Skillsets for Startups Panel and Lunch
Join us for an insightful panel discussion exploring the essential skills needed to lead or collaborate within the startup world. This event will feature local founders and employees from Saskatchewan startups, each bringing unique perspectives from diverse academic backgrounds. Whether you're interested in launching your own venture or contributing to an innovative team, this panel offers a chance to learn directly from those thriving in Saskatchewan’s startup ecosystem. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with local entrepreneurial leaders! Hosted by GATE and the University of Regina Graduate Students Association (URGSA).
📅 Friday, November 22
⏰ 11:30-1:30PM
📍 La Cite 215
📢 Panelists:
- Kaitlyn Stricker, Co-Founder of Twello
- Dastu Omer, Marketing Specialist at Citrus Technology
- Greg Elkington, Operations Specialist for Offstreet
- Matthew Hamilton, Software Development Lead at memoryKPR
About the Panelists:
Kaitlyn Stricker, Co-Founder of Twello:
With a degree in Business Administration from the University of Regina and a strong passion for entrepreneurship, Kaitlyn joined Twello as its first employee. Twello, a corporate wellness company, provides wellness sessions to organizations across North America and recently expanded with an on-demand wellness platform for employees. She initially took on a marketing role, which soon expanded to include operations. After two years, Kaitlyn was promoted to COO and later became a co-founder when the CEO went on maternity leave and moved to a new company. Now, she co-leads Twello alongside fellow co-founder Jenna, having the opportunity to collaborate with major organizations like Amazon, Netflix, SpaceX, and Wealthsimple.
Datus Omer, Marketing Specialist at Citrus Technology:
Being a recent graduate from the University of Regina with a B.Sc. in Computer Science and a minor in Psychology, Datsu works at Citrus Technology, a platform designed to streamline operations for youth sports camps, covering everything from registration to scheduling and customer communication. Dastu also volunteers as a Social Media Executive for Muslim Aid of Saskatchewan, Designer at TEDxRegina, and Vice President and Communications Coordinator of DFIC Youth Club. Outside of work and volunteering, Dastu enjoys staying active through yoga and tennis.
Greg Elkington, Operations Specialist for Offstreet:
Born and raised in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Greg attended the University of Regina from 2006 to 2012, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a minor in Physics. After completing three programming bootcamps, Greg entered the tech scene at the age of 37 by designing, developing, and launching his own personal training application, ultimately becoming a member of the Cultivator Start Cohort 9. Now, as an Operations Specialist for Offstreet in a dynamic startup environment, Greg oversees compliance, finance/receivables, systems administration, and development—an eclectic mix that speaks to the breadth of skills one can utilize at a startup.
Matthew Hamilton, Software Development Lead at memoryKPR:
Matthew is a UofR alumni and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science in 2020. In his undergraduate program he did research work with Professor Howard Hamilton. He has since gone on to work for memoryKPR, progressing his role as a developer over 4 years here to Lead Web Developer.