About Us

Techmien Corp. helps small and mid-sized organizations unlock the power of Generative AI. We use our Rapids™ approach to deliver fast, tangible results through our structured 4-step AI Roadmap—guiding clients from first pilot to full-scale intelligent automation.

With decades of experience in custom software, enterprise systems, and digital modernization, we bring deep technical insight and business acumen to every AI engagement. From knowledge bots to AI-powered workflows, we build solutions that fit real business needs.

Techmien was founded in 2016 as a spin-off from Tenet Computer Group, bringing together a legacy of enterprise software excellence with cutting-edge AI innovation. Security, compliance, accessibility, and multilingual support are built into everything we do.

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9225 Leslie Street, Suite 201
Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B3H6
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Phone: +1-289-818-0796
Email: contact@techmien.com

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From Idea to Impact: The AI Roadmap

4 Steps to Transform Your Business with Generative AI

Techmien empowers businesses to unlock the transformative capabilities of Generative AI through a structured, level-by-level approach that advances them along the AI maturity continuum. Our four-level roadmap takes you from initial exploration to full-scale implementation—starting with a focused pilot, progressing through measurable productivity gains, and ultimately reaching seamless automation across key processes.

Whether you're just beginning or looking to scale existing efforts, Techmien ensures every level delivers tangible value, minimizes risk, and aligns AI innovation with your strategic business goals.

1. AI Spark

Ignite your GenAI journey with a focused chatbot tailored to your business.

Learn more →

2. Info Guide

Make your internal knowledge easily accessible and conversational.

Learn more →

3. Finder

Turn your data into instant answers with one intelligent agent.

Learn more →

4. FlowBoost™

Supercharge workflows with AI-powered suggestions and smart automation.

Learn more →

You may also want to explore some of the Funding Programs and Incentives available to assist SMEs and not-for-profit organizations to start their AI Adoption journey.





AI Spark concept illustration
 

1. AI Spark


Ignite your AI journey with a focused chatbot tailored to your business

Objective: Proof of Value and Ideation

Overview:

This level is focused on fast delivery, low cost, and quick return on investment by implementing a lightweight conversational AI solution to demonstrate GenAI’s value in one of your company's real use cases.

Key Features:
  • Fast delivery, low cost, low risk, high visibility
  • Ideal for piloting conversational access to documented internal knowledge
  • Trained with your existing documents and/or the information in your website
  • Generate ideas and discussion about other potential use cases of AI and benefits for your organization
Typical Deliverables:
The following are AI artifacts that may be delivered at this stage:
  • WebSpark GPT — a custom ChatGPT concierge for your website
  • WebSpark Copilot — a custom Microsoft Copilot trained on your information




Info Guide concept illustration
 

2. Info Guide


Your internal knowledge, made accessible and conversational

Overview:

Info Guide implements a chatbot trained with the knowledge and decision tree for one of your processes, enabling your team to easily retrieve business information instantly using natural language — no more searching file folders and digging through PDFs.

Key Features:
  • Boosts productivity and improves response times
  • Informs better decision making
  • Accessible via your intranet or Microsoft Teams
  • Optionally make it accessible to external users
Typical Deliverables:
The following are AI artifacts that may be delivered at this stage:




Finder concept illustration
 

3. Finder


Turn your data into instant answers with one intelligent agent

Objective: Incorporate structured data into training knowledge

Overview:
Finder artifacts combines document knowledge and structured data (spreadsheets, databases) to generate insights, summaries, and decision support.
Key Features:
  • Expands on key features of Info Guide
  • Ingests multi-format data (text + tables)
  • Offers contextual answers and data summaries
  • Leverages summarization and embedding AI models
Typical Deliverables:
The following are AI artifacts that may be delivered at this stage:
  • Custom ChatGPT - view example
  • Copilot Chatbot
  • Similarity Sandbox




FlowBoost concept illustration
 

4. FlowBoost™


Supercharge workflows with AI-powered suggestions and smart automation

Objective: Accelerate your workflows with GenAI

Overview:
In the FlowBoost stage we integrate GenAI into critical steps of your business processes to increase productivity and accelerate turnaround. AI can be used to suggest data inputs, inform decisions, automate steps, and enhance user experience (UX) for employees.
Key Features:
  • Simplifies and accelerates data entry and improves decision making
  • Interconnect systems and data across applications and departments
  • Leverages summarization and embedding AI models
  • AI provides suggestions and recommendations based on context and knowledge
Typical Deliverables:
The following are AI artifacts that may be delivered at this stage:
  • Copilot Agent
  • Similarity Sandbox
  • Custom Application Program Interfaces (API)
  • Custom workflow enhancements - view example
Let's Talk!

