About Kritik

At Kritik, we develop innovative teaching and learning technologies to support instructors and students with transparent, student-centered tools that promote critical thinking, academic integrity, effective assessment, and career-ready skills.

Our Values

Innovation
Mamba Mentality
We focus on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most. We are a sport team of family members. We keep fighting until we win. "Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses." – Kobe Bryant
Critical
Actively Learning
We are intentional in finding opportunities to learn. We set goals before acting and reflect on our actions. We ask good questions, think critically, and put our learnings into practice. We impart our knowledge to others in a true learning by teaching model. We strive to be our best selves through personal growth.
Ownership
Healthy Mind & Healthy Body
We maintain a positive attitude and understand how to work 'smart.' We take time away from our monitors to enjoy the outdoors, stay active, and spend time with loved ones. "Good Thought, Good Word, and Good Deed.” – Zoroaster
Honesty
Radical Honesty
We are honest and empathetic. We are great listeners with high levels of integrity. We are credible and trust-worthy, as we deliver our promises through an action plan. We empower each other by being a coach who trusts but verifies. "Turning our organizations into places of growth and self-actualization." - Jerry Colonna
Healthy Living
Listen with Empathy
We do our best to put ourselves in others’ shoes and understand perspectives different from our own. We listen without judgment. We ensure both our customers and our employees feel heard and valued, and cared for.
Unity
Jugaad / Always be Innovating
We are a non-conventional innovators as we are constantly evolving our platform to meet the needs of professors and students. We are agile, with the ability to pivot our focus when necessary. We think outside of the box to get it done, and do it right. "Jugaad is a way of doing more with less." – Simone Ahuja

Meet the Team

Mohsen Shahini
Mohsen Shahini, PhD
Co-Founder
Mohsen Shahini holds a PhD in Mechatronics Engineering. He co-founded Kritik in 2019 after helping to build Top Hat, an active learning software platform, which he co-founded in 2009.

