Curtis Carmichael almost got kicked out of school as a troubled teenager in Toronto’s housing projects. Today, his EdTech startup Shuriii helps teachers prevent other students from falling through the cracks using artificial intelligence that spots learning problems in real-time.
The 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient spent 10 years teaching in high-priority schools across Canada before launching Shuriii to solve a problem every educator faces.
Teachers Drowning in Data While Students Fall Behind
Teachers manage staggering amounts of information daily. Each educator handles over 1,000 lessons, 15,000 instructional materials, and more than 150,000 student assessment notes yearly, scattered across 40+ browser tabs and 10+ different software platforms.
This fragmentation creates dangerous blind spots. Problems only surface during report card periods twice per year, meaning struggling students can slip behind for months before anyone notices.
“We provide teachers with real-time insights, enabling them to pinpoint where kids are struggling every week rather than every four to five months,” Carmichael explained in a recent interview with Black Founders Network.
The three-in-one platform consolidates teacher plans and student data from multiple sources, then converts everything into weekly analytics that identify success areas and highlight where intervention is needed.
From Street Kid to EdTech Founder
Carmichael’s journey from troubled student to education innovator shapes Shuriii’s mission. Growing up in Scarborough’s public housing, he was “street involved” and constantly in trouble at school.
“I was never in class and I was always in trouble. I got into physical fights with staff and students,” he recalls.
Grade 8 mentorship changed his trajectory completely. He graduated top of his high school class, earned a scholarship to Queen’s University, and played football before an injury ended his professional sports dreams.
Instead of pursuing athletics, Carmichael cycled across Canada and raised $100,000 in 60 days for underfunded after-school programs in his old neighborhood. The documentary “Ride for Promise” captured this remarkable journey.
He then returned to teach at the same school where he’d once faced expulsion, working primarily in high-priority schools serving underserved communities for a decade.
AI That Understands Cultural Context
Shuriii goes beyond basic data analysis. The platform provides culturally responsive recommendations tailored to each student’s specific needs and background.
“What Shuriii really does long term is that it increases the likelihood that a student will actually get the support that they need to catch up to their grade level early enough,” Carmichael explains.
The AI analyzes both quantitative metrics and qualitative information to give teachers a holistic understanding of each student’s situation and learning requirements.
NBA Champion Pascal Siakam Backs Expansion
Shuriii joined Pascal Siakam’s EdTech Engine accelerator program, positioning the company for global growth. The former NBA champion’s PS43 Foundation and DMZ incubator selected Shuriii as one of six North American companies for the 12-week program.
“Multiple school boards in Canada are already using our platform. Getting into this accelerator program will give us the tools to scale to the global level that we envision for shuriii,” Carmichael states.
The program offers $50,000 in total grant prizes and culminates with a Demo Day where participants present to judges including Siakam himself.
Backed by Tech Giants
Google for Startups and Antler have invested in Shuriii, providing validation and resources for the AI-powered education platform.
Carmichael also founded Source Code Academy, described as Canada’s first culture-focused academy preparing K-12 students for the digital economy through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and technological innovation courses.
From Augmented Reality Books to PhD Research
Beyond Shuriii, Carmichael created what he calls the world’s first augmented reality memoir. “Butterflies in the Trenches” includes a mobile app companion and has been translated into 20+ languages.
He’s currently pursuing a PhD in STEM at Hampton University, a Historically Black College and University in Virginia, focusing on “Abolitionist AI, Quantum Computing, and Social Justice.”
His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Education in STEM from Ontario Tech University and a Master of Education with focus on STEAM education, Responsible AI, and social justice.
Teachers Need Better Tools Now
With achievement gaps widening and teacher burnout increasing, Shuriii addresses urgent classroom needs. The platform saves educators time while providing more accurate assessments to students and parents.
School boards also benefit from potential cost savings through early intervention rather than expensive remedial programs later.
“Good intentions aren’t enough. Teachers need tools,” Carmichael emphasizes, drawing from his decade of classroom experience.
The startup demonstrates how AI can support rather than replace human educators, giving them superpowers to help every student succeed.
