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Avinash Persaud

Avinash Persaud

  • Industry leader
  • Years active: 1984 — present
  • Background

    It was a bold and ambitious move when Markham-based ventureLAB launched the Hard Tech Initiative (HCI) in 2020.

    The pandemic hadn’t yet highlighted the West’s profound dependence on offshore semiconductor production, and few in Canada imagined a hardware-accelerator was either viable – or necessary. But ventureLAB’s instincts were ahead of the curve – and their Hardware Catalyst Initiative broke new ground. A two-year programme supporting startups and scaleups designing semiconductors, sensors, and microelectronic systems focussed on AI, Medtech and automobility in particular, grew into a unique facility supported by a team of experienced hardware advisors.

    By 2024, the HCI had over $11M in hardware infrastructure – test and measurement lab, environmental test and prototyping, server support, a Medtech lab — and over 60 partners globally.
  • Avinash Persaud,
  • Vice President,
  • Hardware Catalyst Initiative, ventureLAB
  • Markham
  • , ON

Avinash is an experienced professional with decades of experience in technology, spanning software, hardware, and semiconductor development. He began his career at Bell Northern Research and has held key roles at Nortel, Leitch Technologies, ATI, AMD, Fresco Microchip, and Spectra7 Microsystems. Avinash is adept at establishing end-to-end semiconductor supply chains in Asia, covering wafer production, IC assembly, testing, board assemblies, and box builds. His expertise includes setting up ISO systems, leading NPI and PDP development processes, and managing product characterization and qualification. Most recently he leads the Hardware Catalyst Initiative, ventureLAB’s signature hardware programme that provides support for semiconductor, sensor technology and microelectronic solution startups. Avinash is a dedicated advocate for the growth of the semiconductor ecosystem in Canada, actively promoting collaboration between industry stakeholders, academia, and government. His commitment to fostering innovation and cultivating a thriving semiconductor sector is evident through his leadership in initiatives aimed at supporting startups and advancing technological and hardtech breakthroughs within the Canadian hardware landscape.

  • Current as of: June 5, 2024 10:36 am