University of Calgary alum Sasha Ivanov is helping Canadian rethink the way they shop
Sasha Ivanov created Maple Scan to help Canadians learn more about the everyday products they buy — all with the snap of a phone camera.
“Consumers can take a photo of a product and through the app, understand its Canadian ties,” says Ivanov.
Powered by generative AI, Maple Scan helps shoppers access complex product and brand information to support more informed, local-minded shopping decisions. Since its February release, the app has reached nearly 490,000 product scans and accumulated over 2000 app store reviews.
Remarkably, Maple Scan was created and launched in just one week.
“I wanted to help people shop locally, especially with the impending tariffs at the time,” Ivanov explains. Now, two months later, he remains committed to supporting the Buy Canadian movement.
“We don’t know what will happen in eight months down the line – maybe the tariffs will be lifted. But people will still want to support local companies. And there may be new causes they care about, too.”
The University of Calgary alum is still taking in the app’s rapid rise. “The attention itself was so surprising. I was really blown away that this grew beyond Calgary to be honest,” Ivanov says. “There were a few weeks following our launch where every single morning, I would wake up to an interview request. It was such a beautiful experience.”
With its latest update, Maple Scan now helps users discover city-specific alternatives, making it even easier for Canadians to support businesses close to home.
For Ivanov, his journey is continually evolving. “What really shifted for me is going from someone who is just building a product to becoming someone who is really driving this initiative and becoming a leader,” he says. “My role has totally shifted. Learning those skills quickly has been important. Getting mentorship and support — from places like the Hunter Hub — has been incredible.”
The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, based at the University of Calgary, was a critical player in Ivanov’s entrepreneurial journey.
“A lot of the strategies we used with Maple Scan came from the Hunter Hub’s Summer Accelerator,” he says. “The program was such a great experience — it allowed me to focus my efforts on one thing. And that’s an important learning. Entrepreneurship is a full-time job that requires all your attention.”
One of Ivanov’s proudest milestones has been growing his team. “Having a team come together, especially during those first few weeks, was so critical to our success.”
Momentum continues to build for Ivanov and his team. In May, they’ll be bringing Maple Scan to Web Summit 2025, North America’s fastest growing tech conference.
“My goal is to meet businesses fact-to-face and understand how we can help them during this time,” Ivanov says. “Web Summit is a great opportunity for us to showcase what Maple Scan is, build relationships, and maybe even find partners we can work with in the future.”
The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking is proud to support ten of the University of Calgary’s most promising startups at Web Summit. These ventures, founded by students, researchers and alumni, have been supported by the Hunter Hub through various programming, mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities, and a rich community driven by entrepreneurial thinking and creative innovation.
Planning to attend Web Summit? Visit the Hunter Hub’s booth to connect with Maple Scan and the nine other ventures making waves in UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem.
Ready to take your first (or tenth) step into entrepreneurship at the University of Calgary? The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking is here to support you as you embark on your entrepreneurial journey, whatever form that may take. Through a variety of programs, services, and year-round community events, the Hunter Hub is here to meet you where you are — whether you’re looking to pitch a startup, develop your business, or simply dive deep into an issue that ignites you. Visit the Hunter Hub website to learn more.
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