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:

“About $60,000. A chunk of that came from my co-founder’s parents. We put the money toward computer hardware, branding and app developers.”

YOUR TURNING POINT:

“In February 2021, we shared the app with 10 of our friends. It spread organically from there. Since then, about 50 million people have downloaded it.”

YOUR BIG-TIME BACKERS:

“We just closed a $6-million seed round, with an investment from Sound Ventures, Ashton Kutcher’s fund.”

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF:

“The things you hear from teachers are usually bullshit. To be successful, watch what regular people are doing. That’s all the information you need.”

THE WORST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED:

“‘You need a degree.’ I grew up in a world where if you want to learn or do something, the internet makes anything possible.”

HOW IT WORKS:

“Upload a selfie and select a song from the catalogue, then the app will use artificial intelligence to animate your picture, making it look like you’re singing along to the music and performing a choreographed dance.”

EUREKA MOMENT:

“In the summer of 2020, I was sitting on the rooftop of my apartment at Church and Charles, smoking a joint with my roommate, enjoying a beautiful evening. I thought to myself, Why hasn’t anyone made an app that turns a regular photo into a hilarious animated video? By the end of a four-hour discussion, I was convinced we needed to make it ourselves.”

COOLEST THING IN YOUR HOME OFFICE:

“I have a limitededition gold Volcano vaporizer. I got it for $750 at the Toronto Hemp Company.”

IF YOU WEREN’T RUNNING A START-UP:

“Growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut, but I wasn’t disciplined enough for all the work it would have involved. Hopefully I can still get to outer space before I die.”

TYPICAL WORK-FROM-HOME ATTIRE:

“A black Uniqlo crewneck T-shirt and black Nike shorts. I also wear a Magen David necklace my grandmother gave me when I was six.”

APP YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT:

“I live off Uber Eats. I always get the schnitzel wrap from What A Bagel.”

HIGHER LEARNING:

“I tried out a few different majors at U of T, like math and philosophy, but I dropped out after five years without a degree.”

TECH JARGON YOU USE TOO MUCH: “‘Synergize.’ It’s just a fancy way of saying there’s an advantage to putting things together.”