Dan Roberge:
Eric. All right, so tell me, where are we at? Where are we right now? What are we doing here?
Eric Igbokwe:
So we are the Toronto Congress Center, having an event. Where are we showcasing health care, Seniors health care homes, everything relating to health care.
Dan Roberge:
Yeah. And so, are you walking the floor? Do you have a booth here? What are you doing here?
Eric Igbokwe:
No, I don't have a booth. This is our first time, so I'm here representing my company Zephyr Staffing Solutions.
Dan Roberge:
Okay.
Eric Igbokwe:
It's a startup. We're launching next month. We are fully digital based.
Dan Roberge:
Wow.
Eric Igbokwe:
Everything we do is going to be online. The staffing where we're incorporating a lot of AI on the background, to match, facilities with employees based on, the criteria that the facilities need. How it works is this when a nurse or a PSW registers with us, opens up an account with us on the mobile app. They sent in their resume and their credentials, their certificates. So we, we have our APIs, our code that helps verify, the all their credentials. Okay, that we do digitally, the I.D. verification, we conduct interviews to meet them, to make sure that's all that they tell us is what's who they are. All that they provide is indeed, genuine. So we do the heavy lifting for the agencies. So when someone is registered with us, okay, and, becomes, an employee, so to say. But it's a contractor, we know that they are ready to go. Okay. We've done all the verification, all the, police clearance, all the vulnerable sector check and all that. So because we know they are the face of the agency. Okay, so we have to give out, make sure they're, the best. So when I have a facility that has an account with us, make a request for maybe a nurse. Okay? They specify what they want. The year of experience. They kind of knows the area that ours our AI check goes through all the, records, all our employees picks, all the models that match it. Right? Based on the criteria on the resume. Okay, then whoever that is, 100% much sends the air, sends a message to the person that does a job. Then if they accept, then that's it. If they don't, it sends it to the next person that's qualified candidate. So it's going to be fully digitally based. Okay. On the on that gives us the advantage of not really these, bids on the particular area. So we can handle the entire province.
Dan Roberge:
Right. And so, anyway, that's kind of what makes you different from the other competitors out there. Because you're starting up right away from being digital. And so that's going to be a differentiator. Now, what kind of, would you say are the the types of positions that you're hoping to fulfill? You know, you mentioned nursing. Is there other areas?
Eric Igbokwe:
Yeah. PSW. The personal support workers is going to be, developmental support work, everything related to health care.
Dan Roberge:
Oh, wow.
Eric Igbokwe:
Anything you can think of that is related to health care. We will have it. Even today. So the cleaners, because everyone is important when it comes to health care. You know, we focus, and people focus mostly on the nurses.
Dan Roberge:
Yes.
Eric Igbokwe:
I will tell you that the PSW's, the DSW, these are the folks that do a whole lot.
Dan Roberge:
Oh, yes.
Eric Igbokwe:
I understand the importance that everybody brings to the table. There's a lot of empathy from the rest of the folks. So we're trying to make sure that we balance the situation. And again, talking about what makes us different. I will tell you something. Most agencies right, your regular agencies, they focus more on the facilities. It's important to satisfy the facilities because they are the, the the main guys, you know, they are paying you. But we want to make sure that we we also focus on the staff. Okay. Our portal, we have a feedback column where the staff, they tell us how their day is going. The place we send them, how they are treated, how they feel and all that. Right? So we know how to assist them.
Dan Roberge:
Okay.
Eric Igbokwe:
Make things better for them. Then we also have ongoing lectures on our sites, webinars, materials, resources to enhance their knowledge. And we're also looking at incorporating counselling assistant.
Dan Roberge:
Okay.
Eric Igbokwe:
Because of, compassion fatigue. So they can't as an employee, as a member of our organization, anytime you need a counselor, that will be one readily for you. So those are the ways we're trying to make sure that from the employee side, that they are taking care of, it's not only about the facilities.
Dan Roberge:
Right. Right. Exactly. And so, you know, it's funny you mentioned, the cleaners because we, you know, maintenance care, we do maintenance software, but we also have another software called Care Clean. And the biggest thing our customers tell us on the clean side, which is for housekeeping, is there. It's the people. There's so much turnover and they're losing people because they're having a trouble finding them. So focusing in that industry, I'm going to tell you that it's a big need out there. So how did you get into this? Like what was your background that, you know, got you to be able to start that?
Eric Igbokwe:
For me, partnering with my other partner, my wife, she's, big on it. She's on i.t. Consultant. Right. But, on the healthcare side, I'm a mental health, worker myself. Okay, so we were talking because when she finished her master's in, digital products. So she had those, ideas of digital digitalization of, industries and stuff.
Eric Igbokwe:
So we were talking, and we said, okay, why don't we incorporate? I'll bring my expertise from the healthcare sector. You bring your technology expertise. Let's see what we can do.
Dan Roberge:
Absolutely. Wow. And so it's self-funded. You guys are starting from ground roots.
Eric Igbokwe:
Self-funded, and we we're making a lot of sacrifices and, and we were lucky as well too, there's a grant by the government, Ontario government to raise funds for new startups who applied for it, and we are lucky to be one of the people that was shortlisted for that.
Dan Roberge:
Oh, nice.
Eric Igbokwe:
Yeah. Well, more than the money. It's also about the information, the training that we got through the process.
Dan Roberge:
Yeah.
Eric Igbokwe:
So all that is helping us is encouraging us, you know, making us know that we're on the right path. You know, sometimes it's can be frustrating, as you know, for a startup, right? And coming to a place like this, I've been talking to a lot of folks and I feel energized. I feel we're on the right path and we're looking forward to, what the future holds.
Dan Roberge:
Amazing. So how did people find you? And when are you starting?
Eric Igbokwe:
We're launching, next month, May the 1st phase, because it's going to be, of course, it's digital. So it's something that we're going to be doing in phases and all that as we develop and enhance. So, I wouldn't give up any, website addresses right now because it's not fully ready for us, for people to like, go into. But from next month, we'll we'll try and reach out. We're going to be at this event in October, in the fall. Then hopefully we'll have a booth at that time.
Dan Roberge:
Excellent. Well, I wish you good luck. And we'll definitely talk regarding the housekeeping staff, because I think that needs to be something that we need within our software. So that can be a good avenue for you as well. So good luck, and it's been nice talking to you. Thank you.
Eric Igbokwe:
Thank you.
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