Canadian AI Startup OpenSesame Gets Fast-Tracked by a16z
OpenSesame, a Toronto-based startup focused on agentic AI, has earned a coveted spot in Andreessen Horowitz’s (a16z) elite Speedrun accelerator, becoming the only Canadian company among 50 selected out of 10,000+ global applicants. The win comes with $1 million USD in equity funding, millions in AI tool credits, and access to a16z’s high-profile mentorship and investor network.
Co-founders Anthony Azrak and Jai Mansukhani built OpenSesame to make it easier for companies to integrate agentic AI capabilities into their products using natural-language prompts—letting users talk to AI that can act on their behalf.
A Startup Built on Hustle and Serendipity
OpenSesame’s origin story reads like a Silicon Valley legend. After bonding during a Next Canada accelerator program, the co-founders scored angel backing from Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez with a hockey jersey and handwritten note. Their pitch to a16z? Delivered in person at New York Tech Week—without ever submitting a formal application.
“It felt like the spirit of early Y Combinator,” said Azrak, referring to the smaller, more focused approach of Speedrun compared to today’s 200+ startup YC cohorts.
Bridging Legacy Tech with Agentic AI
OpenSesame has found its niche in AI-as-a-service by targeting legacy-heavy industries like construction and insurance, where modernizing internal systems remains a challenge. Their agentic AI layer enables enterprise software to respond to natural-language prompts and perform tasks automatically—without requiring major backend overhauls.
“Our vision is to become the Canva for AI interfaces—simple, elegant, and easy to embed,” Mansukhani told BetaKit.
The Market Needs It, But Can Canada Keep It?
With Canadian executives citing a 48% talent gap as a key obstacle to AI adoption (per Georgian Partners), OpenSesame’s low-code approach fills a timely gap. But Canada’s chilly VC climate is pushing many startups to scale south of the border.
OpenSesame hasn’t ruled out moving its HQ to the U.S.—a decision that could hinge on seed round interest post-demo day. Despite investor encouragement to stay Canadian, Azrak notes: “If this fundraising thing is going to stop us from growing, then it’s a real conversation we need to have.”
A Future in Flux, But Eyes on the Vision
OpenSesame’s journey underscores the paradox Canadian founders face: a strong local talent base but an uphill funding battle. Still, the team is bullish on agentic AI’s future—and their place in shaping it.
Backed by the likes of Cohere’s Gomez, Comma Capital, and BDC Capital’s Daniel Nieto, the four-person startup is now scaling fast through a16z’s 12-week program—with global eyes watching where it opens next.