AI Artifacts

An AI artifact is a product or tool created using artificial intelligence techniques, designed to solve specific business problems or automate tasks. These can include things like chatbots, recommendation engines, predictive models, or custom AI assistants. Each artifact applies AI logic to deliver insights, decisions, or actions—often integrated into a user-friendly application.

We describe below some of the AI Artifacts that we deliver as part of our engagements, namely:

Custom GPTs

A Custom GPT is a bespoke version of OpenAI’s powerful large language model (GPT-4), configured with specific instructions, knowledge, and capabilities to serve a particular business or user need. It behaves like a smart assistant—able to answer questions, perform tasks, or simulate expertise—based on the custom rules and context that we provide it.

Business Use Cases

  • Internal Assistant: answer employee questions instantly using internal policies, handbooks, or training docs.
  • Customer Support Agent: a 24/7 AI support assistant trained on your help center content.
  • Sales & Ops Assistant: auto-generate emails, summarize CRM notes, or suggest next steps.
  • Content Generator: write articles, briefs, or posts in your company’s voice.

Advantages

  • No hosting or operating expenses
  • Natively multilingual
  • Fast development

Disadvantages

  • User must have a ChatGPT license (Free, Plus, Team, Pro or Enterprise). Free version of ChatGPT only allows a few interactions per day, and is limited to GPT v3.5
  • Extremely limited branding possibilities
  • Limited knowledge capacity and limited integration options
  • Availability and reliability may be affected by the state of OpenAI's infrastructure
  • No usage analytics

Showcase:

[N.B. The domain smart-bot.app is owned by Techmien Corp. and we use it to create permalinks for our solutions]

These are some of the publicly accessible Custom GPTs we have created for our clients (any ChatGPT license required):

  • Techmien Concierge
    • Note: this is an example of our WebSpark GPT offering
    • Client: Techmien Corp. (ourselves!)
    • Purpose: Answers questions based on the content of the techmien.com website
  • NAICS Explorer
    • Client: OCIP
    • Purpose: Expert tool to help users map NAICS codes (North American Industry Classification System) to economic activity descriptions, and vice-versa. Multi-lingual and aware of coding differences among Canada, Mexico and USA.
  • UNSPSC Explorer
    • Client: OCIP
    • Purpose: UNSPSC Explorer: Expert tool to help users map UNSPSC Codes (United Nations Standard Products and Services Code®). Trained with the latest UNSPSC database (v26 Aug 2023).
  • TRL Assessment Tool
    • Client: OCIP
    • Purpose: Helps you determine the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of a project.
  • AI & My Job
    • Client: Hispanotech.ca
    • Purpose: Career planning advisor to help professionals identify trends, challenges and opportunities in the job market to prepare for the disruptions caused by AI in the short and medium term.
  • Job Seeker Advisor
    • Client: Hispanotech.ca
    • Purpose: Advisor for job seekers, enhancing resume and interview preparation.
  • Canuck Prep
    • Client: Canada Welcome Hub
    • Purpose: Bilingual tutor for Canadian Citizenship Test and Interview preparation, offering study guides and quizzes.

Copilot Chatbots

A Microsoft Copilot chatbot is an intelligent conversational assistant built using Microsoft’s Copilot Studio. It enables users to interact with business data, systems, and processes through natural language—automating answers, tasks, and workflows directly within Microsoft 365 and beyond.
It behaves like a smart assistant—able to answer questions, perform tasks, or simulate expertise—based on the custom rules and context that we provide it.

Business Use Cases

  • IT Helpdesk Bot: answers common tech support questions or helps users reset passwords.
  • HR Assistant: guides employees through onboarding steps, leave policies, or benefits info.
  • Sales & Ops Bot: pulls customer records, generates proposals, or provides quick sales data.
  • Project Copilot: helps teams track tasks, update project statuses, or generate summaries from chats or docs.

Advantages

  • Allows control of the logic paths taken by the chatbot, and can also leverage GPT for smarter, more flexible responses
  • Extensive branding possibilities
  • Integrates tightly with your Microsoft environment and with external systems via connectors or APIs
  • Support for multiple data sources, including SQL, Dataverse, API, etc.
  • Collects usage and quality analytics

Disadvantages

  • Hosting cost depends on the number of conversational interactions
  • To avoid cost overruns it must implement usage tracking, alerting and limit enforcement
  • GPT4 Large Language Models (LLM) outperform classic Natural Language Understanding (NLU) techniques

Showcase:

[N.B. The domain aicopilots.pro is owned by Techmien Corp. and we use it to create permalinks for our solutions]

These are some of the publicly accessible Copilot Chatbots we have created for our clients:

Similarity Sandbox™

This is a Techmien-developed AI-powered tool that we use to prototype the logic that may be included in an application.
Similarity logic helps match entities (people, items, or ideas) based on how closely related they are—using advanced language understanding rather than just keywords, and recommends the best matches from an existing list, based on semantic similarity.

