How six UBC Sauder grads, and their companies, are changing B.C.’s business landscape

The UBC Sauder School of Business has a strong track record of training entrepreneurs who go on to greatness. A scan of the recent generation reveals some major players making waves at home and around the world

Bench Accounting
Ian Crosby and Jordan Menashy have revolutionized the world of automated bookkeeping in an unexpected way: by retaining a human touch. With their startup Bench Accounting Inc., established in 2011, the UBC Sauder BCom grads (class of 2008 and 2009 respectively) have tapped into the market for small and medium-sized businesses by making online bookkeeping affordable for the masses, while also offering real-time support from real, live accountants. Their formula has not only caught the attention of entrepreneurs, who would rather focus on serving their customers than fiddling with finances, but also some heavy hitters in the investment world. After graduating from the prestigious TechStars accelerator program in 2012, the pair raised $10 million of funding from private investors and some major media attention from the likes of Forbes, Entrepreneur and the New York Times. Ian Crosby was named one of BCBusiness‘ 30 under 30 in 2015 and to the Forbes 30 under 30 list in January of this year. 

Osei-Duro
Pairing high fashion with a social conscience has come with a steep learning curve for Osei-Duro co-founder Maryanne Mathias. The UBC Sauder MBA grad first conceived of the fashion house based in Accra, Ghana and Los Angeles in 2009, with a vision to both build capacity for a fashion export industry in the West African nation while also bringing Ghana’s colourful prints and rich textiles to the international fashion market. After graduating in 2012 and ironing out kinks in supply chain and quality control, Osei-Duro has become a darling of the sustainable fashion world, winning spots in Africa Fashion Week, dressing the likes of Michelle Obama and earning mentions in Vogue and Vogue India. Up next, the company plans to launch a homewares line and expand its social enterprise model into India.  

Neurio
For Janice Cheam, capitalizing on the smart home market has been a long game. The UBC Sauder BCom graduate first conceived of her startup Neurio (originally called Energy Aware), more than a decade ago as part of the school’s course named New Venture Design. The company’s energy-monitoring devices, which track and control home energy use from a central breaker panel, quickly won recognition in the business community. The company was named most promising startup by the BC Technology Industry Association in 2009. Consumers were slower to adopt the technology, but the market appears to be maturing. The smart home market is predicted to double in size to $71 billion in the next two years, and Cheam’s company, which rebranded as Neurio in 2015, has secured $1.5 million in financing to tackle this growing market. 

Cartems Donuterie
For Jordan Cash, opening Vancouver’s Cartems Donuterie was literally a dream come true. The UBC Sauder alum first conceived of the modern pastry shop—name and all—in his sleep while living in South Korea in 2002. A decade after the fact, and just months after graduating from UBC Sauder’s MBA program at the Robert H. Lee Graduate School, Cartems opened its first location in downtown Vancouver. With its modern, creative take on the traditional pairing of doughnuts and coffee, Cartems quickly won a following among foodies throughout Vancouver and beyond. In 2015, the company opened a second location on Main Street and attracted some high-profile media attention, such as an upcoming feature on the Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here.

Recon Instruments
From its start as a project in UBC Sauder’s Technology Entrepreneurship class, Recon Instruments has grown into a leading innovator in wearable technology. Launched in 2008 under the leadership of CEO and MBA grad Dan Eisenhardt, Recon’s ski and snowboard goggles have set the bar for smart eyewear with its cutting-edge heads-up display. In 2015 the company expanded into the running and cycling markets with Jet, its Wi-Fi-enabled ultra-lightweight glasses. And the company has done more than impress tech-savvy athletes with its future-focused designs. In 2011, NASA announced plans to test Recon technology in its space suits and in 2015 the company was acquired by Intel, which had been an investor since 2013. With the Intel deal, Recon is once again broadening its horizons with new products such as Empire EVS, the world’s first smart paintball helmet. 

Kiip
Kiip CEO and founder Brian Wong became the youngest student ever to graduate from the UBC Sauder BCom in 2009, when he was just 18. Since then, the prodigious tech entrepreneur has gone on to prove that success isn’t dependent on age. Founded in 2010, Kiip (pronounced ‘keep’), is Wong’s mobile marketing platform that turns online achievements, such as high scores in games or fitness goals, into real life rewards for users and valuable impressions for brands. The company’s game-changing approach to mobile marketing has caught on in Silicon Valley—the company has raised $30 million in venture capital since 2010, and currently reaches 90 million users. And Kiip shows no sign of slowing down. In 2015 the company doled out 583 million rewards to users, launched loyalty campaigns with MasterCard and Taco Bell and increased its engagements by 230 per cent.