We Asked 7 Founders: What Sparked Your Startup Idea?

Co-Founder:

Ayalinch Jonathan, Undergraduate student in Fundamental Genetics & Its Applications and Cell & Molecular Biology  

Concept:

A cancer detection startup developing wearable biosensors that continuously monitor biomarkers. They aim to enable earlier cancer detection through real-time, accessible, and cost-effective screening.

Learn more about ct3 

Spark:

The spark for our venture was lit in December 2024. Our team took a trip to go skating to decompress after exams. As we made laps around the rink, our conversations shifted from our favourite movies and music to science, and eventually to how meaningful breakthroughs arise when ideas cross disciplinary boundaries. We started imagining what it might look like to collaborate on something of our own that combined our diverse strengths. That evening, still on skates, we tossed around a range of ideas, from drug delivery mechanisms to epigenetic knockouts, circling especially around cancer diagnostics. 

Later that week, we met in the Ramsay Wright student lounge to explore an idea further. It was there that the true interdisciplinary collaboration began at the intersection of biology and engineering within cancer detection strategies. Ayalinch walked Lauren through the biological aspects, while she offered technical insights into how we might translate the concept into a practical solution. The energy in that conversation was unmistakable; we both recognized that this was more than a thought experiment. 

It was the beginning of a real opportunity to develop accessible cancer diagnostics for those who need them the most. real opportunity to develop accessible cancer diagnostics for those who need them the most.

Founder:

Tanisha Sylvester, Alumnus of

Dalla Lana School of Public Health  

Concept:

A digital mental health platform that focuses on the student perspective and experience.

Learn more about EVOLVERE Mental Health Inc.

Spark:

The idea for EVOLVERE was sparked after several late-night conversations with friends and peers, where a common theme kept surfacing: mental health resources on campus felt out of touch and out of reach. Some friends described long wait times, others shared that the support available did not reflect their cultural or personal realities, some did not know how or where to reach out, and some thought that spending time on something that would not give them a grade was time wasted. 

Sitting there, I realized we were all carrying the same weight, quietly, and yet none of us felt seen by the resources meant to help us. What struck me most was how many students avoided seeking support because they felt that most supports use a one-size-fits-all solution. That realization pushed me to dig deeper, so I decided to talk to more students. I heard similar perspectives from a wide range of students: resources were monolithic, barriers were everywhere, and stigma remained high (better than before, but still very much an issue). 

That was the lightbulb moment for me. 

Existing systems were not reaching students, so I knew we needed to create something new - something built for students, by students. That is what led to EVOLVERE Mental Health and our ecosystem of actionable, student-co-designed resources that reflect diverse perspectives and lived experiences.

Co-Founder:

Alex Shibu, Undergraduate student in

Physics and Economics 

Concept:

A startup that creates AI voice agents for service businesses that answer calls in less than 8 seconds, book jobs, create quotes, and sync details to CRMs in 10 seconds.

Learn more about Avalonn 

Spark:

We realized that many small and medium-sized businesses, especially in cafes and restaurants, struggled with customer service. Staff didn't have time to answer calls, and 80-90% of those calls were for basic information or appointment bookings. This highlighted a major problem worth solving, and that was our lightbulb moment. Then we found the service industry where this problem is even bigger where it's a one-to-two-person independent individual running a small business, and each missed call costs them around $78 per call. Having an agent that picks up these calls, even while they're already doing work, makes a massive difference. That's why Avalonn is working to recover the $78 more than 600K service businesses lose on every missed call using 24/7 AI voice agents to deliver world-class customer service experiences that rivals Amazon and Amex.

Co-Founder:

Chenchen Wang, Undergraduate student in

Psychology and Philosophy 

Concept:

An online storefront specializing in artisanal cream puffs (choux au craquelin). 

