What motivated you to start your business and what is your vision for the future of the company?

The motivation to start Plan Your Space was rooted in a personal experience that highlighted a significant gap in the construction industry. While building my own home, my family and I faced considerable difficulties in understanding and visualizing our floor plan. Despite the expertise of our architect and builder, we found ourselves struggling with the 2D representations and digital models, leading to costly changes mid-construction. This situation was frustrating and made me realize that many others likely faced the same challenges. It became clear that there was a need for a solution that would allow families and businesses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their spaces before committing to the final build. The realization that such inefficiencies were commonplace in the industry sparked my determination to create a service that could bridge this gap. Plan Your Space was born out of this desire to offer a more tangible, immersive approach to design planning, one that empowers clients to make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary expenses. Looking ahead, the vision for Plan Your Space is ambitious and forward-thinking. In the next three years, we plan to integrate cutting-edge technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) into our offerings. These advancements will take our life-size walk-throughs to the next level, allowing clients to explore their designs in even greater detail and with more interactivity. We believe that by embracing these technologies, we can enhance the client experience and set new standards in the industry. In addition to technological advancements, our expansion plans are a key component of our vision. We are finalizing our move from our 5,000-square-foot studio in Langley to a new, 8,000-square-foot studio in Burnaby this Fall. This relocation is not just about addressing the growing demand for our services; it also strategically positions us closer to the hub of developers and designers in downtown Vancouver. This new studio will enable us to serve more clients while continuing our mission to foster collaboration among architects, designers, and builders. Our long-term vision over the next five years includes expanding the reach of Plan Your Space across Canada. We have already received significant interest from construction groups and developers eager to franchise our concept in different regions. This expansion strategy aims to bring our innovative approach to planning and design to major cities nationwide, making our services accessible to a broader audience. By establishing a presence in key markets, whether through corporate-owned locations or franchises, we aspire to make Plan Your Space a cornerstone in the Canadian design industry. Ultimately, our vision is to revolutionize the architectural and interior design process, making life-size, immersive planning an integral part of how spaces are designed and constructed. We are driven by the goal of ensuring that every client, whether a homeowner or a business, can experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing their project will turn out exactly as envisioned. Through continuous innovation, strategic expansion, and a relentless focus on client satisfaction, Plan Your Space is poised to lead a transformation in how people plan, design, and build their spaces.

Why do you deserve to win the Best Youth Entrepreneur Award?

An entrepreneur is, at their core, a problem solver—someone who identifies a challenge and devises innovative solutions that can reshape the industry. My entrepreneurial journey began with a personal experience that highlighted a common yet often overlooked issue: the difficulty of visualizing and understanding floor plans before construction. Despite having no prior experience in homebuilding, I faced the same frustrations as many others when I decided to build my own house. Interpreting 2D plans proved challenging, leading to costly and stressful changes during construction. This challenge sparked a determination to find a better way. I recognized that if I could find a solution for myself, it could benefit countless others facing similar issues. With no background in construction, I embarked on a mission to create a system that would allow people to fully experience their designs before any building started. This led to the creation of Plan Your Space, a venture that has fundamentally transformed the architectural and design industry, and positively impacted the growth of the Lower Mainland community. My journey embodies entrepreneurship as I identified a service gap, developed a solution, and successfully brought it to fruition as a sustainable and rapidly expanding profitable business. The entrepreneurship journey doesn’t stop at solving problems; it’s also about passing opportunities forward. I’ve always believed that success is not just about what you achieve but about how you can help others achieve as well. Entrepreneurs are excellent teachers and role models, and just as many have inspired me, I am committed to paying it forward to the next generation of dreamers. That's why we’ve hired students from the same Marketing Management Degree program at KPU's Melville School of Business that I completed. I remember what it was like to be a student, eager to apply my knowledge and make a difference. By bringing these graduates into my company, I’m not just giving them a job—I’m offering them a platform to grow, learn, and eventually lead. I see it as my duty to pass on the knowledge and experiences I've gained through my entrepreneurial journey. Whether it's mentoring young professionals, speaking at schools, or simply leading by example, I want to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to embrace problem-solving as their core mission. Because, in the end, entrepreneurship is not just about building businesses; it's about building better futures for everyone. Winning the Youth Entrepreneur Award would not only be an acknowledgment of the work we've done at Plan Your Space but also a recognition of the power of innovation, resilience, and the responsibility to give back. It would reinforce the idea that with the right mindset, even the most daunting challenges can be turned into opportunities that benefit entire communities.