Zensurance Business Grant Winner 2025: Steadiwear

Zensurance is pleased to announce Steadiwear is the winner of our third $10,000 Small Business Grant in 2025.

Founded by Emile Maamary and Mark Elias, the Toronto-based company engineers dignity into the lives of people affected by hand tremors. They design non-invasive, battery-free stabilization wearables that restore people’s ability to eat, write, and live independently on their own terms.

The company’s flagship device, the Steadi-3, is a wearable glove that instantly reduces hand tremors for over 75% of users. The device has helped more than 5,000 individuals to date, and that impact speaks for itself on people living with essential tremor disorder or Parkinson’s-related tremors, as they are once again able to feed themselves, hold a cup of coffee, or sign their name.

“These are tasks that most of us take for granted, but which tremor patients often lose to shame, frustration, and isolation,” Maamary explained.

The $10,000 grant he received from Zensurance will help Steadiwear expand its clinician demo kit program across Canada, support future research and development, and fund user testing of

Steadi-4 – its next version of the stabilizing wearable glove. The grant will also permit Maamary to hire an operations manager to oversee logistics, onboard new clinicians, and coordinate product distribution.

“This funding would directly support people who are quietly suffering, not because their condition lacks a solution, but because that solution hasn’t reached them yet,” he said.

Maamary’s advice to other business owners and entrepreneurs is to stay relentlessly focused on the problem they’re solving, not just the product they’re building or selling.

“Particularly in medtech, it’s easy to get caught up in features and funding rounds. But long-term success comes from understanding your users deeply while designing around their real-life challenges,” he said. “When in doubt, go back to the patient, the customer, or the clinician. Combine that with the payer landscape, and you will find that winning formula.”

He added business insurance gives owners the confidence to move forward without fear of the unexpected. 

“In our case, developing a medical device entails regulatory, operational, and liability risks, and having protections in place allows us to stay focused on innovation and growth,” he said. “It’s a foundational safeguard that prevents one issue from undoing years of progress.”

Words of Wisdom From Our 2025 $1,000 Grant Winners

Zensurance also awarded $1,000 to our other top five finalists, chosen from thousands of grant applications we received.

Zensurance is honoured to support these hardworking business owners as they continue to expand and contribute to their communities. Each of our $1,000 grant recipients were asked the following two questions:

1. What is one piece of advice you have for other Canadian small business owners or self-employed professionals?

2. Why is it important to have business insurance to protect your company?

Here’s what they had to say:

For over seven years, Edmonton-based Emro Professional Chartered Accountant Corp. has been supporting Canadian entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners with accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and advisory services.

Founder Rex Efruwhe said all small business owners need to build authentic relationships with their clients early. 

“Having clear financial processes and the right people around you creates stability, especially when things get tough,” he said. “Success isn’t just about growing fast, it’s about building something that lasts.”

Regarding the value of having business insurance, Efruwhe said insurance gives business owners peace of mind. “It protects your team, your assets, and your reputation so you can focus on serving your clients and growing with confidence.”

Shannon Maitland founded Carleton Place, Ontario-based Complete Oral Wellness. Her solar-powered mobile dental hygiene clinic travels throughout the Ottawa Valley, delivering professional preventive care and oral health education in homes, workplaces, schools, long-term care facilities, and community centres.

In addition to winning a $1,000 grant as finalist, she also earned a weekly $1,000 grant from Zensurance last month.

Her advice for other business owners is to, “Stay rooted in your why” (dental pun intended).

      
“Entrepreneurship isn’t always easy, but when your business was planted with a meaningful purpose to grow community impact, that passion becomes your greatest driving force for success,” she said. “It’s what keeps you stable when faced with hard challenges and what inspires you to keep learning, growing, and showing up, even on the hard days when you’re juggling everything at once.”

Regarding the value of having insurance, Maitland said business owners pour their hearts into every detail from choosing the right tools and serving your clients to building a reputation they’re proud of.

“Every decision represents hours of dedication, planning, and passion. Having the right coverage allows you to focus on your mission without constantly worrying about the ‘what if’, such as a dental chair that stops working mid-appointment, or an air compressor that starts sounding like a jet engine.

“It’s not just about managing risk, it is about building stability, trust, and the foundation every small business needs to thrive.”

Dazzle By Pari is a jewellery brand focused on making luxury accessible for every woman. Founded by Pari Chakraborti, the Calgary-based business creates jewellery that is crafted to be waterproof, tarnish-resistant, and hypoallergenic, and empower women to look their best, no matter their lifestyle or budget.

She said it’s vital for business owners and entrepreneurs to believe in the magic of starting small because it’s where your most authentic story begins. 

“Every challenge is a lesson in disguise, and consistency truly will be your greatest superpower,” she said. “Keep showing up, keep learning, and remember why you started. No matter what anyone says, never give up! Passion and purpose always find their way to success.”

Running a small business means wearing many hats and with that comes unexpected risks, she noted. 

“Having business insurance gives you the peace of mind to dream big and take bold steps forward, knowing that you’re protected from the unforeseen,” she said. “It’s not just about safeguarding your assets; it’s about protecting the heart and hard work behind your vision.”

Keon Hee (Sean) Lee is a one-man-show. The sole proprietor launched Moon’s Cleaning in 2024. 

The Kelowna, B.C.-based company provides high-trust, after-hours commercial cleaning services to businesses of all sizes. The growing business offers its expanding client list unmatched security, reliability, and consistently high-quality professional cleaning services.

His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners is not to be deterred by the prospect of making mistakes, particularly if you are a newcomer to Canada as he is. 

“No achievement is attainable without experiencing trial and error,” he said.

Concerning the value of insurance, Lee added it is essential to obtain insurance to cover all of a business’s valuable possessions.

“If your business is of significance to you, then it should be obligatory to secure insurance coverage in order to adequately prepare for unforeseen circumstances,” he said.

Windsor, Ontario-based Heartland Appliances Repair specializes in repair, installation, and maintenance of home appliances in the Windsor-Essex County area. They also run a refurbished appliance program, repairing unwanted appliances and selling them at affordable prices.

Founded by Mohammad Asaduzzman Nobin, Heartland Appliance Repair’s mission is to provide fast, reliable, and affordable solutions, so families can get back to their normal routines as quickly as possible. 

He said business owners need to stay resourceful and let their passion lead them.

“I launched my business with just $600 at a time when I was laid off, supporting a young family, and expecting a new baby,” he said. “What made the difference wasn’t the money but the drive to solve real problems, provide value, and keep learning every single day. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or big investment,  take action with what you have now, and momentum will follow.”

He added business insurance is crucial because it protects the effort, investment, and reputation owners have built over time.

“For a service-based company like mine, even a small incident – whether it’s property damage, customer injury, or equipment loss – could become a major setback. Having proper insurance gives me peace of mind, knowing that my team, my customers, and my business are protected,” he said. “It allows me to work confidently and keeps us moving forward, even when unexpected challenges come up.”

Congratulations to all of the Zensurance Small Business Grant 2025 winners!

Our previous $10,000 grant winners include Demex Cakes in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and SnuggleTooth Mobile Smile Clinic in St. John’s, Newfoundland earlier this year, the Down East Dance Academy in Montague, P.E.I., in 2024, and Ottawa-based Malarctic Design + Builds in 2023.

The Zensurance Small Business Grant will be back.

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