Business Use Cases

  • Proof of Concept and prototyping
  • Evaluate and select AI models
  • API testing and parameter tuning
  • Validate data, logic and settings
  • Estimate operating expenses

Advantages

  • Controlled and monitored environment
  • Language agnostic, hence multilingual
  • Batch or step-by-step operation

Disadvantages

  • N/A

Our Approach: The Rapids™ Framework

A Phased Approach to Agile Software Delivery

The Techmien Rapids™ Framework is a gated, phased delivery model that blends the clarity and upfront rigour of Waterfall with the flexibility of Agile to adapt to emerging insights. Each phase is a focused milestone—clear in scope, deliberate in execution, yet fluid enough to respond to change. This model is especially effective for complex custom software projects where stakeholder alignment, technical validation, and phased delivery are critical to success.

📌 Phase 1: Discovery

We begin by immersing ourselves in your business context. Through stakeholder interviews, workshops, and competitive analysis, we uncover user needs, technical constraints, and strategic goals. This phase sets the direction for all downstream efforts.

🎨 Phase 2: Initial Design

Our team elicits regular client feedback as it defines the technical architecture and crafts the user experience through wireframes and conceptual design. This structured design drop ensures feasibility, alignment, and buy-in before building begins.
Crucially, this foundation provides the stability needed to support flexible, iterative development in later phases.

🧪 Phase 3: Prototype Development

We develop a working prototype or proof-of-concept to quickly validate key assumptions and give stakeholders an early look at the solution. It’s a low-risk way to test the waters before diving deeper.

🔍 Phase 4: Evaluate Proof of Value (PoV)

Using real user feedback and performance metrics, we assess the prototype’s value to your business. This checkpoint ensures we’re on the right course—and gives us the agility to shift direction if needed.

🛠️ Phase 5: Solution Development

With validation in hand, we move into full solution development. Using Agile practices—like iterative builds, short sprints, and continuous feedback—we build a scalable, secure, and maintainable product.

🚀 Phase 6: Implementation

Deployment is executed with precision. Whether launching a new system or integrating with existing infrastructure, we ensure a smooth, coordinated rollout with full data migration, testing, and onboarding.

🔧 Phase 7: Ongoing Operation, Hosting & Maintenance

After launch we provide comprehensive operational support, including cloud hosting, monitoring, AI model upgrades, knowledge updates, bug fixes, and continuous enhancements. This ensures your solution performs reliably, securely, and evolves with your needs.

💡 Why Rapids?

Rapids reflects our belief that great software delivery isn’t about choosing between speed and structure—it’s about balancing both. Each rapid is a purposeful, value-focused step that builds on the last, allowing for informed decisions, stakeholder confidence, and efficient delivery.

This approach is ideal for clients who value progressive validation, risk-managed delivery, and a partnership mindset—especially in complex or high-stakes initiatives.

Techmien Rapids™ Framework — Structured Flow, Agile Mindset

Project Portfolio

See also our showcase of AI Artifacts.

Client: Tech-Access Canada
Project: TAC Project Portal

Tech-Access Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization passionate about expanding the reach of its 64 NSERC-funded Technology Access Centres (TACs) to make their R&D support services accessible to all entrepreneurs and innovators across Canada and contributing to the development of a more inclusive innovation economy.

The TAC Project Portal facilitates the intake and management of requests from businesses that want to engage with a TAC and the resulting projects. Research engagement programs managed by Tech-Access through the Portal include NRC IRAP's Interactive Visits, and the Jump Ball Initiative.

Solution: Enterprise workflow management, data collection & presentation, public intake, bilingual
Technology: Microsoft Azure AppService, Azure SQL, ASP .Net MVC, C#, HTML5, Progress/Telerik Kendo
Services: Design, Develop, Host, Support
Timeframe: 2017 – Ongoing

Client: eCampus Ontario
Project: OCIP

eCampusOntario is a provincially-funded non-profit organization that leads a consortium of the province's publicly-funded colleges, universities and indigenous institutes.

The Ontario Collaborative Innovation Platform (OCIP) maintains a structured inventory of capabilities of public higher education institutions, including research expertise and laboratory equipment, as well as a catalog of innovation funding programs and their requirements.

OCIP's core functionality is its ability to match a business's innovation challenge with available research capabilities and applicable funding programs.

