Introducing our newest cohort of entrepreneurial minds for the 2023 Spring Activator IMPACT Startup Visa Accelerator
In February, we put a call-out to startups internationally to participate in our eleventh Spring Activator IMPACT Startup Visa (ISV) Accelerator cohort.
Looking at the incredible response to our program last year, it’s clear that international entrepreneurs across every sector, from healthcare and education, to retail, manufacturing and communication services, are leaning in on scaling their businesses for the Canadian market.
Today, we’re pleased to announce our newest cohort of groundbreaking startups for the Spring Activator IMPACT Startup Visa (ISV) Accelerator. This cohort is made up of individuals from various backgrounds, industries, and countries, each with their own unique experiences and perspectives.
In a 12-week virtual accelerator, we bring the best of Spring’s IMPACT Starter Visa program led by seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders. The cohort will be provided with invaluable resources, mentorship, and guidance as they work to develop their own ventures or scale existing ones. Through a rigorous curriculum, they will learn essential skills in areas such as fundraising, marketing, operations, and strategy, and receive personalized feedback on their progress and goals.
We received so many great applications for this program and want to welcome the eleven startups that make up the 2023 Spring Activator IMPACT Startup Visa (ISV) Accelerator cohort:
Meet the IMPACT Startup Visa Accelerator Cohort
StyleMax
StyleMax is an online thrift startup and social commerce marketplace that aims to promote sustainability in the fashion industry. The user-friendly platform is for individual consumers to buy, sell, and rent new and high-quality secondhand fashion items for men, women, and children. The platform also offers B2B solutions, enabling retail stores to sell their returned goods efficiently, and independent sellers to sell and rent their pre-loved clothing and accessories.
Najam leads StyleMax as the CEO and co-founder of the company. He has a masters degree in computer science and extensive experience in managing and delivering large-scale, complex digital transformation, UX/CX, and information technology programs. Najam’s background will be vital in spearheading StyleMax’s digital strategy and creating a user-friendly platform that fulfills customer needs. He has proven success in developing and executing digital strategies aligned with organizational vision and implementing Agile and Innovation labs that will ensure StyleMax remains at the forefront of the rapidly evolving e-commerce market.
Najam ul Saqib | Co-Founder & CEO
Khurram Shahzad | Co-Founder and CTO
Linkworlds Pay
Linkworlds Pay is a financial infrastructure that provides a range of fully compliant and transparent products, powered by cutting-edge blockchain technologies and algorithm-based transaction optimization. It promotes cross-border trade and sales, enabling users to enjoy stress-free international shopping experiences, and empowers merchants to enter new markets confidently.
August is a University of California – Berkeley graduate with a B. A in Economics and Statistics. He is a seasoned fintech industry entrepreneur and financial services professional with management experience at several global fintech companies. His expertise encompasses business development and regulatory compliance in fintech and conventional financial service industries.
Di (August) Zhan | Founder & CEO
Kenneth Xu | Founding Partner
Real Estate Junction
Founded in 2021, Real Estate Junction is a property management company incorporated in Islamabad with the mandate to facilitate clients in the sale, purchase of residential and commercial properties, construction services of residential houses and commercial buildings, consultancy services regarding real estate investment opportunities and marketing of real estate projects.
Saqib Ghafoor | COO
Muhammad Usman Khalid | CFO
Logimaths
Logimaths is an online Ed Tech platform focusing on Math using Information Technology (IT). The platform aims to deliver video tutorials, worksheets, Chat Q&A, and live tutoring with the help of mentors and teachers who are experts in the fields of Math, and Information Technology. This provides an easy and seamless learning experience while building a rich and diverse learning community for both students and mentors.
Tanya holds a double Bachelor’s & Masters Degree in Math. She has been teaching mathematics for the past 22 years. Tanya has also worked for an international online Math tutoring company. She loves to inspire children to become creative problem solvers. She is presently teaching online to students from India, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and more!
Tanya Sarin | CEO
Dental Savvy
Dental Savvy is a dental health management application that uses big data and AI to provide personalized dental advice, picture recognition, and AR technology to help users identify and solve dental problems. The app also offers professional oral health care education and connects users with the best dentists. Dental Savvy aims to empower users to take control of their dental health and reduce the need for dental treatment, thus making dental care more affordable and accessible for Canadians.
Dr. Min is a practicing dentist with 30 years of experience. He is an expert in oral cosmetics, dental plants and oral restoration.
Dr. Min Song | CEO
Yi Zhou | CMO
NA-HAP Surface Inc.
NA-HAP Surface Inc. is a company that produces innovative nano Hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings for medical and cosmetic applications. It uses a patented self-assembly technology that allows for bioactive HAP to be coated onto every device at a low cost, with zero water waste and a long shelf life. The self-controlled release technology allows for effective drug and active ingredient delivery, achieving functions such as blood clotting, anti-aging, and whitening. This makes previously high-end products more accessible and improves people’s lives while promoting environmental sustainability.
