Start Something at Web Summit 2025
The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking is meeting entrepreneurs where they are—this time, at North America’s fastest-growing tech conference. Join us from May 27–30 at Web Summit 2025 and discover how the University of Calgary’s top startups are shaping the future.
Whether you're an investor, founder, or curious innovator, visit our booth to connect with the next wave of changemakers.
Booth number coming soon.

Meet the top UCalgary startups at Web Summit
The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking is proud to support ten of the University of Calgary’s most promising startups at Web Summit 2025.
These ventures reflect the strength and diversity of UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem. Founded by students, researchers, and alumni, they’ve been supported through various Hunter Hub programs, mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities, and a community that meets entrepreneurs where they are. From emerging tech and health innovation to sustainability and student life, each startup brings bold ideas and fresh perspectives—rooted in curiosity, driven by impact.
Stop by our booth to go beyond the pitch, meet the founders, explore their ventures, and discover how the Hunter Hub is equipping the next generation of changemakers to start something.
bondr is a social discovery platform on a mission to end digital loneliness by connecting students and young professionals through activities (“bonds”). Users effortlessly create bonds using personalized activity suggestions, instantly reaching others with matching interests. By shifting connections from screens to shared experiences, bondr builds vibrant, authentic communities offline.
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Leon Pluns, Founder
- Completed Hunter Hub program: Launchpad 2024/2025
- Hunter Hub Innovation Sandbox member
- UCalgary, Haskayne School of Business
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Pablo Mugnaini, Operations
- Completed Hunter Hub program: Launchpad 2024/2025
- Hunter Hub Innovation Sandbox member
- UCalgary, Haskayne School of Business
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Carlos Andres Montoro, Developer
- Completed Hunter Hub program: Launchpad 2024/2025
- Hunter Hub Innovation Sandbox member
- UCalgary, Faculty of Science
Want to shop Canadian-first? Maple Scan makes it easy. Just snap a picture of any product and instantly learn about its Canadian ties and discover local alternatives. By leveraging a growing database of products and companies, Maple Scan empowers consumers to support Canadian businesses, reduce reliance on imported goods, and make more conscious shopping choices.
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Sasha Ivanov, Founder & CEO
- Completed Hunter Hub program: Summer Accelerator 2023
- UCalgary, Faculty of Science Graduate
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Setareh Aghel Manesh, HCI & AI Researcher
- UCalgary, Faculty of Science Graduate
- Connect on LinkedIn
CraftXR Technologies transforms workforce training through AI-powered feedback and immersive XR simulations—equipping professionals with the emotional intelligence and skills to excel, starting in healthcare. Their vision is to build a world where emotionally intelligent professionals create workplaces where people and performance thrive together.
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Farzana Aktar, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
- Completed Hunter Hub programs: Launchpad 2024, Summer Accelerator/Lab2Market Launch 2024, Evolve to Innovate 2023
- UCalgary, Faculty of Science Graduate Student, supervised by Dr. Frank Maurer, Professor, Dept of Computer Science.
- Work affiliations with Dr. Lien Willets, Dr. Irene Ma, Dr. Elaine Dumoulin from the Cumming School of Medicine
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Hamza Afzaal, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer
- Completed Hunter Hub programs: Launchpad 2024, Summer Accelerator/Lab2Market Launch 2024, Evolve to Innovate 2024
- UCalgary, Faculty of Science Graduate Student, supervised by Dr. Usman Alim, Professor, Dept of Computer Science.
- Work affiliations with Dr. Lien Willets, Dr. Irene Ma, Dr. Elaine Dumoulin from the Cumming School of Medicine
- Connect on LinkedIn
MLCan is developing the Smart Flow Meter, an AI-driven multiphase flow measurement solution for the oil and gas industry. Their mission is to enhance operational efficiency, reduce emissions, and optimize resource management through cutting-edge AI and sensor technology. By providing accurate real-time flow data, MLCan empowers energy producers to make informed decisions, improving sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
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Mohammad Abbaspour, Co-founder and CEO
- Completed Hunter Hub programs: Launchpad 2022, Ascent 2023, Summer Accelerator 2023
- UCalgary, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
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Mohammad Mansouri, Co-founder and COO
- Completed Hunter Hub programs: Launchpad 2022, Ascent 2023, Summer Accelerator 2023
- UCalgary, Department of Electrical and Software Engineering
FibroDynamx is a drug target discovery company. Their first product (a protein-based drug) prevents scar formation and promotes skin regeneration for severe skin injuries. The identification of their first drug candidate was informed by pioneering research using reindeer, where skin on the antler (called velvet) heals without scar. This regenerative model, combined with their human datasets from burn patients and in silico modelling functions as a platform to identify and rank potential drug targets.
