Kinnear New Venture Winners

Winner

TutorAI

Ashton Seebaran (BCom’25), Tharakan Karunakaran (BCom ’25), Rodrigo Diaulia (Computer Engineering ’25), James Shapas (Computer Science ’26)

TutorAI is a next level AI tutoring for life-long learning platform. It allows you to create a custom learning pathway to help you achieve more in school, work, and life.

Finalists

• UMG
  Daniel Wang (BCom’26)
• Moda
  Jun Lin (BCom’24), Jesse Pound (Mech. Eng’25)
• Ponder
  Lauren Van Der Wissel (BCom’25), Simon Long (Comp’25), Ben Falkner (Comp’25), Caroline Wu (Arts Economics’24), Abby Kaye (Biotechnology’25)

Winner

EcoPod

Nikola Cugalj (BCom’22)

EcoPod designs and builds four-season backyard studios that can be used as home offices, workout spaces, and music studios. The Ottawa-based company currently offers three customizable models, and another two are coming soon.

Finalists

• Chaordinem Consulting
  Calin Ranger (BCom’22), Kitchener Pickford, Johan
• Sew Brew
  Abby Brewer (BCom’24)
• Pally
  Jay Lee (BCom’22)

Winner

Footy Five

Jovan Novakovic (BCom’21)

Footy Five offers competitive youth soccer clubs, academies and organizations that want to increase technical/tactical player training time outside the collective team setting while avoiding astronomical field rental expenses. Footy Five has developed a user-friendly, digital platform and application for players to pursue individual/small group training outside of collective team training sessions.

Finalists

• Brieft
  Christian Curelea (BCom’21), Kitchener Pickford, Johan
• SHINE Strength & Confidence
  Jessica Takimoto (BCom’21)

Winner

Traktab

Vinson Lee (BCom’20), Matthew Mastromarco (BCom’20), Aaron Cotter (University of Waterloo, Software Engineering ’20), David Tsenter (University of Waterloo, Software Engineering ’20), Spencer Dobrik (University of Waterloo, Software Engineering ’20), Ryan Wang (University of Waterloo, Software Engineering ’20)

Traktab closes the loop on medication adherence by connecting seniors to their loved ones through a smart pillbox. Each compartment of the pillbox features an invisible sensor that detects when the pill has been removed so that the adherence information can be logged. This enables families to monitor adherence remotely through an iPhone or Apple Watch app, updated in real-time by actual pillbox usage. For concerned loved ones living busy lives, Traktab offers peace of mind — our core value proposition.

Finalists

• Bloom Botanica
  James Edwardson (BCom’20)
• Mistral Spirit
  Iona Pihu (BCom’22)
• The Positivity Project
  Aaliyan Khan (BCom’22), Claire Mikuska (BCom’22), Emilie Leneveu (Memorial University, Technology ’20), Emily Tiessen (BCom’22), Grace McColl (BCom’22), Randy Shao (Computer Science’22), Zion Oginni (Computer Science’22)

Winner

Cleen Detailing Inc.

Sawyer Wildgen (BCom’19)

Cleen Detailing is a mobile car detailing company that comes to you. Cleen allows you to book online in under two minutes, and have a friendly Detailing Expert show up at your home or place of work to clean your vehicle.

Finalists

• Lunar
  Sam Shore (BCom’20), Copeland Lucas (BCom’20), Connor Crowe (Computer Engineering ’20)
• SitterNextDoor Inc.
  Jenny Hua (BCom’22), Andrea Herscovich (University of Ottawa, Computer Science ’22), Jenny Shen (Carleton University, Computer Science ’22)
• The Positivity Project
  Aaliyan Khan (BCom’22), Claire Mikuska (BCom’22), Emilie Leneveu (Memorial University, Technology ’20), Emily Tiessen (BCom’22), Grace McColl (BCom’22), Randy Shao (Computer Science’22), Zion Oginni (Computer Science’22)

Winner

Dream Again

Ushpreet Mehta (BCom’19), Florian Ntibarigobeka (Computer Science ’17), Emily Gervais (Chemical Engineering ’18), Henry Von Schroeter (Chemical Engineering ’17) and Matthew Bell (Western University, Business ’17)

Dream Again produces custom-fitted CPAP masks for the treatment of sleep apnea that are perfectly fitted to an individual’s unique facial structure. This makes our masks to be truly comfortable and leak-free, which allows sleep apnea sufferers to actually get the good night sleep that they so desperately need.

