About

About

Protecting your Work. Your Rights. Your Revenue.

UREEQA exists to empower and enable creators to protect and validate their creations in a global digital ecosystem in order to drive more equitable outcomes.

The Team

Our talented creators entrust their life's work to our platform and we don't take that lightly. We built UREEQA by recruiting the best in their respective fields to manage our operations in consultation with our continuously growing board of advisors, to deliver leading edge services to our clients.

Founders

  • Harsch Khandelwal

    Executive Chairman

    Harsch Khandelwal

    Executive Chairman

    Highlights

    • Creator of UREEQA Concept
    • UW Engineering gold medalist
    • Built and ran multi-million dollar businesses in various industries
    • Investor in technology, real estate, private equity, and public equity.

    Education

    • Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Mechanical Engineer, University of Waterloo
    • Gold Medal - Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering
    • Richard Ivery School of Business at University of Western Ontario (Ivey Scholar), MBA

  • Tom Hunter

    Legal

    Tom Hunter

    Legal

    Highlights:

    • Partner at Canada’s 3rd largest law firm
    • Acted on over $1.5 billion of successful founder monetization and exit transactions
    • Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in 2021 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada

    Education:

    • University of Western Ontario, LLB
    • Wilfrid Laurier University, BBA

  • Shannon Powell

    Chief Marketing Officer

    Shannon Powell

    Chief Marketing Officer

    Highlights:

    • Managed and led marketing and operations team for over 1,000 real estate units in the United States and Canada
    • Managed operations of a North American private equity portfolio valued over $15 million

    Education:

    • Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice and Public Policy/Business Administration, University of Guelph
    • Quantic School of Business and Technology, MBA
    • Bullet Proof Manager Certificate- Crestcom International

  • Matt de Jong

    Advisor

    Matt de Jong

    Advisor

    Highlights:

    • Former professional engineer
    • Investment manager for more than $100 million in assets

    Education:

    • Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Civil Engineer, University of Waterloo

  • Robert Eccles

    Technical Assurance and Special Projects

    Robert Eccles

    Technical Assurance and Special Projects

    Highlights:

    • Over 19 years of international experience in Technology Management roles at BP (NYSE: BP)
    • Former CIO of BP Trinidad and Tobago
    • Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Certified Product Owner (CPO)

    Education:

    • Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, University of the West Indies

  • Jim Whetstone

    Finance

    Jim Whetstone

    Finance

    Highlights:

    • Partner at a boutique accounting firm in Waterloo, Canada
    • Former Partner at an international accounting firm

    Education:

    • Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
    • Licensed Public Accountant
    • Wilfrid Laurier University, BBA

Leadership

  • Joe Pillitteri

    CEO/COO

    Joe Pillitteri

    CEO/COO

    Highlights:

    • SVP Operations
    • 35 years of experience in senior leadership roles across Fortune 500 companies, SMBs, and start ups
    • Focused on building high performance teams that optimize the organization's investments

    Education:

    • MBA Finance, Niagara University
    • BSc University of Guelph

  • Dr. Jonathan Shahen

    Chief Data Scientist

    Dr. Jonathan Shahen

    Chief Data Scientist

    Highlights:

    • Over 7 years of scientific research
    • Computer security focused PhD, including research into Ethereum Smart Contract safety analysis

    Education:

    • PhD Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo
    • MASc Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo
    • BASc Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo

  • Edmond Allmond

    VP - Creator Rights and Protection

    Edmond Allmond

    VP - Creator Rights and Protection

    Highlights:

    • Over 40 years in the entertainment industry -- creative, engineering, IP protection
    • Staff composer and editor, Sony Pictures
    • Former research institute Communications Director, UC Berkeley
    • Production team lead for NFL, LPGA, PGA
    • Founder/CEO of two production companies

    Education:

    • UCLA, Masters studies
    • Film Scoring/ Music Business

  • Mike Dabydeen

    VP - Engineering

    Mike Dabydeen

    VP - Engineering

    Highlights:

    • Over 7 years of leading blockchain development teams including SKM (CMC Top 50)
    • Over 15 years of professional Software Development experience

    Education:

    • Advanced Diploma, Software & Network Engineering Sheridan College
    • Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, University of Guyana
    • International Diploma in Project Management

  • Maria Rebelo

    VP- Business Development

    Maria Rebelo

    VP- Business Development

    Highlights:

    • NFT Artist Management since 2021
    • Co-Founder of VisionaryArt.io
    • Founder of CommitmentPlanet NGO
    • Project Manager for Erasmus+

    Education:

    • Universidade Europeia, Lisbon, Portugal
    • International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain

