Webinar – The Start-Up Visa: A Conversation with Launch Academy

Ray Walia is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in both the entertainment and technology sectors. Ray founded Launch Ventures which owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds. The most prominent incubator is Launch Academy, Western Canada’s leading entrepreneurship facility, which has worked with more than 6000 entrepreneurs of which 300 have grown their startups to Seed and Series A stage and raised over $1.2 Billion in funding. Launch Academy is a designated provider for the Canadian Startup Visa Program. Ray has invested in over 30+ startups either personally or through his funds and was named Entrepreneur Mentor of the Year for 2014 and 2015, BIV Top Forty Under 40, G20 Young Entrepreneur, BC Tech Person of The Year Finalist 2018, and one of 500 Most Influential Business Leaders in British Columbia for 2021.

Marianella brings over 18 years of international experience in business development and consultation in strategy, management, business planning, business intelligence, marketing, and sales to the Joorney family. Originally from Colombia, she has worked in an array of different industries in both Latin and North American markets. Joining the company in 2016 as VP of Sales and Market Research, Marianella helped initiate and launch the extraordinarily successful Joorney Canada office in 2017, where she later took on the role of Executive Director for the division. Now, as Director of Sales & Marketing for Joorney Global, she plans and directs all aspects of sales and marketing policies, objectives, and initiatives company-wide. She attributes her success to her lifetime involvement and accomplishments in sports, which have made her incredibly driven and focused on success through collaboration and teamwork. Marianella is a bilingual MBA graduate with postgraduate studies at Harvard Business School in strategy and sales as well as entrepreneurial essentials.