Shazi Visram

Founder & CEO - Happy Family

Shazi realised there was a big market for mums looking for healthy and sustainable gourmet baby food after listening to her friends complain. She then developed her first business plan at Columbia Business School and founded Happy Baby in 2003. The first product line was launched on Mother's day in 2006.

Their products are now distributed across the U.S. through retailers such as Whole Foods, Target and online through Amazon and Diapers.com. It now operates under the umbrella name of 'Happy Family' and distributes its products through 17,000 stores, in 30 countries. It's success has led to million in financing including investors of CEO's and actress Demi Moore. Happy Family is the leading organic kids food brand in the U.S. Shazi has appeared in a few American Express commercial across the nation and won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011.  

Laura Berg

Founder - My Smart Hands

The idea for My Smart Hands started when Laura, as an eighth grade teacher ran the literacy program at her school. She was asked by her principal to improve the students literacy skills by finding different methods. She discovered and started using American Sign Language (ASL) in her curriculum and had great success. This led to her lecturing other teachers at universities which was well received.

While pregnant with her daughter she started designing the curriculum for My Smart Hands as she wanted a way to stay at home with her child while earning income. She realised that ASL offered communication and cognitive development at a very early age. She then signed and taught her daughter ASL, designed a manual and opened up the company to other instructors. It is now an international company with over 100 instructors. She recently received the Ontario Mom Entrepreneur of the Year award.