Dr. Feng Gao | CEO
Lei Song | COO
TT NFT
TT NFT is a venture solution platform that offers users an innovative virtual museum experience more real than existing platforms. The platform utilizes technology that can produce a 3-dimensional view of museum artifacts that has more depth thereby producing a life-like replica. This allows for a more immersive and real-like experience for the viewer. The platform will also apply Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) that can be purchased, to provide a 3D experience of historical figures and artifacts in the venture’s virtually hosted museums.
Vincent graduated from the University of Shanghai for Science & Technology, majoring in Information and Technology. He has worked for big corporations as a senior software engineer, such as Cereson Inc., for the SAP project and Best Buy project, and WeWork. He is knowledgeable in implementing the startup methodology as well as software development. During the recent 5 years, his software knowledge helped him a lot to utilize blockchain technology in one of his startups, LivAway. He is also a photographer and can bring his artistic taste to the project. As CEO, he will direct the venture’s overall vision and business strategy and will be the key decision-maker while managing the executive team.
Wenxiong (Vincent) Chen | CEO
Thea obtained her bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Jiangnan University. Then she worked at international companies like Whirlpool Corporation, and WeWork. Her experiences in “WeWork Labs” as an incubator senior manager helping hundreds of startups grow in China is something the venture can leverage. She is also an expert in Marketing, Innovation, and Agile project management. As CMO, her experience as Acting Marketing Head for one year for Safone, a Personal Care Brand with a sustainability vision focusing on delivering products with zero waste principles where she led a global team and was responsible for investor relationships and branding, she will be responsible for preparing marketing and advertising strategies for the venture.
Jie (Thea) Li | CMO
OK Diabetes
OK Diabetes is an e-commerce platform that offers diabetes-related products such as equipment, devices, diabetic-friendly food and drinks, as well as medication & supplements. It also offers a variety of digital content on diabetes through eBooks, blogs, articles, and videos to its users. Through this e-commerce platform, it provides Canadians convenient and direct access to a large variety of diabetes products and information
Dongkwan is an investment manager from South Korea and has been working in corporate finance for the past 9 years working his way up to leadership roles in some of the largest investment firms in Korea. He made the big decision to start an e-commerce healthcare startup business called OK Diabetes with my co-founders where he is currently the CEO and CFO. When he is not working, he enjoys catching up with friends and family and occasionally participates in leisure sports.
Dongkwan Han | CEO
The Lana Experience
The Lana Experience is a mobile application developer of a smart application that aids people in dealing with substance use disorder (SUD). This app aids in recovery without relapses and avoids overdoses by using a smart wearable technology and a deep learning algorithm to detect craving moments in real-time. It has gamified conventional SUD treatment methods (such as peer support based therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, etc.) to provide people with SUD a customized real-time support.
Using the data gathered by pulse oximeters implanted in smart watches, it detects overdoses in real-time and alerts the emergency services right away. With real-time audiovisual interventions, access to accountability partners and support groups, habit forming and tracking mechanisms that help support users on their path to recovery.
Dr. Foroogh has a Doctorate of Medicine in Nephrology. During her years of experience as a nephrologist, she has seen how people harm their body with substance use disorder. She has also been in touch with many patients who have overdosed. I discussed the LANA idea with her expert friends and they then decided to devote their time to develop this product and help patients avoid overdoses. Foroogh is the CEO of the Lana team.
Foroogh Sabzghabaei | CEO
Mohammad has a Masters of Electronic Engineering. He has worked as the technical manager in the manufacturing industry for several years. Designing electronic devices is one of his greatest skills. He has designed the LANA smart wristband and is going to help the team by acting as the Chief Technology Officer.
MohammadJavad Dehgha | CTO
Graph BPMS
Graph BMPS is a knowledge-based data collection software. The product can predominantly be used in different state and provincial software projects allowing a seamless and convenient data collection process for inspectors.
Ali Soleimani Fard | Co-Founder
Hadi Vafaei Neghab | Co-Founder
Internee Technologies Inc.
Internee Technologies Inc. is a Canadian tech company that provides online courses and paid internships to prepare students for the job market. The services are free to students and professionals from marginalized, distressed, and underdeveloped countries. Furthermore, it promotes gender equality by implementing equal pay regardless of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic status. Through this platform, Canadian students and professionals gain relevant skills and practical exposure to ensure their success in the job market and create a more equitable economic recovery for all Canadians.
Pankaj is the Chief Executive Officer of Internee. He takes care of numerous areas of the business. He works on the typical CEO areas of work such as business strategy, partnerships, legal compliance, hiring, team management, and budget. He also focuses on areas of the business such as fundraising, investor relations, brand development, and market/industry research.
Pankaj Kakani | CEO
Ashishkumar is the Chief Technology Officer of Internee. He primarily works in the technology department of the business. Not only does he lead the tech strategy of the business but he also provides leadership to the development team (which includes architects, engineers, and more). He oversees product development, develops and maintains technical infrastructure for the business, and makes sure security is taken care of. Further, he manages partnerships with technology partners or vendors and works closely with other departments such as marketing and sales to ensure the technology strategy is aligning with the overall business strategy.
