Dr. Bhairavi Shankar is the founder and CEO of Indus Space, a Mississauga-based startup that seeks to inspire youth through space exploration. Launched in 2018, her venture focuses on educating K-12 students about space science in classrooms and camps across Canada. With a background in planetary geology, Dr. Shankar saw a gap in science outreach and decided to bring space into schools, especially in underrepresented communities.

Dr. Shankar is also the former Chairperson of Lotus STEMM, advocating for South Asian women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. Her mission is not just scientific literacy, but social equity.

Dr. Shankar argues that funding in Canada is overly siloed, with early-stage and socially-minded startups like hers often overlooked.

"We have talent, but not the infrastructure to support it."

She calls for better coordination across municipal, provincial, and federal governments, alongside more dialogue between entrepreneurs and investors across sectors.

She also advocates for recognizing the importance of social entrepreneurship. Education-based firms often struggle to qualify for traditional startup funding.

"We're building the future workforce, yet we rarely get a seat at the table."

Her prescription: more cross-sector conversation, better intergovernmental communication, and tailored support for mission-driven ventures.