Learn more about the 437 Bakery Cafe 

Spark:

I was originally inspired to create a unique atmosphere centered around good food. Although Toronto has so many cafes already, I couldn't find any that tried to cultivate a social atmosphere. Typically, people go to cafes to work in solitude. So, I began to work on The 437, named after Toronto's new area code, with the goal of one day opening a not-for-profit storefront, where human interaction and enjoyment of the mundane are at the forefront. Due to me and my co-founders' Asian background, we decided to highlight Asian flavours and began our venture by selling one product - deliciously light cream puffs inspired by the flavours we grew up eating. 

The project is currently on hiatus, but we hope to one day fully invest in making the elegant, lively, and comforting atmosphere we envisioned.

Founder:

Shawn Poncha, Undergraduate student in

Rotman Commerce  

Concept:

A startup committed to helping youth explore and understand their study and career opportunities. They offer access to personal stories from experts who openly share their success stories, offering invaluable insights into educational paths, the specific skills and steps needed, and effective strategies for achieving diverse career goals.

Learn more about CareerZ 

Spark:

The idea for CareerZ was sparked by my own search for clarity about what career path to pursue. Like many students, I struggled with the fact that the world of work is changing rapidly, but students often remain unaware of the opportunities that lie outside of traditional, well-worn paths. One moment that stood out was when I came across an article in the Financial Times by Andrew Jack, “More careers advice, early in life, works wonders.” It emphasized the importance of giving young people access to career guidance earlier in life—before decisions are made under pressure or without enough awareness. This struck me because, growing up in India, I saw many of my peers pushed toward careers their parents wanted, most often becoming doctors or engineers, without a chance to explore what they were truly passionate about.  

My personal experience reaching out to professionals for advice, combined with this realization, became the “lightbulb moment.” CareerZ was born to give students access to real stories, mentorship, and resources—helping them discover careers aligned with their passions and skills, not just parental expectations. Today, we’ve crossed 800,000+ views with the simple purpose of raising awareness about the diverse career and college options available, empowering students to make informed choices in a fast-changing world of work.

Co-Founder:

Christine Bradshaw, Alumnus of

Rotman Commerce

Concept:

An independent multi-channel media collective that creates and distributes thought-provoking content that disrupts culture.

Learn more about See You Next Tuesday Media 

Spark:

The spark that ignited SYNT came during COVID, when Sierra sat in her university house, weighed down by emotional turmoil and the exhaustion of trying to break into an industry full of gatekeepers. After years of sending pitch after pitch to editors who never responded, she decided to start SYNT, a space where emerging creatives could share their stories and have their voices truly heard.

Founder:

SaraLi Forouzanfar, Alumnus of

Human Biology & Physiology

Concept:

A holistic wellness platform built around a unique 8-step system that helps individuals define what wellness means to them, prioritize what matters most, and make meaningful progress across all dimensions of life. 

Learn more about tabi well-being

Spark:

The spark for tabi wasn’t a single lightbulb but a long flicker that finally turned into a steady flame. I’ve lived with depression and anxiety since I was a teenager, cycling through misdiagnoses, failed medications, unaffordable therapy, and long seasons of burnout and despair. In my mid-20s, I found my footing by stacking small lifestyle changes and apps (fitness, food, healthy habits) and it worked, for a time. But life’s chaos, trauma, and COVID dragged me back into deep depression, and I realized that what was missing wasn’t effort, but a system that could hold me through the ups and downs.  

In 2020, while recovering from an injury, I came across a paper on the 8 dimensions of wellness, and it clicked that well-being isn’t siloed pieces, it’s interconnected. I finally had language to describe how I’d once reached the healthiest, most sustainable place in my life: by making consistent changes across multiple areas, not just one. Taken together, those practices lifted me into the best state of well-being I had ever experienced, and what made it powerful was that it lasted; it truly worked.  

Years later, when I finally had the space to reflect, I recognized the real problem: we’re overwhelmed with scattered tools and advice, but no clear, holistic way to know what actually works for us or how to stay consistent. That was the moment I knew I had to try. tabi was born from both my personal survival and a vision: to create a science-backed, flexible, and deeply human system for navigating well-being, so no one has to feel as lost or alone as I once did. 

We're creating something new, and anyone who resonates is welcome to join the journey on tabiwellbeing.com!