In the startup space, we hear about the latest innovations every few months. But if that innovative idea is not inclusive and reaching everyone, who is it really for?
Meet Amandipp Singh, Founder and CEO of Enabled Talent and part of Brampton NEXT’s very first cohort. When he saw how exclusion played out in front of him, it shaped the solution he built for it.
We had the chance to sit down with Amandipp to hear how his journey through BHive’s Brampton NEXT program helped turn a powerful idea into a real business with impact.
From Lived Experience to Innovation
Enabled Talent didn’t start as just a business idea, it was personal. “In 2023, while preparing for my PhD, I saw a clear opportunity to address the inequity in hiring, inaccessible systems, and exclusion from the workforce,” he says. “Enabled Talent started as a response to those gaps, shaped by both personal experience and systemic need.”
His commitment to tackling these challenges led him to choose Canada as a home for the startup. Inspired by the Accessible Canada Act and the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, he felt Canada’s “Nothing Without Us” vision for a barrier-free future aligned perfectly with his mission. “It was clear that this is a country that values every human life and actively supports innovation that centers access and inclusion,” he explains.
From day one, Amandipp leaned into Canada’s resources. He showed up to every opportunity he could, conversations with professors, small business centres, and local incubators helped him navigate a new environment and build momentum. “The more I engaged, the more doors opened,” he shares. Those early connections soon led to mentors, clients, and even team members.
Finding the Right Inclusive Community
When Amandipp learned about Brampton NEXT he knew it was the perfect fit. “I’d been following the incredible work of TBDC and BHive for a while. When this cohort opened, I knew it was the right opportunity to grow an impact-driven startup like ours in a city that values inclusion and innovation.”
Through BHive and the Brampton NEXT program, Amandipp has not only accessed workspace and mentorship but has plugged into a network of ecosystem partners:
- Brampton Entrepreneur Centre (BEC): Offers free business consultations, workshops, and grant guidance
- Brampton Innovation District: A hub of co‑working spaces, accelerators, and networking events designed to support startups and scale‑ups
- Brampton Venture Zone, and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst: These programs bring sector-specific acceleration, cybersecurity training, and global mentorship into the ecosystem
These resources have amplified Amandipp’s ability to test ideas, connect with mentors like Sabine MacDonald, David Cohen, Ramona Gallagher, Jaspreet Singh, and Nishant Ahlawat, and even navigate settlement challenges when moving his family. “The entire experience has been invaluable… What’s truly rare is the personal settlement support BHive provides not just for founders, but for their families too,” he emphasizes.
Words for Future Founders
As Enabled Talent grows, Amandipp is eager to share what he’s learned with other early-stage founders, especially those starting from scratch.
“Start with a problem you understand deeply and stick to the problem, not just a flashy solution. Be the hardest-working person in the room, stay patient, and learn fast.”
He’s quick to point out that the path is rarely easy, but persistence pays off.
“Get attached to the hard work, not just the outcome results will come, sometimes after months of building in silence. You’ll meet critics, mentors, and well-meaning advisors, learn what you can, but don’t let rejection stop you. For us, it took 100’s of no’s before one yes and that was enough to keep going.”
The Road Ahead
Through resilience, empathy, and a commitment to lived experience, Amandipp and Enabled Talent are proving what’s possible when communities invest in inclusive innovation. With support from Brampton NEXT, the company is on track to help transform hiring practices and create real opportunities for people with disabilities in Brampton and beyond.
Here’s to her continued success and to a future where everyone gets a fair chance to thrive.