Behnam’s struggles as a newcomer to Quebec led him to develop a solution to ease the obstacles faced by international students. During his transition from Iran to Canada, Behnam had to maneuver through the college application process, language barriers and visa requirements. He knew there had to be an easier way to study in Canada and start a new life. 

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Drawing on his background in Machine Learning, Behnam built a website to help international students apply to Canadian universities in under five minutes. He saw the need for AI assistance and created ‘Dana’ to answer prospective students’ questions and help them receive admission letters. 

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Behnam believed in his vision and benefited from coaching expertise to help focus and develop his idea. His journey with District 3 helped him to create a sustainable business model and build a valuable product for students like him. 

“I had this idea that we need to raise millions of dollars. My coach was Julie, and she was telling me, be calm, try to build a good business, not just raise money. You want to develop a product that has value for your users. ” - Behnam Farsi