Volta Amplifies AI Commitment with Strategic Board Appointments

At Volta, we're deeply committed to advancing the AI-first startup ecosystem in Atlantic Canada. We're excited to announce two strategic appointments to our board of directors, further strengthening our capacity to support the region’s innovative AI startups.

Joining our board are Tapajyoti (Tukan) Das and Sihan Shi—two industry leaders whose expertise aligns perfectly with our mission to nurture high-potential AI startups.

Meet Our New Board Members:
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Tukan Das is the CEO and Co-Founder of Gia, a leading Halifax-based AI startup. With more than a decade of experience in software development and entrepreneurship, Tukan previously co-founded LeadSift, a VC-funded startup that achieved a successful acquisition. He also contributed significantly to organizations like Heart & Stroke. Tukan’s deep technical expertise in text mining, natural language processing, and practical AI applications will offer invaluable insights to our community. Additionally, he is passionate about community-building, regularly hosting AI mixers that unite enthusiasts, experts, and emerging talent to foster collaboration and innovation.

Sihan Shi is the Principal Consultant and Founder of Sihan Shi Consulting Corp., based in Toronto. Her consultancy supports technology startups and scaling organizations, leveraging her extensive background in product development, marketing, and operational design. Sihan's experience includes impactful roles at TWG (acquired by Deloitte Canada) and OneMethod, as well as serving as Senior Director of Client Services, managing multimillion-dollar portfolios across fintech, social enterprise, and Web3 sectors. Her strategic insights will be critical as we support startups aiming for rapid growth.

Matt Cooper, CEO of Volta, shared his excitement:
“After more than two and a half decades in the startup industry, I couldn’t be more excited about the potential artificial intelligence offers for Atlantic Canada’s startup community. The addition of Tukan and Sihan to our board is timely and strategically essential as we refine our support for AI startups. Our region’s rich talent and ingenuity uniquely position us to compete globally, and these board appointments further amplify our capabilities.”

Our enhanced strategic focus is clear: accelerate early-stage AI startups from inception to surpassing $1 million in revenue within 18 months or less, aligning with global benchmarks recently highlighted in industry analyses. Reports, including those from Stripe, show AI startups outpacing even the fastest-growing SaaS companies globally—a trend we're poised to capitalize on.

Volta’s approach emphasizes tailored mentorship from seasoned AI experts and specialized support resources, such as those available through the Scale AI program, to ensure our startups receive targeted and impactful guidance.

With these strategic board additions, Volta continues to significantly boost the prospects of building globally impactful startups from Atlantic Canada.

Stay tuned for more updates as we shape the future of AI innovation together.

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