News Summary

The Intelligent Search Company (TISC), a startup co-founded by University of Waterloo graduate Mahbod “Moe” Sabbaghi and Arpan Bhattacharya, has exited stealth mode and secured $2.1 million USD in pre-seed funding. The Toronto- and San Francisco-based company aims to fine-tune AI models to assist sports teams, particularly coaching teams, by providing real-time contextual recommendations. TISC’s funding round was led by Silicon Valley’s OVO Fund and Toronto’s n49p, with participation from Montréal’s Panache Ventures. The startup has piloted its AI capabilities with NCAA Division I teams and plans to expand its early pilots and hire more machine learning talent. TISC is incorporated in Delaware to leverage talent pools in both Canada and the US, despite some Canadian tech leaders advising against US incorporation.