Our Story
Upcut was born from years of hands-on experience solving a real problem: helping businesses—especially in construction and essential services—find reliable workers in a system that wasn’t built for them.
For over five years, we manually matched more than 500 workers with 100+ employers. We did it using videos, proof of work, and real introductions—not resumes. And it worked.
But we also saw what wasn’t working:
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Traditional job boards weren’t built for blue-collar roles
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Resumes said little about skill, reliability, or personality
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Platforms like LinkedIn didn’t serve essential workers
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Employers were overwhelmed, and skilled workers stayed invisible
So we took what worked in practice—visual proof, real trust, and speed—and built it into a platform: Upcut.
Upcut exists to give power and visibility back to the people who make the world work—by making hiring as real, practical, and human as the work they do.
Meet the Team
Matt Raoufi
Founder- CEO
Matt earned his MBA from Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and has a track record of building businesses in education and immigration. His work helping blue-collar workers navigate Canada’s immigration system gives him deep insight into their real-world challenges. A natural risk-taker, Matt leads UPCUT with a bold vision to reshape how people find work.
Sam Assadi
Employee Relations Manager
Hesam, with a legal background and experience supporting political campaigns at the federal level, Hesam leads Upcut’s government liaison efforts. He is responsible for securing grants, forming policy- aligned partnerships, and ensuring Upcut is at the table as governments seek solutions for employment inclusion and workforce digitization.
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Sean Mehrvarz
Sales and Marketing
Sean brings a background in energy systems engineering and a track record managing infrastructure and utility projects across North America. Known for his structured thinking and operational clarity, he ensures UPCUT runs smoothly as it scales.With a deep understanding of systems and people, Sean bridges execution with long-term strategy.
Brian Shugar
Employer Relations Manager
Brian Shugar is the Employer Relations Manager at True North Staffing Solutions. With over 20 years of experience, he connects skilled foreign workers with ethical job opportunities across Canada. At Upcut, he partners with immigration experts and employers to streamline hiring and support newcomer integration.