We’ve been working hard behind the scenes at SwavAI, and I’m thrilled to share some major updates on our journey, along with an exciting announcement from my other venture, Leedana.
I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately like, “What is SwavAI?” and “What is Leedana all about?” So, I wanted to take this opportunity to answer those questions and provide some updates on both ventures. In this blog post, I’ll share some exciting news about what we’ve been working on, and hopefully, it will cover everything you’ve been curious about!
SwavAI Accepted into the Dobson Center’s Lean Technology Startup Program
I am incredibly proud to announce that SwavAI has been accepted into the Lean Technology Startup program at McGill’s Dobson Center for Entrepreneurship! The McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship is the hub of entrepreneurial innovation at McGill University with the mission to build innovative companies with a purpose. Recently awarded America’s Most Impactful Initiative at the 2024 Triple E Awards, the Dobson Centre continues to catalyze sustainable socio-economic innovation locally and internationally. This accolade follows the Dobson Centre’s recognition as the #1 Global Innovation Ecosystem of the Year in 2023, and World Top 5 rankings from UBI Global and USASBE, reflecting the ongoing commitment to empower entrepreneurs with world-class resources, mentorship, and a thriving community.
This marks a pivotal moment for us. Last year, we were accepted into the Weston Sustainability program under a different strategic focus, but after months of hard work and reflection, we’ve shifted our strategy to something much more exciting.
Our New Focus: Empowering High Achievers
SwavAI is dedicated to helping high-achieving individuals who are passionate about becoming the best versions of themselves. The first product we are launching is a real-time reactive communication improvement tool.
This tool allows users to monitor and enhance their communication skills in real-time, providing feedback on confidence, clarity, and tone. Whether you’re practicing a speech or participating in a business meeting, our tool helps you sharpen your skills and make a lasting impact. It’s perfect for anyone looking to elevate their communication performance—whether at work or in everyday life.
Why This Matters
Being accepted into the Dobson Center gives us access to resources, mentorship, and expertise that will accelerate our research and development. It also helps us secure the funding we need to bring our products to market. This is a huge step forward for SwavAI, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes us.
Who is Omar Dabayeh and how did we meet? Omar and I met a few years ago at Concordia University, in the 3D printer labs and the Sandbox (a creative space dedicated to innovation). We bonded over our shared passion for creating real-world solutions to complex problems. Since then, we’ve collaborated on several projects, including an open-source robotic arm (which is still in progress).
Omar has been instrumental in guiding SwavAI’s hardware development since the beginning, and I’m thrilled that he’s now officially leading the hardware side of SwavAI. His expertise has been invaluable, and thanks to him, we’ve made significant progress on the lighting systems for our initial product.
By having Omar take charge of hardware development, I’ve been able to focus more on market strategy and software design. Together, we’ve formed two agile teams that work closely together, ensuring that we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Another sneak peak into our hardware (with the lighting system partially installed):
Leedana: Preparing for Launch and Expanding Our Impact
Shifting gears to Leedana, our sandponic farming venture, I have some exciting updates to share as well! Leedana’s beta software is scheduled to launch later this year, and we can’t wait to show the world what we’ve been working on.
Here’s a sneak peak of the Opportunity Calculator, a simple tool to determine sandponic feasibility using our designs. Users will be able to quickly and easily determine how much food our systems produce, how expensive and profitable the farms are, among other important statistics.
Leedana’s Mission and Achievements
Leedana is on a mission to save billions of liters of water through sandponic farming technology. Our software will empower farmers with the tools and knowledge to commercialize and scale their sandponic farms, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable agricultural future.
This year, we had the privilege of participating in the X-1 Accelerator at the McGill Dobson Center with Leedana. The program provided invaluable lessons on perfecting our pitch and messaging for investors, and as a result, we’ve raised over $50,000 in non-dilutive funding through awards since January. This funding has allowed us to develop prototypes and move our technology forward. We’re also planning an exciting expansion farm in South America!
How It All Began
I first encountered Leedana’s vision when I met Hassan Elrakhawy through SwavAI’s participation in the Weston Sustainability Program. I was immediately drawn to the story behind Leedana and its mission to revolutionize agriculture while conserving water. Since then, we’ve been working together to scale our technology and expand Leedana’s global reach. I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made.
What’s Next?
Both SwavAI and Leedana are at exciting turning points, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support and momentum we’ve gained so far. Keep an eye out for more updates as we continue to innovate and make a positive impact in the world. Whether it’s through cutting-edge communication tools or sustainable farming solutions, we’re just getting started.
Thanks for being part of this journey!
Gabriel Giangi 
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