A PhD student at the University of Toronto has created a company that will use kits to help detect viruses and microbes in water.

Masoud Akhshik and two other friends started Advanced Hi-Tech Centre Ltd., a company that will use kits to detect whether or not the water is safe for consumption. He was able to create his company thanks to the RBC EPIC Founders program.

Akhshik learned about the Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre) through his university and decided to use the annual entrepreneurial program to start his business.

“I realized that there’s this program that actually pays you to work on your business idea so that’s why I applied,” Akhshik says. “It’s a very good opportunity for me to be around people and to be at the right place at the right time.”

Akhshik hopes to improve his business skills and showcase a viable product at the end of the 12-week program.

“I really hope I can have at least one minimum viable product and at least one proven business model canvas to showcase and start my journey more seriously.” says Akhshik.

This is the fourth in a series of articles introducing this summer’s participants leading up to a showcase of their prototypes in August at the EPICentre. Learn more on the centre’s website.

—Dana Roe