Solution: Enterprise workflow management, data collection, public intake, smart search & match, bilingual
Services: Design, Develop, Host, Support; NFC smartcards
Technology: Microsoft Azure AppService, Azure SQL, ASP .Net MVC, C#, HTML5, Progress/Telerik Kendo
Timeframe: 2022 – Ongoing

Client: OCAD University
Project: GradEx ePortfolio

Founded in 1876, OCAD U is Canada's premier institution dedicated to art and design education, practice, and research, and to knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines.

Every year for the last 100+ years, OCAD U conducts GradEx, an in-person exhibition showcasing its graduates and their works. Since GradEx 104th edition in 2019, graduates have used the ePortfolio online exhibition platform for the purpose of GradEx presentations, featuring artists/designers/creators and their works by allowing them to represent themselves via profiles and their works via exhibitions.

ePortfolio has allowed GradEx to have year-round global reach, and was also an ideal solution to the social restrictions created by the COVID pandemic.

Solution: Enterprise workflow management, data collection, public presentation, access analytics
Technology: Microsoft Azure AppService, Azure SQL, ASP .Net MVC, C#, HTML5, Progress/Telerik Kendo
Services: Design, Develop, Host, Support
Timeframe: 2018 – Ongoing

Client: Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health
Project: EDPR

PCMCH provides strategic leadership for perinatal, newborn, child and youth health services in Ontario.

The ED Paediatric Readiness (EDPR) checklist supports 160 hospitals in improving emergency services for children, leveraging initiatives like the EMSC Program and NPRP survey from the U.S.

Solution: Data collection, reporting, bilingual
Technology: Microsoft Azure AppService, Azure SQL, ASP .Net MVC, C#, HTML5, Progress/Telerik Kendo
Services: Design, Develop, Host, Support
Timeframe: 2018 – Ongoing

Client: Ontario Heritage Trust
Projects: Places of Worship Inventory & Heritage Act Register

The OHT helps conserve, value and share the places, landscapes, histories, traditions, and stories that embody Ontario’s heritage, now and for future generations.

The Places of Worship Inventory offers access to thousands of religious heritage sites and related history, while the OHA Register provides data about properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Solution: Data management, bilingual app and content
Technology: On-Premise Microsoft SQL, ASP .Net, C#
Services: Design, Develop, Support
Timeframe: 2008 – Ongoing

Funding & Incentives

We are providing below a curated list of government programs offering grants, tax credits, and other incentives that may help your organization accelerate AI adoption, offset costs and drive innovation.
Please contact and apply to each program directly.

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) – Northern Ontario
Federal

FedNor

Offers repayable contributions to Northern Ontario SMEs to commercialize and deploy AI solutions across priority sectors such as agriculture, health sciences, manufacturing, mining, and forestry. The initiative provides tailored funding and advisory support to accelerate product development, enhance competitiveness, and drive sustainable economic growth in the region.

Funding Amount: $200 million

Eligibility: Small and medium‑sized businesses in Northern Ontario.

Sectors: Agriculture, Health Sciences, Manufacturing, Mining Supply & Service, Forestry

Contact: 1‑877‑333‑6673

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative – Adoption Pillar 2
Federal

FedDev

Offers up to $5 million in repayable, interest-free contributions to help southern Ontario businesses adopt or integrate AI solutions, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs and supporting transformative applications across key sectors.

Funding Amount: Up to $5 million

Eligibility: Incorporated in Canada/Ontario; 5–500 FTEs; 3+ years operating; must secure required IP; commit to responsible AI use.

Sectors: Healthcare & life sciences, enterprise solutions, manufacturing, mobility

Contact: info@feddevontario.gc.ca | 1‑866‑593‑5505

AI Assist Program
Federal

National Research Council of Canada (NRC IRAP)

Investing $100 million in repayable, interest‑free contributions to support innovative Canadian SMEs developing and integrating generative AI and deep learning into their core products and services, offering planning, testing and ethical implementation support.

Funding Amount: $100 million

Eligibility: Innovative Canadian SMEs building or actively incorporating generative AI and deep learning solutions.

Sectors: All sectors

Contact: 1‑877‑994‑4727 | info@irap-nrc.gc.ca

Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program
Federal

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

The SR&ED program provides over $4 billion annually in tax credits and refunds to corporations, partnerships, and individuals conducting eligible scientific research and experimental development in Canada, encouraging innovation and technological advancement.

Funding Amount: Over $4 billion in ITCs annually; CCPCs receive 35% on first $3 million and 15% thereafter; other claimants receive 15% of qualified expenditures.

Eligibility: Canadian corporations, partnerships, and individuals performing eligible SR&ED activities (experimental development, applied research, basic research, support work).

Sectors: All industries undertaking scientific research and experimental development.

Contact: 1‑800‑959‑7775