Finalists

• Bitscreen
  Jenny Kim (BCom’18), Emily Xu (University of Toronto, Engineering ‘19), Jose Herrera (University of Calgary Software, Engineering ’17), Matthew Anderson (University of Lethbridge, Business ’18)
• Lukabox
  Vinson Lee (BCom’20), Matthew Mastromarco (BCom’20), Aaron Cotter (University of Waterloo, Software Engineering ’20), Robert McGibbon (University of New Brunswick, Engineering ’19), Billy O’Connor (University of New Brunswick, Engineering ’20)
• Student Property Services
  Chris Mackey (BCom’19), Wesley Mann (Econ’19)

Winner

437 SWIMWEAR

Hyla Nayeri (BCom’17), Adrien Bettio (BCom’17)

437 SWIMWEAR is an ecommerce retailer specializing in women’s swimwear. 437 strives to produce simple, minimalistic, and universally flattering designs which showcase a woman’s body in the best possible way. The line is perfect for the carefree, confident girl who loves minimalistic style. Founded by Hyla Nayeri and Adrien Bettio, two fourth-year Smith School of Business students with experiences from small fashion start-ups to large brands such as Hugo Boss and Nike, the founder duo is out to bring minimalistic and curve-hugging swimwear to the masses.

Finalists

• Educhain
  Mark Balovnev (BCom’18)
• EmptyPlate
  Leanna Li (BCom’18), Eddie Wang (Schulich School of Business Commerce ’18)
• Iris Technologies
  Colin Harding (BCom’17), Conor Ross (Applied Science ’16)

Winner

Bnto

Maggie Shi (BCom’18)

Bnto is a curated, limited-daily-option, subscription-based lunch delivery service based on the web aimed at bringing delicious, hot food from local partnered restaurants to campus-settings with limited food options. In other words, bnto is a “hot lunch order” for the modern student/worker.

Finalists

• Iris Technologies
  Colin Harding (BCom’17), Conor Ross (Applied Science ’16), David Cashin (Computer Science ’16)
• Lumos Energy Strips
  Heather Wilcocks-Gynn (BCom’17), Chris Angelatos (Engineering ’16), Lexi Kaplin (Engineering ’16), Peter Lyons (Engineering ’16)
• Spreza Technologies
  Heather Evans (BCom’16), Daniel Lloyd (Engineering ’16)

Winner

Lloyd & Company Bespoke Tailoring

Lloyd Talon (BCom’15)

Lloyd & Company Bespoke Tailoring offers custom made suits and shirts through three brick-and-mortar retail facilities in Toronto and Ottawa. Founded by Talon Lloyd (BComm 2015), the company has been in operation since May, 2013 and has delivered garments to over 500 customers. Now in a stage of expansion, Talon is looking to replicate the brand's success in the larger US market!

Finalists

• Brockington Group Inc.
  Amit Kumar (BCom’17), Alex Cracium (BCom’17) and Xiao Winker (BCom’17)
• SimplyFeed.me
  Vladimir Bogdashkin (BCom’15), Claudia Hidou (MIB’15), Chris Kim (BCom’16) and Evan Marsland (Computer Engineering ’16)
• TheTalentWiz.com
  Logan Houston (BCom’15)

Winner

PrepMe (formerly nPulse)

Jawwad Siddiqui (BCom’15) and Amin Nikdel (Computing ’14)

Professors at numerous universities currently do not have a way of evaluating if students “get it or not?” Currently, professors depend on the gut and intuition to design and deliver in-class lectures and discussions. They do not get analytics or “finger on the pulse” about their students to aid with their teaching. PrepMe is here to solve that problem, with its powerful analytics!

Finalists

• Blu Root
  Massimo Ianniruberto (BCom’14)
• Journal Prep
  Kyle Maloney (BCom’14)
• Pop
  Thomas Lee (BCom’14), Alessia Vettese (BCom’14) and Khalid Karim (UBC ’13)