Ashishkumar Soni | CTO
Hexeity
Hexeity is a modeling language and simulation platform designed for companies with complex industrial machinery such as assembly lines. The platform provides a way to store specifications on a computer and run simulations to test machinery performance by using a modeling language to represent machinery, either by specifying parts as objects with various properties or by starting off with equations. It allows for simulated stress-tests, and utilizes patchwork modeling, which allows testing of subsystems in isolation. The ingenious mathematical design makes the system more efficient and capable of handling complex systems with thousands of equations in a shorter amount of time.
Sina has a BS in Mining Engineering from Azad University of Tehran, and since 2006 has worked at Komatsu Tehran as a technical representative for selling and support to Construction, Mining and industrial machinery.
Sina Behzadi | CEO
Mehrdad has an MBA in marketing & exports from Payame Noor University. Since 2004 he has worked in sales and marketing in top-level companies such as Rohm & Haas and Henkel. In 2013 he started his own company dealing in wood industry raw materials and machines.
Mehrdad Afrouz | COO
MedIQ
MedIQ is a comprehensive ambulatory healthcare ecosystem that addresses healthcare accessibility, chronic disease management, and decision support for healthcare providers. This digital health solution offers telemedicine consultations, remote patient monitoring tools, AI-driven diagnostic aids, and personalized preventive care options. The platform improves healthcare access by connecting patients, particularly those in rural and remote areas, with healthcare providers through virtual consultations.
It also enables effective chronic disease management at home for the aging population, reducing costs and increasing comfort. The AI-driven tools assist healthcare providers in making informed decisions quickly, leading to better patient outcomes, while personalized preventive care solutions empower patients to take proactive control of their health.
Dr. Saira Siddique is the CEO and Founder of MedIQ. She is a social entrepreneur, a seasoned public health expert, and a trained health economist with more than 2 decades of work experience. She is a medical graduate, with a Master in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and a Ph.D. in Health Economics from the University of York.
Dr. Saira Siddique | Founder & CEO
Minus Bracket
Minus Bracket is a pioneering dental technology company that is revolutionizing orthodontic and dental implant procedures. The flagship product, the Minus Bracket device, simplifies and enhances the process of removing orthodontic brackets without causing damage to ceramic braces.
This reduces patient discomfort and saves time for orthodontists. The company is going to develop additional heads for the device to address challenges faced by endodontists and maxillofacial surgeons, such as the removal of broken root canal files and fractured implant screws.
Hadi Mozaffri holds a Masters of Science in Industrial Engineering at Wayne State University. He also has experience working as manager in Mehrkaman Dental Clinic for 1 year and Shian Dental Clinic as a manager for 2 years. His experience provides a holistic set of skills perfect for the Minus Bracket team.
Hadi Mozaffri | CTO
Aqua Clean Tek
Aqua Clean Tek a developer of a device for local real-time treating of greywater (fecal-free wastewater). The process is done through an IOT-enabled cabinet-size device for the local treatment of greywater (fecal free wastewater) at the point of production in buildings for residential and commercial sectors to help people reuse water and save its energy for the same purpose.
The device has a unique full-disinfecting and deodorizing component and uses oxidation for better cleanness and less chemical material use. Its modular design allows scaling up for commercial laundries, laundromats, hotels, and restaurants.
Saghar Nasrollahi | CEO & Marketing Strategist
Peyman Mirjani was raised in an oil & gas family. His father devoted his life to petroleum industry as manager and grown his son with passion in this industry. Having this background, Peyman obtained his master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Business Administration from the Esfahan University of technology and the Petroleum University respectively.
He possesses 10+ years of experience in Petroleum and Petrochemical industry and is an expert in relationship building and strategies for success through people.
Peyman Mirjani | COO & Business Strategist
DorDor
DorDor is an e-commerce platform that aims to connect online and offline shopping in the local market. The platform involves an aggregator panel that compiles information from various sources, including local shops, small-medium enterprises (SMEs) both merchant and service-oriented entities, and entertainment facilities, to provide a new shopping experience.
Within the app, shoppers can find the best value by considering factors like price, location, delivery speed, and reviews eliminating the need for multiple apps and sources. Different delivery options, payment methods, and engaging activities are also available through the app. For local businesses, the platform provides automation and access to a larger customer base, along with valuable data for decision-making and increased profits thereby supporting local businesses and also benefits communities by creating jobs and reinvesting wealth.
Amir Amozeidi is the CEO of DorDor. It is his fourth entrepreneurial venture that he has participated in founding over the last 23 years. He has been engaged in many fields within the I&T industry including: the cement industry, banking, petrochemical automations, network engineering, IT training, information security system management implementation and auditing, as well as trading with foreign countries.
Amir Amozeidi | CEO
We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of entrepreneurs to our community and are excited to see the incredible impact they will make in the Canadian market and the world.
With their passion, drive, and commitment to innovation, we are confident that they will achieve great things and inspire others to do the same.
We encourage you to connect with them on LinkedIn and give a hearty Canadian welcome. 