  • Keri Brownrigg

    Director of Validation and Operations

    Keri Brownrigg

    Director of Validation and Operations

    Highlights:

    • University of Waterloo Mock Trial Team
    • Previous member of Fiddlestix, a travelling fiddle band
    • 12 years experience in operations for international corporations

    Education:

    • Bachelor of Arts - Honours Legal Studies and Sociology - University of Waterloo
    • Graduate Diploma - Marketing - McMaster University
    • Copyright for Multimedia Certificate - Duke University

  • Marlies Bloxham

    Director of Client Experience

    Marlies Bloxham

    Director of Client Experience
    Highlights
    • Project managed implementation and conversion for broker/dealer system.
    • Designed compliance and AML modules for back-office system for broker/dealers in Canada and the US.
    • Product and Industry matter expert for broker/dealers in Canada and the US.
    • Co-founded a compliance consulting firm focused on MSB’s, including crypto firms.
    • Effectively contributes using a unique combination of business, compliance, technical and relationship skills.
    Education
    • University of Ottawa, BSc Chemistry
    • Richard Ivey School of Business at University of Western Ontario, MBA

Board of Advisors

  • Michael Sheresky & Ramses Ishak

    Partners, United Talent Agency

  • Kevin Leflar

    President & CEO, officialCOMMUNITY

  • Janice Scott

    Former VP, SOCAN

  • Harvey Mason Jr.

    American Record Producer, Songwriter and Movie Producer

  • David Mahdi

    Former Gartner VP/Analyst; CSO, Sectigo

Roadmap

Q4 2021

  • Complete and launch Validator Training Module V1

Q1 2022

  • Launch NFT Authenticator V1
  • Complete Validator Dashboard and Admin Panel V1
  • Launch CR-ID (Creation Record Identifier) V1
  • Complete community feed pages V1
  • Update music publishing business micro-site
  • Code and platform security audit
  • Solidify technology plan for deployment of Validation as a Service (VaaS) model

Q2 2022

  • Design music publishing business end-to-end automation and client dashboard
  • Launch NFT Authenticator V2
  • Deploy Protector Program V1
  • Launch Utility Manager
  • Build out data retention strategy
  • Complete development framework for automation of validation
  • Establish support desk and development plan for 24/7 VaaS support 9 to 5
  • Establish infrastructure growth plan

Q3 2022

  • Security audit for code base
  • Implement infrastructure growth plan
  • Deploy VaaS
  • Extend white label capabilities for VaaS to third party NFT marketplaces
  • Complete Validator Training Module V2
  • Launch CR-ID V2
  • Security audit for infrastructure
  • Deploy data retention strategy

Q4 2022

  • Deploy Protector Program V2 for Internet Service Providers (ISP's)
  • Complete Validator Dashboard and Admin Panel V2
  • Launch automation of validation
  • Complete community feed pages V2
  • Design National Registries-Copyright

Q1 2023

  • Complete Self Service Rights Registration V1
  • Complete NFT Utility Manager Feature V1
  • Launch NFT Collections Provenance Page V2
  • Launch UREEQA Music - Website
  • Development of National Registries - Copyright
  • Design UREEQA Music - Single Sign-on Dashboard
  • SOC2 Compliance Type 1
  • Determine Requirements for NFT Marketplace Partner IP Protection Integration

Q2 2023

  • Test and Complete Development of National Registries - Copyright
  • Development of UREEQA Music - Single Sign-on Dashboard
  • Complete SOC2 Compliance Type 2
  • Determine Requirements for Self Service CR-ID Feature V2
  • Design NFT Marketplace Partner IP Protection Integration

Q3 2023

  • Deploy UREEQA Music – Single Sign-On Dashboard
  • Design Open API Interface
  • Development of Self Service Rights Registration V2
  • Determine Requirements UREEQA Music - Platform Collections Integration
  • Deploy NFT Marketplace Partner IP Protection Integration

Q4 2023

  • Development of Self Service CR-ID Feature V2
  • Development of Open API Interface
  • Deploy Self Service Rights Registration V2
  • Design UREEQA Music - Platform Collections Integration
  • Requirements for National Registries - Land
  • Design UREEQA NFT Marketplace V2

UREEQA News

See all news

UREEQA partners with i-Create to validate their new NFT collection Joe Ravioli

From the founders of i-Create LLC, we are excited to announce the launch of the NFT project Joe Ravioli. This innovative and unique NFT collection tells a creative and fun story for buyers of any age. With the entire collection being validated by UREEQA, buyers will receive a cool piece of digital art, commercial rights, monetization opportunities and IRL (in real life) merchandising opportunities and more, all while also supporting a philanthropic cause to fight hunger in America.