Originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, Antony Díaz arrived in Montreal at the age of 15 with a fierce desire to learn. While language barriers and cold winters could have slowed him down, he saw every challenge as an equation with multiple solutions.
A standout in math olympiads, Antony also explored musical comedy and radio, pushing his own limits and embracing new experiences. His first major milestone came with a science fair project on thermoelectricity, which opened the door to a collaboration with the University of Montreal.
At 16, he entered Montreal’s startup ecosystem and founded Uvolt, a solar energy startup whose first product — a solar-powered watch — secured funding before eventually closing due to market factors. Rather than a failure, Antony calls it an invaluable lesson.
Inspired by Montreal’s diversity and the need to simplify the migration process, he founded AskAïa, an AI-powered virtual assistant specialized in Canadian immigration. The platform operates in more than 50 languages, currently serves over 5,000 users, and stores personal data in a secure “digital vault” aligned with Quebec’s Law 25 on cybersecurity.
Recognized by Microsoft as a Most Valuable Professional (MVP) and Gold Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador (MLSA) for Canada, Antony partners with organizations like CAFLA and MANA to reach more migrants, aiming to help 50,000 people this year.
His advice to young entrepreneurs: stay true to yourself, trust the process, and never fear hearing “no.”