UCalgary alum Sasha Ivanov creates an app to help shoppers identify Canadian products

With the threat of tariffs on the rise, Sasha Ivanov is determined to help shoppers learn more about the everyday products they buy. And with his new app, Maple Scan, shoppers can do exactly that. 

“I want to help people shop local,” Ivanov says. “Even beyond tariffs, shopping locally is an important cause that I will always champion.”

His app, Maple Scan, uses AI technology to identify whether a product has Canadian ties or not. With his app, shoppers can use their phone camera to instantly identify where a product is made and learn more about the brand. The app also offers Canadian alternatives to help consumers choose products that support local businesses. 

“There are websites with product information, but I couldn’t find something accessible while grocery shopping. So, I decided to create it,” he says. “It’s something that people need right now.”

With the app hitting number 19 in the Apple app store shopping category only a week after its launch, the statement certainly rings true.

Helping Canadians shop local with Maple Scan

Maple Scan was created, tested, and launched in the span of a week; a journey Ivanov, BSc'17, MSc'21, describes as a “rollercoaster.”

“This all started just a couple weeks ago,” Ivanov says with a laugh. “I was at home, with nothing to do on a Sunday. Thinking about tariffs and everything happening right now inspired me to create Maple Scan. Even if the tariffs don't happen, I still wanted to create something to help people shop local.”

Understanding a product’s Canadian ties isn’t always black and white. “It’s not always clear,” Ivanov says. “There’s a lot of labelling, but sometimes that can be misleading. A company could use a stylized maple leaf in its design yet have zero Canadian associations. Or a Canadian company could be acquired by a U.S company. To have an app say ‘yes, it’s Canadian,’ or ‘no, it’s not,’ isn’t exhaustive enough.” 

Ivanov says that even classifications like “made in Canada” or “product of Canada” can have two completely different meanings. “It’s very complex, even thinking about a brand like Honda, for example: There’s a Honda factory in Canada, so if you buy a Honda, you’re still supporting the Canadian economy even though it’s not a Canadian company. There are many nuances,” he says. 

With Maple Scan, shoppers can learn complex product and brand information helping them make informed buying decisions without confusion. 

“The app uses a ChatGPT-style approach using large language models to put together product information,” Ivanov says. In fact, Maple Scan’s AI foundation is a key factor that differentiates the app in the market. While similar apps rely on a unique product code, Maple Scan can glean far more information with its AI-based approach.

Ivanov is excited to see Maple Scan evolve over time: “It’s a new technology, and it’s really useful in this context. As it grows, we’re focused on building a feedback loop to improve the AI over time via product ratings,” he says. “As we know, sometimes ChatGPT gets things wrong. This is the overarching limitation of AI right now. This AI approach gives us a strong starting point, but those feedback loops will really strengthen the database as people scan more items.”

Gaining the skills to become a creative entrepreneur

“This has been such a passion project for me thus far. Ultimately, I enjoy building tools for people that they can use, that will make their lives easier,” Ivanov says.

Ivanov, who graduated from the University of Calgary in 2021 with a master's in computer science, has an innate entrepreneurial spirit. Back in 2019, he participated in the Faculty of Graduate Studies Summer Innovation Showcase with his app, Stemify. Later, in 2023, Ivanov participated in the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking’s Summer Accelerator program, where he raised funding for an entirely different startup. 

“It was a really cool experience. I got to learn about entrepreneurship, test MVPs, and work with mentors, which was so helpful,” he says, speaking about the Hunter Hub’s Summer Accelerator program. “Even though that venture didn’t take off, the program really put me in that entrepreneurial mindset. It gave me the space to really focus in and take it a little more seriously.”

Though he’s created various startups, Ivanov doesn’t consider himself an entrepreneur. “It’s funny because I am an entrepreneur. But for me, at the end of the day, I’m just someone who likes to make stuff. I like creating things that people can use, using technology. For me, it’s about helping people do something that they couldn’t do before. It’s about solving a problem,” he asserts. 

“The most important thing is to be excited about what you’re doing,” Ivanov says.

Here at UCalgary, students are given the tools they need to unlock their potential and start something. Supporting students along their journey, the University is where people come to start something great and maybe even make something great, like Ivanov has done; whether they consider themselves an entrepreneur or not.

Download Maple Scan here.