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Nicole Rosin, PhD, Co-founder & CEO
- Completed Hunter Hub programs: Evolve to Innovate 2023, Summer Accelerator/Lab2Market Launch 2024, Aeir
- UCalgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Connect on LinkedIn
SyncMed Technologies Inc. is a healthcare innovation company led by clinicians and academics, focused on improving communication and continuity of care during emergency medical handovers. Their flagship product, the EMS2ED app, streamlines the transfer of critical patient information from paramedics to emergency department staff, enhancing patient safety and reducing cognitive load for frontline providers. SyncMed's mission is to bridge communication gaps in emergency care through practical, user-centered technology built by those who understand the challenges firsthand.
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Kate Ewing, Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder
- Hunter Hub programs: Aeir
- UCalgary, Faculty of Nursing, Graduate Student
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Brandon Blondeau, Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder
Campus Buddy is the ultimate student engagement platform, connecting university students to events, clubs, groups, and a campus marketplace. They make campus life more connected, accessible, and engaging while providing businesses with a direct way to reach students.
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James Mtendamema, Co-Founder and CEO
- Completed Hunter Hub program: Launchpad
- Hunter Hub Innovation Sandbox member
- UCalgary, Faculty of Science, Undergraduate
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Jennifer Igwe, Co-Founder and COO
- UCalgary, Faculty of Arts, Undergraduate
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Yang Liu, Co-Founder and CBO
- UCalgary, Haskayne School of Business, Undergraduate
- Connect on LinkedIn
Dev Search addresses the component selection problem in component-based software development (CBSD). Each piece of software is composed of hundreds or thousands of free or paid components that work in the background, providing services for code developed primarily in response to solving a problem. Given the variety of off-the-shelf options available, selecting the right one is a challenging task for developers. Manually collecting, reading, understanding, and comparing information is no longer feasible. Dev Search leverage AI to analyze developer discussions and extract insights about different options.
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Mahdi Jaberzadeh Ansari, Founder and CEO
- Hunter Hub Innovation Sandbox member
- UCalgary, Schulich school of Engineering, Ph.D. Candidate in Software Engineering
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Seyed Tauhid Ullah Shah, Founder and CTO
- Hunter Hub Innovation Sandbox member
- UCalgary, Schulich school of Engineering, Ph.D. Candidate in Software Engineering
- Connect on LinkedIn
Phanvic X is your affordable AI-powered study companion that helps you organize notes, create study materials, and expand your knowledge beyond the classroom. Their primary solution, Study Season is designed to be a student’s ultimate study partner. Unlike general chatbots, it's curriculum-aware, understanding the context of coursework to provide more accurate help when summarizing complex lecture notes or answering specific questions.
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Junyu Huo, Co-Founder and CEO
- Completed Hunter Hub program: Launchpad
- Hunter Hub Innovation Sandbox member
- Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, UCalgary
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Ziad Hamed, Co-Founder and COO
- Completed Hunter Hub program: Launchpad
- Hunter Hub Innovation Sandbox member
- Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, UCalgary
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Adrina Sadeghian, Marketing and Operation Specialist
- Completed Hunter Hub program: Launchpad
- Hunter Hub Innovation Sandbox member
- Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, UCalgary
- Connect on LinkedIn

Curious about how these ventures got their start?
The startups you see here didn’t get here by chance—they’ve been part of a growing ecosystem of support, mentorship, and hands-on programs offered by the Hunter Hub and the University of Calgary. From idea to impact, we’re here to meet changemakers where they are.
We offer a wide range of programs designed to support entrepreneurs at every stage—whether you're still in the classroom, deep in research, or building your next venture. Learn more about Launchpad, Summer Accelerator, Evolve to Innovate(e2i), and other opportunities that help turn ideas into reality.
Connect with the Hunter Hub
Whether you’re an investor, founder, alum, or simply passionate about innovation, we’d love to keep the conversation going. Sign up for updates on Hunter Hub programs, events, and success stories—or reach out to explore how you can get involved in Calgary’s growing innovation ecosystem.