What do global children’s literacy and the Olympic Games have in common?

Both have been tackled by perseverant alumna Julia Rivard (BRec’99).

Rivard competed for Canada’s sprint canoe team in the 2000 Olympic Games soon after graduating with her Bachelor of Recreation from Dalhousie. Since then, she has been involved in numerous successful business ventures in Atlantic Canada. Her newest business, Eyeread, aims to help children learn to read through the use of artificial intelligence. Eyeread helps track children’s eye patterns on computer screens and tablets in order to identify and address specific reading challenges.

Rivard serves as chief operating officer for the growing company. Since Eyeread’s launch in January, she and her partner Leah Skerry, chief executive officer, have been busy pitching to investors across North America. Their idea has attracted numerous investors. In fact, Eyeread has been selected as one of the 200 teams competing in the $15-million Global Learning XPrize to bring literacy to 250 million children around the world.

According to Rivard, the close-knit business community in Atlantic Canada has been essential to Eyeread’s development and success in its early stages.

Read more in “Canada’s East Coast entrepreneurs aim for global growth” on theglobeandmail.com.