Halifax-based ImmigrateAI Global has won third place in the Global Business Competition at the G20 YEA Summit in South Africa.

The company has won a package of $5,000. What’s more valuable, founder and CEO Max Medyk told Entrevestor, is the recognition and partnership requests the company has since received.

“This was the first time a Nova Scotia company did this on the G20 stage,” he said. “It's about validation of our business model and networking opportunities with global leaders. It also provides a strong talking point for future business development and potential investment.”

The venture has launched an AI platform designed to simplify immigration paperwork for healthcare professionals, skilled tradespeople, and international talent. The lawyer-designed platform is said to streamline visa applications, provide cost competitiveness, and cut refusal rates.

In an interview with Invest Nova Scotia,  Medyk previously said he has navigated immigration systems in Ukraine, the U.S., Canada and New Zealand and saw the challenges for himself. 

“Only a small fraction of applicants use lawyers or consultants,” Medyk said. “Not because they don’t want help, but because it's either unaffordable or they don’t realize how risky it is to go it alone.”

Medyk began his venture in 2020 through content creation, accruing 400,000 followers across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. He then built a platform explaining complex policies and procedures.

“There’s a disconnect between the support people need and what’s realistically available to them,” he said. “That’s where we saw an opportunity to bring in AI.”

The company’s software helps users prepare applications by checking their profiles against immigration regulations, noting red flags, and creating a list of supporting documents, he said.

The innovation is particularly useful in the post-secondary education sector, he said, as universities lose millions of dollars because of student visa refusals.

The company said its product is now in use in 140 countries.

“Instead of paying $2,000 for a lawyer, an immigrant can pay $100 for this AI software,” Medyk said.

The venture recently launched PR Compass, a platform geared toward immigrants already in Canada – particularly those in healthcare, construction, and other high-demand sectors – who are attempting to gain permanent residency. 

“If you’re a nurse, your time is better spent caring for patients,” Medyk said at the time in a press release.