Alexander Lam is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rvere, a software company that has helped over 20,000 businesses improve their online operations. With more than a decade of experience in building products and leading companies, Alexander combines a deep expertise in software development, growth marketing, and entrepreneurship to drive transformative results.

In 2023, he was a winner of the CoLab Program, leading to the creation of Tiny Wins. Dedicated to lowering barriers to mental health care, Tiny Wins applies Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques through next-generation mobile experiences.

Prior to founding Rvere, Alexander honed his strategic acumen in marketing at Reckitt Benckiser and at Trend Hunter. He now dedicates time to mentoring students through the Queen’s Smith EDI3 Mentorship program, offering guidance on entrepreneurship and career growth.

Karen Huo is a Press Start CoLab Alum and creator/founder of Canada's first virtual science cafe: jargon. Passionate about STEM, medicine, and science communication, she is currently pursuing a degree in Medical Sciences at the University of Western Ontario, with an Honours Specialization in Physiology & Pharmacology and a minor in Museum & Curatorial studies. Karen is also a Research Assistant in the Haddad Teaching and Learning at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, where she investigates educational interventions in STEM, medical, dental, and other professional programs in furthering 21st century science communication skills. Outside of academia, Karen is also a Residence Advisor at Western's oldest residence: Medway-Sydenham Hall, and enjoys volunteering at various museums and art galleries in applying her dynamic skillset.

After battling chronic illness for years, Karima’s goal is to help women with chronic illness improve their quality of life.

As a Chronic Illness & Business Coach and Published Author she makes mental, spiritual, & emotional health care accessible to everyone worldwide, through her organization- Arise and Thrive Co.

Arise and Thrive Co. provides mental health books and online group & individual coaching sessions where you can get help directly from Karima herself for those struggling with change, anxiety, organizing their time, recovering from burnout, setting & sticking to goals, as well as those managing chronic illness or pain and starting and building their small business.

For satisfying content that feels like a big hug to the brain, follow Karima on Instagram @AriseAndThriveCo and check out her books at www.AriseAndThrive.ca

Located in Tkaronto, Ilya is working to create the first trans healthcare database for youth in Ontario. Since Ilya’s participation in the 2023 CoLab Program, they have received more funding and participated in other mentorship groups to further develop their project.

Ilya participated in the CoLab program the summer after they graduated High School, and after their gap year this year they are returning to school to get a Bachelor of Youth and Child Development.

For any questions about working with youth, trans and queer people, and navigating the non-profit space as a young person, Ilya is the person for you!

Eileen is a dedicated third-year Health Sciences student at Queen’s University, actively engaged in an array of local and national initiatives promoting youth empowerment and mental health advocacy. In October 2020, she co-founded the non-profit organization, Canadian Youth for Youth Empowerment (CYYE), with the goal to equip youth in Canada with the skills and means necessary to become educated and take action on the issues surrounding them. Within this organization, she has co-directed a successful summer youth leadership program for the past three years, where she has mentored 40+ youth across Canada to launch their own unique and community-focused initiatives. She is also the founder of a mental health startup, Plan Gratitude, which is an online messaging platform aimed at facilitating expressions of gratitude towards school staff among middle and high school students. She successfully received a grant from the 2023 CoLab program for this initiative, enabling her to extend its impact and reach nationwide. Eileen is very excited to be a mentor in the CoLab High School Program this year and looks forward to working with the rising youth leaders in the program!

After battling chronic illness for years, Karima founded an organization dedicated to creating resources for women navigating health challenges: Arise and Thrive Co. A former grant recipient and named Emerging Social Innovator by Press Start, check out her mental health books, resources, workshops, and 1:1 coaching to:

Find relief from fatigue, burnout, and illness; Get practical help with overwhelming tasks; & Receive income strategies that works with your body and mind

Follow her on Instagram @AriseAndThriveCo and apply for mental health & chronic illness resources at www.AriseAndThrive.ca/chronicillness

Selvi Sert is a clinical researcher and knowledge mobilizer at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s Bloorview Research Institute, where she has spent the past five years overseeing multi-site clinical trials in pediatric neurorehabilitation and translating research findings into high-impact knowledge tools for users across the healthcare continuum. Her work focuses on mixed-reality, motion-tracking, gamified technologies designed to support children with neuromotor disabilities.
 
With a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto, Selvi works at the intersection of research, design, and storytelling. She coordinates projects from protocol development and ethics submissions through to the creation of user guides, communication strategies, and multimedia campaigns that make pediatric technologies accessible for families, clinicians, and stakeholders. Her efforts have resulted in publications in peer-reviewed biomedical journals, presentations at academic conferences, and public commentary in outlets such as The Globe and Mail.
 
Selvi is also a successful 2024 CoLab Program participant and grant recipient for her project, Ditzy Magazine, a national ADHD publication and digital platform that addresses the systemic neglect of women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood by translating psychiatric research into culturally resonant and actionable resources.