Shahini’s experience and innovation at Top Hat helped the product become a market leader in student engagement software and adopted by more than 4 million students every year. Working in educational technology for over a decade, Shahini is also an active speaker in the Higher Education and startup communities. His current vision is to improve classroom innovation in higher education and to help make learning efficient, effective and engaging for everyone.
Carine Marette
Carine Marette
Co-Founder
Carine Marette co-founded Kritik in 2019 after launching two startups in wearable technology and design. Marette holds a master’s degree in Information Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from École Supérieure de Génie Informatique (ESGI) and bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Laurentian University. Marette oversees all internal and external operations at Kritik, from finance to human resources and business management. Her current vision is to empower student learning in higher education. More.
Mark Deepwell
Mark Deepwell
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Mark is an Engineering leader who loves collaborating and building cohesive teams. With 6 years of executive leadership experience, Mark joined Kritik to accelerate development and reliability of our products. He has a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.
Kelly Alexander
Kelly Alexander
Director of Customer Success
Kelly joined the Kritik team with 6 years of leadership experience, and over 10 years working in customer service. She holds a B.Ed. from McGill University and is passionate about encouraging the development of critical thinking skills in students of all ages.
Courtney Archer-Efimba
Holly Carvalho
Senior Account Executive
Holly is a York University graduate and competed in Varsity Track and Field through her university career, specializing in Hammer Throw. She is a mom to a toddler and has recently begun coaching high-school aged kids in the throws events. Fun Fact: she used Kritik during her undergrad at York and she loves promoting such an amazing Ed Tech platform!
Ismael Arias
Armin Baig
Director of Marketing
Armin joined Kritik with over 13 years of marketing experience. He holds an MEng in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Toronto Metropolitan University and is passionate about overcoming growth challenges.
Justine Kronovsek
Justine Kronovsek
Full Stack Developer
Justine holds a Master’s degree from the ESSEC Business school in France. She was working in Marketing when she decided to learn how to code. During her coding bootcamp, she discovered the value of learning by teaching and peer-to-peer assessment.
Maluh Madrones
Maluh Madrones
Leads Generation Specialist/Customer Support Representative
Maluh holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor's degree in Law. She joined Kritik with 10+ years of experience in the e-learning industry. She is passionate about helping professors and students succeed in using educational technology.
Daniel Lantin
Dave Liptrot
Enterprise Account Executive
Dave spent 9 years at Top Hat, a leading Ed Tech company based in Toronto. Dave is striving to make Kritik the leading provider of peer assessment technology in higher education.
Ivansa Samararatne
Przemek Rudzki
Software Developer
Passionate for coding, Przemek became a software developer after he graduated from a coding boot camp at the University of Toronto, followed by an online Master of Computer Science program at GTU.
Dawar Saeed
Luis Rudge
Senior Software Engineer
With more than 10 years of experience as a Software Engineer and Technical Leader, Luis joins Kritik to help the tech team in their next big step. He's passionate about mentoring and believes the team only improves if everyone improves together.
Dave Liptrot
Vlad Terletsky
Director of Product
Vlad comes with 10+ years of experience in SaaS Product Management and Technical Program Management and has helped technology businesses with building, launching and, scaling software products. Vlad holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and Professional Project Manager (PMP) & PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) designations.
Dawar Saeed
Meir Cohen
Product Designer
Meir is a Toronto-based Product Designer with over five years of experience helping startups and nonprofits turn ideas into meaningful digital products. With a B.A. in Architecture and Geography, he brings a systems-thinking approach to design and is passionate about collaboration, accessibility, and equitable education. Outside of work, you’ll find him exploring trails, listening to music, or chasing after his dog and baby.
Stephanie Dare
Customer Success Specialist
Stephanie holds a B.Ed from McGill University and brings over 10 years of international teaching experience in Canada, South Africa, and South Korea. She is passionate about empowering educators and students through innovative educational technology that transforms the learning experience.
Khau Ho
Senior Software Developer
Khau is a Senior Software Developer at Kritik with over a decade of experience building and scaling full-stack web platforms. He brings a strong background in technical leadership, system design, and mentorship, and enjoys collaborating closely with product and design teams to deliver reliable, high-impact solutions.
Ivansa Samararatne
Devanshi Pandey
Revenue Marketing Manager
Devanshi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Technology from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, India. She supports growth at Kritik through data-driven, creative marketing at the intersection of education, AI, and storytelling. Known for strong organizational skills, she builds efficient systems that help teams scale. Devanshi is also passionate about public speaking and is an active member of Toastmasters International.
Jack Lausch
Customer Success Coordinator
Jack is a second-year Honours Legal Studies and Economics student at the University of Waterloo. He demonstrates strong communication and analytical skills, supported by a strong work ethic. Jack is committed to enhancing the experience of both students and instructors through his work with Kritik360 and VisibleAI. Beyond his professional and academic pursuits, he maintains an active interest in athletics and outdoor activities.
Kohana Haque
Marketing Co-op
Kohana is a fourth-year Honours Psychology student at the University of Waterloo. She brings a keen eye for aesthetics and audience connection to the Kritik marketing team. She is passionate about crafting content that helps strengthen brand identity and engagement. Outside of work, Kohana enjoys discovering new music and spending time with her dance community.
Dawar Saeed
Suhani Joneja
Business Development Representative
Suhani is a University of Waterloo student studying Psychology and Business, with aspirations to work in clinical psychology. She has held several people-facing roles and enjoys building meaningful connections. Outside of work, she stays active through regular workouts and is excited to continue creating impact through her work with Kritik.
Dawar Saeed
Harman Baddesha
Business Development Representative
Harman is a second-year Arts and Business student at the University of Waterloo, with a strong interest in business administration and data analytics. Harman is eager to bring his skills to Kritik by supporting institutional partnerships through strategic outreach, data-driven lead qualification, and assisting with internal recruitment and HR operations. Outside of work and academics, he enjoys playing sports, particularly soccer and basketball.
Dawar Saeed
Jack Meng
Business Development Representative
Jack is a fourth-year Economics student at the University of Waterloo with experience in operations, marketing, and project-based work. He’s passionate about solving problems, learning new tools, and turning ideas into action. Outside of work, Jack enjoys playing basketball and trying foods from around the world.
Dawar Saeed
Amjad Alzein
Business Development Representative
Amjad is a third-year legal studies and business student at the University of Waterloo, with a strong interest in criminal law and business administration. Amjad is passionate and eager to bring his skills to Kritik by contributing his efforts to create an impact in the ed-tech space. Outside of work and academics, Amjad spends most of his time staying active either in the gym/playing sports with friends or spending quality time with family.
Dawar Saeed
Indie
Team Mascot
Indie always knows how to keep the team motivated and energized! He's always up for a walk, a treat, or just some good quality time with his fellow Kritiks.
Indie
Past Co-ops
Various roles
We believe co-op is a powerful way for students to gain experience and apply the skills they learned in school.
The co-op experience at Kritik