Derek Mascarenhas

Derek Mascarenhas is a seasoned professional with a background encompassing entrepreneurship, business development, and a strong focus on the cannabis industry. With 7 years of experience as a solopreneur in Toronto, Derek has ventured into hardware startups and most recently ventured into the legal Canadian cannabis sector.

As the founder of Mika Ventures, Derek specializes in crafting functional business plans for cannabis startups, offering expertise in various segments such as Cultivation, Retail, Processing, and Edibles. He collaborates with legal experts, licensing consultants, and entrepreneurs to create robust financial models and conduct thorough market research to ensure sustainable business growth and profitability.

Derek's commitment to the cannabis domain extends to his role as a board member and treasurer at NORML (Canada), a prominent organization advocating for marijuana law reform. His contributions to NORML include initiatives to enhance support from larger organizations through strategic donation receipt programs, aimed at furthering advocacy efforts on a national scale.

In his professional journey, Derek has played a pivotal role in supporting over 20 cannabis startups focusing on Cultivation, Retail, and Processing/Edibles, facilitating funding exceeding CAD $1 million from both government and private sources through Mika Ventures. His experience spans product development of innovative savoury edibles and packaging for regulated markets like Canada, showcasing his expertise in product innovation and market readiness.

With a strong hardware background, Derek's early initiatives involved founding MIKA Audio, where he spearheaded the development of premium custom speakers and computer audio hardware. His adeptness in the hardware realm led to securing funding of 200K for MIKA Audio, alongside the successful creation of four sophisticated hardware products prepared for manufacturing entirely in-house, reflecting his technical proficiency and entrepreneurial acumen.

Derek's educational foundation includes a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree with a focus on Marketing and Social Psychology from The University of British Columbia. Additionally, he pursued studies in Electrical Engineering Technologies receiving a scholarship at SUNY at Buffalo, underscoring his diverse skill set and academic achievements.

Throughout his professional tenure, Derek has held key roles such as Business Development Specialist at Mika Ventures, Owner at SarrietteCo, Business Owner at MIKA Audio, and Marketing Strategist at Zipcar. His multifaceted expertise in business strategy, product development, and marketing strategy positions him as a versatile professional with a keen interest in innovative industries and entrepreneurial endeavors.