Since AI entered the business equation, entrepreneurs have been eager to translate the technology’s potential into real-world success. Yet many still find themselves stuck, struggling to transform ambitious ideas into thriving ventures. What stands in their way? And how can founders overcome these barriers to harness AI’s power, creating companies that deliver genuine value and truly endure?
At AI-powered entrepreneurship: Turning technology into thriving ventures, a panel of nationally recognized AI entrepreneurs will share their hard-won insights and proven strategies for leveraging AI to create value-driven companies. They’ll provide a clear view of the AI-powered market, along with strategies for identifying high-impact opportunities, building sustainable business models, securing funding, and upholding ethical standards – all while demonstrating how AI can streamline each step.
Whether you’re a budding or serial entrepreneur, this complimentary livestream will deliver practical AI insights to guide your next venture.
Meet the panelists
Investor and Founder, Indus.ai
Navin Kaminoulu is a seasoned entrepreneur and a leader in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the construction industry. In 2017, he co-founded Indus.ai, a pioneering company that rapidly grew under his leadership and was acquired by Procore Technologies (PCOR: NYSE), the world’s largest construction SaaS platform, in 2021. Beyond Indus.ai, Kaminoulu serves as an Operating Advisor at Groundbreak Ventures and is deeply committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He advises the University of California Riverside Design Thinking program, mentors at StartX, Stanford University's technology accelerator, and sits on the advisory board for Western University's Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, Powered by Ivey.
CTO and Co-Founder, Digital Blue Foam
Sayjel Patel is the CTO and Co-Founder of Digital Blue Foam (DBF), dedicated to transforming the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry for the digital era. An MIT-trained architect and technologist, Sayjel merges over a decade of experience as an entrepreneur, designer, software developer, researcher, and educator, having taught in Singapore, the UAE, and Canada. In 2019, he won the Red Dot Award for his voxel-3D printing software that uses 3D scans as input. Previously a researcher at MIT’s Senseable City Lab and Digital Structures Group, Sayjel now leads a global multifunctional team at DBF.
Co-Founder & CEO, Private AI
Patricia Thaine is the Co-Founder & CEO of Private AI, a Microsoft-backed startup who raised their Series A led by the BDC. Private AI won the Privacy Innovation Award at PICCASO 2024, was named a 2023 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum as well as a Gartner Cool Vendor. Patricia was on Maclean’s magazine Power List 2024 for being one of the top 100 Canadians shaping the country.
Meet the moderator
Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship, Ivey Business School
Daniel Clark is an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Ivey Business School, where he primarily teaches Design Driven Innovation. A recognized educator and researcher, Clark has taught at three of the world’s top entrepreneurship schools and delivered guest lectures at numerous others. His widely published research examines entrepreneurial cognition and decision-making, with a recent focus on the disruptive impact of AI on these processes. Prior to academia, Clark held roles at three Fortune 500 companies in finance and pharmaceuticals, specializing in product management and market research. Born and raised in Toronto, he has lived in the U.S., Spain, and Germany, and has traveled to over 50 countries.
Meet the discussant
PhD Student, AI in Entrepreneurship, Ivey Business School
Henrique Alves de Castro is an Entrepreneurship PhD student at Ivey Business School. His research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship, especially on the ways various machine learning subsets and architectures can influence the decision-making process of entrepreneurs. Prior to joining the PhD program at Ivey, Alves de Castro completed his MBA at the University of Toronto, where he specialized in entrepreneurship, innovation, and business design. Aside from his academic endeavours, Alves de Castro occupied roles in the public and private sectors, both in Brazil and Canada, mainly in positions of internal consulting and advising.