With his focus on entrepreneurship, new technologies and immigration, Akram Al-otumi is working hard to grow the population and economy of Nova Scotia, his adopted home.
Halifax-based Al-otumi is a Co-Founder of 3D Next, which he set up in 2012 with Montreal-based Michael Groenendyk. The partners sell and install Tinkerine DittoPro 3D printers and train buyers to use the technology.
Al-otumi’s many community contributions include founding the Azal Student Agency for international students and newcomers, and the Enactus Nova Scotia Alumni Network, which helps students use entrepreneurship for social good.
“I have a big interest in immigration,” he said. “It’s crucial to retain and attract youth to grow our economy.”
His commitment to the cause has been recognized numerous times. His accolades include Provincial Representative and HRM Volunteer Awards. He was also named a 21 Inc. Leader for the 21st century, and a Top 25 Immigrant in Canada by the Royal Bank of Canada.
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As an immigrant himself, Al-otumi understands the complexities of adjusting to a new place and culture.
He came to Halifax in 2007 having grown up in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen. He was attracted to Halifax because of the universities, the legendary friendliness of the people, and the fact it is a sea-side province.
“I came to Nova Scotia when I was 19,” he said. “I worked. I was very social. I did my best to integrate, to understand the culture. It wasn’t easy, but after a few years I felt at home.”
After studying English, he received a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University in 2012. At Dalhousie, he also gained an Entrepreneurial Skills Program Certificate and an Intercultural Communication Certificate.
He wants others to benefit from his experience.
He sits on diverse professional boards, including the board of Fusion Halifax, the board of 21inc and the Sub-Committee on Population, Immigration and Retention with the OneNS Coalition.
Fusion Halifax is the largest networking association for young professionals in the city with more than 2,000 members and outreach to more than 10,000 people.
At Fusion Halifax, Al-otumi is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Action Team with responsibility for entrepreneurial programming and events. He works closely with universities, innovation incubators and accelerator programs across Nova Scotia.
Previously, at Fusion, he was Director of the Immigration and Diversity Action Team where he helped organize the first annual Career, Education and Settlement Fair, an Immigrant Entrepreneur Showcase and Career Spark.
It’s not easy to fit all this activity around his work and studies, especially as he is currently working toward two Masters Degrees.
The Masters programs include a Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation at St. Mary’s University in Halifax, and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (Business Leadership and Systems Thinking) from Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C.
“I work 14 hours a day, but my schoolwork is almost done. That’s a relief,” he said with a grin.
Rather than look forward to relaxing, he is working on a new platform to facilitate import and export trade between Canada and the world.
“I want to simplify the process to help people import and export easily,” he said.
“The system is difficult. There are long waiting times while banks and other parties notify each other. There’s a lot of wasted time and costs. I’m developing an online platform that will allow the process to be managed in a systematic manner.”
He said that competing platforms exist, but that the others tend to focus on either supply chain management or import and export matchmaking whereas his will facilitate the entire export and import processes.
“We will make things faster and more efficient,” he said.
“Now that Nova Scotia is home I want all the best for it. My vision is to grow my Nova Scotia startups and take them to the world.”
