MPS Alumnus Amad Abdullah to pitch on CBC show, Dragons' Den

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Amad Abdullah has embarked on a new adventure since graduating from the MPS program in 2014. When completing his co-op work term at the Ministry of Education in Toronto, he was inspired by one of the largest start-up hubs next door. He also noticed the large impact that support and fitness advice from colleagues played on his boss’ motivation to work out and shed pounds. This resulted in Amad’s mission to capture the “community effect” with his own start-up company and fitness app, OneSet.

At a family barbecue, Amad pitched the idea to friends and family who dropped everything they were doing to join him on this business venture. In August 2014, Amad officially stepped into the role of entrepreneur as the co-founder and CEO of OneSet.

Dubbed “the Vine for fitness”, OneSet allows users to capture 15-second videos of any exercise, categorize them by muscle group, and share them with the OneSet community. Understanding how time-consuming it is to learn new exercises and how difficult it is to stay motivated, the OneSet platform was designed so that users, from beginners to experts, can feed off each other’s energy, engage with one another, and keep each other motivated. 

Amad at Velocity Fund Finals
In such a short period of time, Amad, a public servant turned entrepreneur, has already accomplished so much. He pitched his way to a coveted spot on the tenth season of Dragons’ Den and has a lot up his sleeve when he faces off with the Dragons at the end of this month. Amad and his team also recently participated in the Velocity Fund Finals, a similar competition, at the University of Waterloo for a $25,000 prize.  

These days, Amad’s hectic schedule includes growing OneSet’s user base, fundraising to expand operations, and seeking out more organic customer acquisitions. 

As the only member of his team with a Master’s degree in Public Service, Amad brings a unique skill set to OneSet.

I feel like the most important thing you can get out of any degree is work ethic. The MPS program helped me improve my time management skills. The group projects were also crucial as they test your ability to adapt to different situations. You learn the most when you’re not in your comfort zone.”

To download or learn more about OneSet, visit their website.

Way to go Amad! The MPS community is rooting for you! 

Written by Jessica Wu

OneSet ...

  • has garnered over 5000 downloads and over 50,000 video plays in a matter of weeks since its Android release.
  • has been regularly featured in AskMen magazine and has a weekly series on Reddit with over one million views.
  • has caught the eyes of elite athletes and three corporate gyms who are looking to enhance their trainer-client experience.