Building a stronger tech ecosystem in the Kootenays
KAST Executive Director and CEO Priya Biswas discusses her mission to make technology accessible across the Kootenays
KAST Executive Director & CEO Priya Biswas is leading a push to make technology and innovation accessible across the entire Kootenay region. — Photo courtesy Priya Biswas
The Kootenay region is an ever-growing hub for innovation and technology. At the centre of that momentum is the Kootenay Association for Science & Technology (KAST), an organization dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, supporting emerging technologies, and connecting people with the tools they need to build meaningful solutions. With a renewed focus on accessibility, collaboration, and long-term impact, KAST is positioning the region for a future where innovation belongs to everyone.
Guiding this next chapter is Priya Biswas, KAST’s new Executive Director & CEO. With a background that spans global corporations, entrepreneurship, and community-building, Priya brings a rare blend of strategic insight and human-centred leadership to the role. In this conversation, she shares her vision for expanding access to technology, strengthening the regional economy, uplifting youth and underrepresented innovators, and fostering a culture where collaboration fuels real change.
What drew you to the CEO role at KAST, and what excites you most about leading the organization into its next chapter?
What drew me to the CEO role at KAST was the opportunity to lead technology and innovation right here in the Kootenays. My family and I moved from Edmonton and have called the Kootenays home for the past two years. In that time, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the beauty of this region and the strength of its communities. To see that there is real potential to grow technology and innovation here, not just as an economic driver, but as a means to create opportunities for people to live, work, and thrive in the place they love, is incredibly exciting to me.
This role was the perfect intersection of my professional background and my personal commitment to the Kootenays.
You’ve worked globally and in large corporate environments. How does that experience shape your leadership style in a rural, community-centered region like the Kootenays?
Even in large corporations, I always gravitated toward building communities—whether it was communities of practice, expertise, or excellence. I’ve always believed that innovation and impact are strongest when people come together and share knowledge. One of my favourite guiding proverbs is: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ That principle has shaped my leadership throughout my career.
Here in the Kootenays, that approach feels especially aligned, because community comes first. What excites me about leading in this context is the opportunity to blend my global and corporate experience with a strong, community-centered ethos. It means we can build something that’s not just innovative, but also deeply rooted in collaboration and belonging.
Looking ahead, what are your top three priorities for KAST in your first year as CEO?
Priority 1: Awareness & Accessibility
Make KAST known as the place people go for support in technology and innovation. Emphasize that tech isn’t just for startups, it’s already part of every small business and everyday life. KAST exists to help everyone in the Kootenays connect with technology and innovation.
Priority 2: Sustainability & Local Economy
Build a sustainable model for KAST and ensure its work strengthens the local economy long-term. Focus on technology and innovation as tools to support resilient, thriving communities. We want innovation in the Kootenays to last and continue to create opportunities for generations.
Priority 3: People & Partnerships
Innovation belongs to everyone, and KAST’s role is to open doors and build bridges so that the whole region thrives.
Invest in people through skills, mentorship, and opportunities — with a focus on youth, Indigenous entrepreneurs, and underrepresented groups. Act as a connector to bring businesses, educators, government, and innovators together.
Biswas aims to broaden access to technology while supporting entrepreneurs and nurturing the region’s innovation ecosystem. — Photo courtesy Priya Biswas
What opportunities do you see for science, technology, and entrepreneurship to thrive in the Kootenays?
The Kootenays are an incredible tapestry of lifestyle, natural beauty, innovation, and technology. I’m a strong believer that innovation doesn’t just happen in big cities; it happens everywhere. In fact, the Kootenays are uniquely positioned for it. The combination of natural beauty, space, and lifestyle here creates the conditions for creativity and problem-solving to thrive.
We’re already seeing that with some of KAST’s Venture Acceleration Program clients—bold entrepreneurs who are redefining what’s possible, from game-changing health tech to the next iconic Kootenay-made bike frame. These stories show that you don’t have to leave the region to build world-class ideas. The Kootenays are the perfect place for science, technology, and entrepreneurship to grow in ways that are deeply connected to both people and place.
How can KAST strengthen its support for Indigenous entrepreneurs and other underrepresented groups in the tech and innovation space?
This is a key part of the third pillar in our strategy, building strong ecosystems where everyone feels connected and represented. Diversity doesn’t just happen by chance; it comes from intentionally creating spaces where people from all backgrounds feel welcome to participate.
The more diverse the voices in the room, the stronger and more innovative the outcomes will be. By building these ecosystems of connection and belonging, we ensure that the future of technology and innovation in the Kootenays truly reflects the whole community.
Attracting and retaining young professionals is a challenge in many rural regions. What role do you see KAST playing in making the Kootenays a place where young talent wants to build their future?
Yes, attracting and retaining young professionals in a rural region is always a challenge. This is why KAST plays such an important role in youth programs and entrepreneurship initiatives like
Build a Business. Programs like this are fantastic because they give students early exposure to entrepreneurship and innovation they learn what it means to bring ideas to life. I’ve watched high school students pitch their ideas, and I genuinely wish a program like this had been available when I was growing up.
One pitch that really stuck with me was from a team of students who developed a tool to monitor your carbon footprint in everyday life. It was inspiring to see such creativity and real-world problem-solving coming from someone so young. Programs like these show that young people can create meaningful solutions right here in the Kootenays, and by supporting them early, KAST helps nurture the next generation of local innovators and leaders.
As a former entrepreneur yourself, what gaps in support systems for startups do you want KAST to help close?
As a former entrepreneur, I’ve experienced firsthand how critical it is to have access to mentorship, networks, and practical resources. One gap I often saw was the lack of connection between people with ideas and those with the experience, capital, or networks to help them grow. KAST has an opportunity to close that gap by not only providing programs and training but also by actively connecting entrepreneurs to advisors, investors, and peers who can help them succeed.
I also want to focus on building confidence, helping people believe that their ideas are worth pursuing, even if they’re in a rural area. Supporting entrepreneurs isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s about community, encouragement, and access to real-world learning opportunities
What are some of the biggest misconceptions people often have about innovation in rural or smaller communities?
A common misconception is that innovation only happens in big cities or tech hubs. People assume that if you’re outside a major urban centre, you can’t build world-class ideas. But the Kootenays, like many smaller regions, are perfectly positioned for innovation. The combination of natural beauty, lifestyle, and space creates conditions for creative problem-solving and bold thinking.
Finally, is there anything you’d like to add, perhaps a personal vision or message for the Kootenay community?
I’m deeply inspired by the potential of the Kootenays and the people who are shaping its future. Since 1998, KAST has been driving regional economic development through technology and innovation, in the Kootenays.
I believe technology and innovation belong to everyone. They’re not just for startups or big corporations they’re tools that help anyone, from small business owners to students, reach creative solutions faster and more effectively.
My vision is to build on KAST’s strong legacy as a connector and make it a place where people of all backgrounds can come together, learn from one another, and create solutions that are innovative and meaningful for the Kootenays and beyond.
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