Presented by the Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC), our Feature-a-Founder spotlight is designed to highlight youth-led initiatives in Calgary making a positive impact. This month, we’re featuring Jeet Garg and Eason Wang, co-founders of TypeShift.
Have you ever noticed how quickly AI went from just being a buzzword to something people use every day? For Jeet Garg and Eason Wang, that rapid shift is exactly why TypeShift matters. In a world where AI is becoming increasingly prevalent and overwhelming in many ways, they saw an opportunity to turn that uncertainty into understanding by helping young people navigate the technology that is already shaping their future.
TypeShift began with a simple but foundational question: how can AI be used to actually benefit people? How can it be leveraged as a tool instead of overtaking the narrative. For the team, the answer was not just to talk about AI, it was about making it accessible. By connecting students to industry mentors and real-world speakers, TypeShift helps youth build a sort of AI literacy that builds confidence and context to help them think more critically about AI.
Curiosity into Action
What started as just an idea quickly grew into a hands-on initiative whose mission was clear, they wanted to show students that AI is more than just a generative tool or a handy headline maker. The team wanted to explore practical applications of AI in the “real world” in fields as broad as cancer detection. At the same time, they want to encourage students to think more deeply about the practicality of AI, shifting from just a “theoretical” knowledge into one that is instead rooted in the real world.
TypeShift’s vision has already reached an audience far beyond the founders themselves, they have hosted over five speakers and impacted more than 200 students through workshops and community events. These sessions have introduced concepts like AI being used in reinforcement learning while also creating a space for meaningful conversations, networking and overall mentorship to occur.
Lessons in Leadership
Both Eason and Jeet said that building this initiative has taught them invaluable lessons about leadership and personal growth as much as its primary objective is community impact. Throughout their journey, they had to combat challenges such as a lack of motivation and developed their abilities to lead responsibility, as Eason put it “through example.” Jeet also spoke to the importance of having a team that you can trust and reinforced just how important it is to consistently show up.
These lessons became especially real when the team faced one of their biggest obstacles to date: uncertainty. While both within other leadership positions previously in areas such as Business Club and Model UN, as first-time founders, it was their first time building something from scratch. Starting from scratch meant that there was no structure to rely upon; they had to figure out their purpose, their format, and ultimately, their direction in the long-term. With support from mentors like Ben and their volunteers, they were able to refine their vision and turn early doubt into something sustainable and impactful.
The Power of Connection and LinkedIn
Although TypeShift uses Microsoft Teams in order to make events more accessible, the team has found that in-person connection is generally preferred in order to maximize on opportunities. Their workshops consist of a theoretical introduction, a live demo, a Q&A session which is then followed by networking with the speaker and other attendees.
They also discovered that the most successful outreach can happen in unexpected places. LinkedIn, word of mouth, mentor networks, and even Model UN connections all played a pivotal role in growing their community to what it is today. Outreach does not have to be about flashy promotion and TypeShift exemplifies how building genuine relationships with people who care about the same issues can work just as well.
Advice for Future Founders
TypeShift’s message to other youth who might be looking to start their own initiative is to start now and start big, don’t be afraid to fail, and surround yourself with good and trustworthy people because even if you fall, they’ll help you back up. They believe young founders should be able to build a network upon which they can rely on when necessary and stay adaptable through any sorts of challenges. Their own journey proves just how big ideas can grow into real initiatives when they are supported by collaboration, persistence, and a willingness to learn.
TypeShift stands as a reminder that youth leadership isn’t something that has to wait until later in life. Once they identified a gap within their own communities, they took the step forward to close it. By creating a space for education, mentorship, and a more comprehensive understanding of AI, they are helping to shape a smarter and more thoughtful future for AI.
Next Steps
Started a project? Apply to Feature-a-Founder to be featured and share your impact – submit your story here!
Need help getting your idea off the ground? Explore our grants and funding opportunities: youthcentral.com/grants.
Learn more about TypeShift here.