exceptional service has earned her numerous accolades, recognition, and affiliations. She sits on the Board of Angel One Network Inc. Named a MacArthur Foundation Scholar for her dedication and drive, Upasana achieved academic success by obtaining an LLM degree from the University of Toronto. Her impressive network brings together top investors, business consultants, lawyers, and industry experts, providing entrepreneurs mentorship and knowledge-based resources to ensure their success.
Her achievements and contributions are a testament to her hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Here’s what you should know about Upasana: – There is nothing more important to her than hard work and determination. – Strategically navigating complex but lucrative markets, she hits goals, avoids problems, and tackles new possibilities. – She finds great people and assembles teams that perform and deliver. – She believes in the hustle and faces down challenges with grit and tenacity to bring people and ideas together to build successful businesses. – There is no greater thrill to her than digging into businesses and watching them grow.

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With over 30 years in healthcare management and advocacy, Marc Kealey is a leading voice for transformation. He is the Chief Advocate and founder of K&A Inc., a public policy, project management consultancy with clients in Canada and abroad. His success is honed through years of practical experience in governance, public policy development and management. Well networked, he serves clients in the areas of energy, gaming, healthcare, and agriculture with projects in several countries including Asia, Latin America, USA, and Canada. Kealey has been instrumental in crafting complex policy decisions in Canada and globally.
From 2004 to 2007, he served as CEO of the largest pharmacy organization in Canada. He steered the organization through the toughest issues of the day including the Transparent Drug System for Patients Act. Recognized in North America as a leading advocate for the preservation of the multi-billion dollar prescription drug industry, he is an advocate for the elimination of cross border re-importation and drug security. Through his network, he lectures globally on related issues.
Prior to 2004, Kealey served as GM of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) , he was part of AECL CANDU technology team in China and Eastern Europe. He delivered value by being interface with governments
and linked CANDU technology with Canadian healthcare system design in Qinshan, China and Cernavoda, Romania. In China he capitalized on the great work of Dr. Norman Bethune and in Romania linked Canadian health and social services to the region where nuclear facilities are located. He continues advocacy for Bethune in China and CANDU nuclear.
From 1990 to 1999, Kealey served as VP of Planning and Development at Whitby General Hospital and steered the transition from community hospital to part of a regional system now known as Lakeridge Health System. He facilitated collaboration among the six hospitals in Durham region and fostered consensus to integrate all hospitals into one system. He served as an advisor to former Prime Minster Rt. Hon. John N. Turner from 1984 to 1990 on federal/provincial relations. He and Prime Minister Turner remained colleagues even after they both left politics and campaigned for causes like water sustainability and democracy throughout the world.
Mr. Kealey sits on a number of boards including Canada India Foundation, Jamaica Disaster Relief and Resilience Initiative, Doctors Federation for the World; China Association of TCM; the Bethune Foundation and Wounds Canada as well as publicly traded companies. He is well traveled internationally and lectures on healthcare and democracy. In 2005 he and Prime Minister John Turner represented Canada in Israel for the anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. In 2004 he led a delegation to Ukraine to oversee that country’s move to democracy. In 2017, he became a Knight in the Order of France.
He is a graduate of St. Jerome’s University at the University of Waterloo in Ontario and attended Kent State University in Ohio. He lives in Mississauga, Ontario Canada.

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David Tsubouchi is an author and former politician, regulator, and Integrity Commissioner. Mr. Tsubouchi holds a B.A. from York University, a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School, an LL.D. from Assumption University in Windsor, a D.S. Litt. from Huntington University and C.Dir. from McMaster University.

David Tsubouchi is the first Japanese Canadian to be elected to a provincial legislature and be appointed to cabinet in Canada. He has served as the MPP for Markham for two terms and has held cabinet posts in the Ontario Legislature including Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Solicitor General, Chair of Management Board/Treasury Board and Minister of Culture. Prior to serving in the Ontario Legislature, Mr. Tsubouchi served as a Councillor for the Town of Markham for two terms.

Mr. Tsubouchi currently sits on the board of directors for OMERS Administration Corporation and Tarion. He has served as the Honorary Consul General for Mongolia (Toronto). He has served on many boards of directors including York University, Seneca College, Trios College, Women’s College Hospital, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Hitachi Canada, Lakefront Utilities, Teranet Income Trust, and Ontario Arts Council.

Mr. Tsubouchi has received numerous awards and honors including the Queen’s Diamond and Golden Jubilee Medals, North American Association of Asian Professionals 100 Award, The Bruce Bryden Award (York University), The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, The Award of Merit from the Japanese Canadian Community, and the Canadian Horse Racing Industry Award of Recognition.

David Tsubouchi has been an international keynote speaker in many countries including Dubai, Macau, China, Japan, Canada and the United States. He currently lectures on diversity at York University, Department of Equity Studies and Politics and Governance at the Directors College, McMaster University.

His memoir, Gambatte, was nominated for the Speaker’s Book Award and the Heritage Toronto Award. He contributed to Race In-Equity, Intersectionality, Social Determinants of Health, and Human Rights. He has written five sci-fi novels, The Chinese Door series and Zeke. He has also contributed to The Handbook of Board Governance 3 rd Issue.