40 | The Upstart A look at who’s doing what in the tech sector

Toronto’s boldest innovators on what they’re making and how it works

how much you spenT iniTially:

“Not much personal capital. It was all sweat equity and having passionate people come on board. Sami and I didn’t pay ourselves until late 2017.”

your Turning poinT:

“That first contract with the Redblacks. We were nervous, thinking, We hope people use this. There were probably 300 users at that first game, which beat our expectations.”

your big-Time backers:

“2EP, the folks who invested in Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Canon is a strategic partner.”

The besT advice you’ve received:

“‘As a founder, you have to be the salesperson.’ I often have to remind myself that nobody is more qualified than the founder to sell in the early stages.”

The worsT advice you’ve received:

“‘Grow at all costs.’ That mentality in the venture community is reckless and detrimental, both from an economic and a mental health standpoint.”

how iT works:

“We install cameras in stadiums so fans can get photos from otherwise impossible vantage points. Take out your phone, punch in a URL, enter your seat number, pan and zoom the camera, strike a pose, then the photos will appear on your mobile device.”

eureka momenT:

“In, 2015, my co-founder, Sami Dalati, and I were building camera software for blimps and drones. Then it occurred to us: Let’s pitch a product that doesn’t need to fly. We approached the Ottawa Redblacks, a CFL team, with the idea. They liked it, so we programmed some cameras with our software and it took off from there.”

Tech jargon you use Too much:

“After working at Microsoft, where they used a lot of buzzwords, I’ve decided to make Brizi an anti-jargon company. We don’t use acronyms.”

coolesT Thing in your office:

“We have a Japanese massage chair. We’ll say, ‘You look stressed. Go get a massage.’ ”

your Tech role model:

“I try not to have role models. One of my philosophies is to look for what I can learn from everybody I meet, especially the people on my team.”

app you can’T live wiThouT:

“Photos.”

if you weren’T running a sTarT-up:

“I’d still be running a start-up. I don’t really have a plan B.”

go-To office aTTire:

“I always wear plain black dresses, either with boots or sneakers. I wish there were an equivalent of the Steve Jobs turtleneck for women.”

pasT life:

“I took a dual degree, mathematics and business, at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier. I also completed co-ops with Apple and Microsoft.”