The exclusive program is organized by the Trade Commissioner Service and Consulate General of Canada in Chicago and mHub, a leading innovation center with a focus on hard tech in Chicago. 

The program offers strategic guidance as well as prototype and new product testing services. 

“This is a great opportunity for us to grow and fine-tune our go-to-market strategy,” says founder Ghazaleh Afrahi, adding: “We’re all really excited!” 

Besides gaining highly valuable input from experts, she said the program will offer Shifting Shap3s the chance to further explore the US market. 

Running from February to April 2023, it will consist of three months of coaching and mentoring from industry experts. There will also be network building opportunities.   

Invited to apply at the very last minute, the team at Shifting Shap3s had to shift gears to make the application deadline.

“It was a bit stressful, but in the end, it was totally worth it!” says Afrahi. 

Focusing on hard tech, mHUB helps startups build innovative physical technologies. With their support, startups raised over $1B in capital, launched 1,398 products, and generated $721M in revenue.