A TMU student’s summer placement at an artificial intelligence startup has unlocked a front-row view of how automation could transform charitable fundraising. The role has also reshaped his understanding of his own parents’ careers.
Briand spent the work term at Triple, a company building software for nonprofit organizations. The experience revealed the full lifecycle of philanthropy: locating donors, building relationships, and maintaining those connections well after the first gift arrives.
“I didn’t realize how involved the whole process is,” he said.
That complexity, he noted, creates clear openings for AI to assist with donor relations and stewardship.
Meanwhile, the Toronto campus has long felt like a second home. Briand grew up attending soccer and film camps there. He knows most of the grounds and holds strong memories of Mattamy Athletic Centre.
During a reading week from Queen’s University, he even returned to the Student Learning Centre with friends. The top two floors remain his favourite spot, offering sweeping views of downtown Toronto while studying.
## A different kind of education
The startup’s office sits in the NEXT AI accelerator, a downtown hub packed with emerging companies. For an aspiring entrepreneur, the environment has proven just as instructive as any classroom.
“I’m immersed in the entrepreneurial tech world,” he said, adding that learning from founders about their ventures amounts to a second education.
As a result, the role carries unusual breadth. He works across most of the product, helping shape what the company builds. Larger organizations rarely offer that kind of access to interns.
Despite the steep learning curve, Briand finds the potential outcomes compelling. Hospitals and universities stand to benefit directly when fundraising becomes more efficient.
“The better this software works, the less time these organizations spend chasing leads,” he said. The saved hours could shift toward mission-driven work.
He sees the impact as a major draw. The tools he helps develop could one day free fundraisers to focus on what matters most.
