Hannah’s Here to Help
Meet HannahHR —the instant, on-demand HR assistant for Canadian workplaces.
Running a business is hard enough without spending five hours a week answering HR questions like “Do I get paid for this stat?” or “Where’s the vacation policy?” That’s where HannahHR steps in.
The North Van startup gives employees instant access to HR info—via text, Slack, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, and more. Whether it’s employment standards, company policies, or internal SOPs, HannahHR delivers real-time, reliable answers through the channels employees already use.
For business owners, administrators and employees, it’s a game-changer. No more repeating the same answers or hunting down policy docs. With HannahHR, you reduce risk, boost employee engagement, and build a better workplace—without the administrative grind. Literally putting HR support in your employees’ pockets.
At its core, HannahHR is powered by AI and years of HR expertise. The platform is secure, private, and always available, giving Canadian small businesses a smarter, faster, and more human way to support their teams.
Bootstrapping and Building
What they’ve done: Since launching their MVP, HannahHR has been building serious traction. They’re already testing the platform with a dozen (and counting) beta customers and have caught the attention of three large partners interested in white-labeling the tech.
The team’s momentum has landed them on some big stages—like the Web Summit Alpha program and Startup Canada’s Calgary tour, where they pitched to a packed room and landed in the top 5. Along the way, they’ve attracted a powerhouse group of advisors and continue to hustle every single day.
Why NVBC: Co-founder Izzie O’Hara isn’t new to business—but SaaS is a fresh adventure. She knew from the beginning that the NVBC Competition, presented by Innovate BC, could fast-track their growth. “We know that we don’t know what we don’t know,” she says.
The competition offers not just access to mentors and expert guidance, but a strong peer community—and yes, the prize money doesn’t hurt when you’re bootstrapping.
Up Next: The focus now? Commercialization and traction. The HannahHR team is working on key strategic partnerships and aiming for cash-flow positivity by the end of 2026. With their growing beta group and strong early interest, they’re well on their way.
Opening the HR Door for Everyone
Building a startup is never a straight line—and for HannahHR, the path comes with the added challenge of disrupting the way traditional HR operates.
HR has often lived behind closed doors, buried in handbooks and email threads. HannahHR is asking employers to do something different: make HR visible, accessible, and empowering. That can feel daunting to some businesses, but as the team puts it — if you think your employees aren’t already Googling the answers, you’re kidding yourself. HannahHR simply gives them the right ones—with context that’s specific to their workplace.
Ultimately, the mission is simple but powerful: help employees feel heard, supported, and safe in the place they spend most of their waking hours.
Community Built
Behind every great startup is a community that shows up—and for HannahHR, that support has made all the difference.
They participated in two notable accelerator programs in 2024 — Mosaic (with Rochelle Greyson) and Founders Boost (with Tyler and Kenneth) — and they’re not slowing down. The team has already been accepted into Scale AI this fall to help build a next-gen handbook tool, and they’ve applied to join CDL in September 2025.
But the magic really comes from the advisors—formal and informal—who’ve opened their eyes to blind spots, helped shape product direction, and cheered them on when the hustle got hard. A big shoutout to: Irene Dorsman, Roger Patterson, Ian McKinnon, Julien Sellegren, Dr. Ed Egan, Melanie Rupp, Rochelle Greyson, and Aaron Cruikshank.
As the HannaHR team puts it: We would be lost without our community.
Meet The Team
Izzie O’Hara, CEO and Non-Technical Founder
Fun Fact: Izzie once asked Mark Allen to help her build a dating app called Wingman, where your friends would be in charge of matching you with potential dates.
[Note—She still thinks this is a good idea!]
Mark Allen, CTO and Technical Founder
Fun Fact: Mark recently returned from a trip to Australia and New Zealand, where he volunteered his time to watch and collect information on penguin huddles. Living in an RV with his wife and working remotely, he’s been living the dream as he balances work life with penguins.
Company Cheatsheet:
City: North Vancouver
Founded: January 2024
Sector: HR SaaS
