Lisa Merdjan is the Head of Canada Programs at SVG Ventures | THRIVE, where she is responsible for overseeing successful delivery of all Canadian programs including the THRIVE Academy and THRIVE Canada Accelerator. Previously, Lisa held the role of THRIVE Academy Manager, leading the pre-accelerator program through five cohorts.

With over seven years of experience in program management, client engagement, and operations, Lisa has a strong background in fostering growth and innovation within the startup ecosystem. Before joining THRIVE, she worked at MaRS Discovery District, a leading urban innovation hub in North America. There, she managed a program focused on helping early-stage startups secure funding, drive revenue growth, and expand their teams across diverse sectors like Health, Cleantech, Fintech, and Enterprise Software.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development with a concentration in Economic Development and Living Standards, complemented by a minor in Urban Systems from McGill University. Her passion for Agrifood tech underscores her commitment to advancing technologies that drive positive environmental, economic, and social change.