TribalScale Venture Studios brings on Harp Gahunia, affirming its commitment to corporate innovation and startup growth.
TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ – TribalScale, an innovation firm headquartered in Toronto with seven offices around the world, welcomes Harp Gahunia as Vice President of Venture Studios. Venture Studios leverages TribalScale’s teams, processes, and tools, which have produced leading digital products for brands around the world, to source, invest in, and scale startups in conjunction with corporate partners.
At TribalScale, Harp will oversee the day-to-day operations of all Venture Studios, including those funded entirely by TribalScale and those funded as joint ventures with corporations from around the world. Venture Studios encompass the sourcing and creation of disruptive startups in sectors such as Financial Services, Media, Transportation, and Enterprise Products. Harp will also help evaluate corporate joint ventures, strategic equity investments, spin-off products, and opportunities for mergers and acquisitions.
TribalScale’s Chief Innovation Officer, Roger Chabra, is working closely with Harp to ensure TribalScale continues to build Venture Studios into a differentiated product offering, one that powers global corporate innovation labs and has a diversified portfolio of startups and products that complement TribalScale’s thriving services business.
“Harp’s successful and diverse track record in helping large corporations innovate, taking startups from ideation to large valuations and exits, his business acumen, operational expertise, and ability to hit strategic goals will help take Venture Studios to the next level,” said Roger Chabra. “I’m confident he’ll be a huge asset to our team.”
Harp Gahunia brings over 20 years of financial and business strategy experience to Venture Studios. He most recently served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at VersaPay, a publicly traded FinTech. Prior to VersaPay, Gahunia was CFO and interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Virgin Gaming. Gahunia was also Director of New Business Initiatives at Virgin Mobile and Virgin Money. Prior to his time at the Virgin Group of Companies, he worked in innovation and strategy roles within the corporate venturing group of Bell Canada.
“We are very pleased to welcome Harp on board. He is an entrepreneurial leader who believes in our model of open innovation, where corporates leverage resources, particularly startups, from outside of their four walls,” said Kirstine Stewart, TribalScale’s President and Chief Revenue Officer. “We recently launched cohort two and Harp’s extensive operational and strategic experience will be instrumental for the next stage of Venture Studios, and as TribalScale continues to grow and scale.”
The first Venture Studios cohort focused on the Financial Services and Automotive industries and was highly successful. The second cohort launched on September 25, 2018 with a focus on three sectors that TribalScale has significant executive connections and domain expertise: Transportation, Media, and Enterprise Product. Early-stage startups leveraging emerging technologies in these sectors are encouraged to apply. Successfully accepted companies will be provided with up to $500,000 in cash and in-kind services.
About TribalScale: TribalScale is a global innovation firm that helps enterprises adapt and thrive in the digital era. We do this by transforming teams and processes, building best-in-class digital products, and co-creating disruptive startups. Learn more at: www.tribalscale.com
SOURCE TribalScale
