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 brings 10+ years of leadership experience to the Kritik team, and has worked with customers in various roles for over 15 years. She holds a B.Ed. from McGill University and is passionate about encouraging the development of critical thinking skills in young people. Her unique perspective as a former educator and her hands-on, supportive approach has led to the successful use of peer assessment and authorship tracking across thousands of Kritik courses.
Daniel Lantin
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.
Courtney Archer-Efimba
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.
Justine Kronovsek
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!
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.
Maluh Madrones
Zara Sheikh
Finance & Operations
Zara brings a strong mix of finance, operations, customer success, marketing, and leadership experience to her role at Kritik. She holds a degree from McMaster University and is currently pursuing her CPA, with a focus on strengthening internal processes and supporting business growth. She understands both the numbers behind a business and the people driving it forward, and is passionate about building organized systems that help teams work more efficiently and make stronger decisions.
Justine Kronovsek
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.
Ivansa Samararatne
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.
Maluh Madrones
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.
Ivansa Samararatne
Dominik Golonka
Senior Software Developer
With more than 10 years of experience as a Software Engineer and Technical Leader, Dominik 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.
Dawar Saeed
Justin Jakel
Junior Software Developer
Justin is a Junior Software Developer who holds a Bachelor of Computing degree from the University of Guelph. He has strong experience working on Web Development and design patterns. After joining in 2023 for a co-op experience, he's back onto the team to continue as a Junior Developer.
Dave Liptrot
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.
Dawar Saeed
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.
Khalifa Salisu
Account Executive
Khalifa brings 6+ years of sales, software, and relationship management experience to the Kritik team. He is passionate about solving problems and collaborating on strategy. Fun fact, Khalifa was homeschooled and enjoys hobbies like 3D printing, chess, karaoke, and anime!
Aivy Ho
Account Executive
Aivy is an Account Executive at Kritik based in Houston, TX. As a graduate from the University of Houston, she is passionate about improving students' critical thinking skills and promoting the ethical use of AI in higher level education. She is committed to helping professors achieve their goals and foster student success in the classroom.
Dawar Saeed
Marshay Davis
Account Executive
With a seven-year sales background spanning tech, retail, and hospitality, Marshay now brings her diverse relationship-building expertise to the higher education team at Kritik.  An Old Dominion University graduate, she has helped develop companies by implementing trust-based client relationship strategies. She is committed to giving professors customizable  solutions. When she isn’t helping educators innovate, she brings her sharp eye for human detail to life as a professional portrait artist.
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.
Jessica El-Helou
Customer Success Specialist
Jessica is a Customer Success Specialist at Kritik with a BA in Psychology from the University of Windsor. With experience in mental health and digital education, she is passionate about supporting instructors and students in creating engaging, meaningful learning experiences.
Dawar Saeed
Abu Awale
Customer Success Coordinator
Abu is a Customer Success Coordinator and a recent graduate of York University. With a strong foundation in support, he works closely with educators to drive better learning outcomes through peer assessment, student engagement, and responsible AI adoption. Outside of work, Abu coaches a U12 boys soccer team and is a big soccer and basketball fan. He’s passionate about helping educators grow and create experiences that truly make an impact.
Nicolas Arias
Business Development Representative
Nicolas is an Academic Consultant at Kritik and a Florida International University graduate. He works closely with educators to improve learning outcomes through peer assessment, student engagement, and responsible AI adoption. Passionate about education and innovation, he is dedicated to helping instructors create more impactful and effective classroom experiences.
Jack Lausch
Business Development Representative
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.
Dawar Saeed
Jessica Koy
Business Development Representative
Jessica is a fourth-year Honours Social Development Studies student at the University of Waterloo with experience in administration, customer service, and human resource. She is passionate about using her skills to support Kritik's mission through strategic outreach and building meaningful connections. Outside of work and academics, she enjoys indoor cycling and spending quality time with family.
Dawar Saeed
Jack Meng
Customer Success Coordinator
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
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