Helpseeker

Dr. Alina Turner, social scientist, and her husband Travis Turner, school teacher and administrator, have committed to using their experience to make a difference. To address challenges they witnessed — glaring inefficiencies in the access of social and health services — HelpSeeker was founded in Calgary in 2018.

Knowing firsthand of the struggles of families attempting to navigate the complex maze of support services, they realized these systemic gaps could be bridged with advanced technology, by providing a direct line for people in urgent need. Whether you're looking for housing assistance, food banks, mental health support, financial aid, or resources for dealing with addiction and domestic violence, Navigi, the go-to search engine of HelpSeeker, can guide you to the right places, quickly and efficiently. It becomes your compass to social services in the community. “But we’re not stopping there — our platform also serves as a powerful tool for data analytics in the social sector,” says Travis. “We're providing policymakers and service providers with real-time insights to make informed decisions, leading to more effective programs and interventions. This dual approach of immediate assistance and systemic change is what sets HelpSeeker apart.”

From the UCeed partnership, Travis, MEd’14, and Alina, PhD’13, can expect more than financial investment. The co-founders want to see a collaborative relationship that brings strategic insight, mentorship and access to a broader network to help scale their impact. “UCeed's expertise in nurturing startups and driving innovation aligns perfectly with our goals and we're excited about the potential of this partnership to accelerate our growth,” says Travis. “Looking ahead, we plan to expand HelpSeeker's reach, enhance our platform's capabilities, and continue to innovate solutions that meet the evolving needs of our users. Our goal is to make HelpSeeker an indispensable tool for individuals and communities across the country, and beyond.”

Visit HelpSeeker’s website for more information.

HelpSeeker has received investment from UCeed, a venture philanthropy fund accelerating UCalgary and community-based startup companies to advance problem-solving research, create jobs and fuel the economy. A key program in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem, UCeed bridges the gap between innovation, demonstration and commercialization, and is managed by UCalgary’s knowledge-transfer and business incubator, Innovate Calgary.

The UCeed Social Impact Fund is powered by the generosity of the United Way of Calgary and Area and its mission to mobilize communities for lasting social change and the Government of Alberta’s Creative Partnerships initiative to support arts and non-profit sectors.