11/02/2026
At Vertex Health, we believe opportunity shouldn’t be decided by geography.
Our CEO Dr. Saira recently joined Leena Dixit at AGAZ Summit 2026 for a fireside chat on The International Funding Playbook. The founder questions afterward stayed with her.
Having raised capital across borders as a founder and now as an investor, Dr. Saira sees a consistent pattern: talented Canadian founders often limit themselves to investors they already know. Meanwhile, family offices and VCs across the Middle East and Asia are actively hunting for strong deals. Most North American startups never reach their radar.
What earns a global investor’s confidence is simple, but not easy:
→ Be clear on the problem you solve
→ Build trust over time
→ Show real evidence of traction
The right international partner does more than write a check. They open new markets, introduce customers, and help set up your next round.
That’s why Dr. Saira is building GAIN: to connect founders and investors across borders, so opportunity isn’t decided by geography.
Thank you to Tehmina Chaudhry and the Canada Startup Association team for such a meaningful platform, and to Export Development Canada for supporting Canadian founders. A room of 200+ founders, investors, and trade delegates, all focused on going global, was inspiring.
Capital moves fast. Trust takes time. That’s why showing up in rooms like this still matters.