We Are

Our History

Founded on innovation, Baanto International Ltd. originated in Mississauga, Canada within Nytric Ltd., an R&D and product consulting firm. Eighteen years ago, Av Utukuri of Nytric kick-started a vision of turning innovative ideas into successful products by providing R&D expertise, conceptualizing inventions, and ultimately manufacturing original technology.

Nytric observing its history of successful products determined it was time to develop a product of its own design. An internal competition gave rise to ShadowSense, a unique optical positioning solution which established a brand new category of touch technology. ShadowSense quickly became known for its unrivaled responsiveness, robustness, and ability to detect object size and shape, capturing the attention of many major electronics firms. As a result, Baanto was established in 2009 to continue to push the boundaries of touch interactivity.

Since its conception Baanto has been granted 27 patents and has over 76 filed across 9 different patent families. It has fostered various partner and integrator relationships and attained a global presence. Today Baanto has launched several industry-leading solutions using ShadowSense technology and prides itself not only on innovative product, but also outstanding customer service and support.

Our Team

Av Utukuri
Avanindra Utukuri
CEO

Avanindra was one of the founders of Baanto upon its formation in 2009 and is responsible for the technical direction of the Baanto product. As CEO and CTO, Avanindra is involved in design and management …

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of projects in all areas of the business, and for the development of patented technologies. Previously, Avanindra founded Nytric Ltd in 1999 and, as CEO of that company, is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s business vision. His twelve years of extensive business and technology experience includes the development and commercialisation of high-tech products for commercial and consumer applications. Avanindra is a graduate of the Engineering Science program of the University of Toronto.
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Dushan Batrovic
CFO

Dushan has over 10 years of experience in the financial services and technology industries, having worked in equity research, merchant banking and venture capital. …

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Prior to joining Baanto, Dushan was a VP at Difference Capital where he evaluated investments in technology companies.  Additionally, Dushan has worked with 4Front Capital Partners, Dundee Securities and Canaccord Capital.  Dushan holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and Engineering and an MBA with the University of Toronto.
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Jonathan Clarke
CTO

Mr. Clarke has, for many years, been involved in hardware design for a wide array of commercial and consumer products. His extensive experience includes mechanical and electrical design, robotics…

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instrumentation design, analogue and digital circuit design, and numerical analysis. An integral part of the Baanto team, Mr. Clarke has been instrumental in developing new patents, inventing new types of commercial equipment, and taking multiple consumer electronic products from the concept stage to manufacturing. Prior to joining the Baanto team, Mr. Clarke, together with Baanto CEO Avanindra Utukuri, co-founded Dynamic Visions Ltd., where he was responsible for overseeing the design and manufacturing of that company’s entire product line. Mr. Clarke had previously worked for the Canadian Department of Defence as an Electromechanical Engineer, where he was responsible for many robotic, force-feedback and instrumentation designs. Mr. Clarke is a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Mechanical Engineering Program.

Bhupinder-Randhawa
Bhupinder Randhawa
Vice President Of Intellectual Property

Bhupinder is Vice President, Intellectual Property for Baanto. Bhupinder is a patent attorney with over a decade of experience, specializing in patents and intellectual property licensing. …

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Previously, he was an engineer in the Computers & Communications Division of CP Rail and with Alcatel Canada’s automated railway systems group. He has helped both startups and established companies to build and manage their worldwide intellectual property portfolios. He works closely with the Baanto technical team to identify and protect innovative aspects of the Baanto technology and to develop licensing programs. Bhupinder has a computer engineering degree from the University of Waterloo and obtained his law degree at the University of Toronto.
Essa Qaqish
Essa Qaqish
Director of Product Management & Marketing

Essa has over 20 years of diverse experience in marketing, product management, business development, and sales. He has held various roles within the Semiconductor, Manufacturing…

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Distribution, and IT Technology industries. Essa has previously held management roles at SYNNEX Canada and most recently at Ricoh Canada as the Product Manager for their Communication Services business where he was responsible for the launch, go to market, and sales strategies. Essa helped build Ricoh Canada’s Communication Services business from a standing start to ensure a strong foundation was built for continued business success.
Anthony Gussin
Anthony Gussin
Director of Sales, North America

Anthony brings a wealth of international experience and business success from his previous roles in Business Development, Sales and International Marketing. He has held a variety of senior sales and marketing roles …

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at high-technology companies that include GE and Cadence Design Systems. After immigrating to Canada from the UK, and prior to joining Baanto, Anthony held high-level positions including: Senior VP of International Sales for MVS, a Montreal Robotics company; Director of Marketing and Business Development for Trow Consulting Engineers; and Marketing Director of US-based Orchid Automation. Anthony, educated in the UK, holds a PhD in Management and Industrial Psychology and a B.Sc. in Electronic Engineering.
Mark Underwood
Mark Underwood
Director of Sales, EMEA

Mark has over 25 years of experience in the touch screen industry, and he has held various senior management positions within both the manufacturing and reseller markets. He studied for a National Diploma in Business Studies …

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at Cambridge College of Arts and Technologies. Mark has previously served in the EMEA region as a Sales & Business Manager for Aydin Displays, Elo Touch Systems, Braemac, and most recently, Visualplanet, where he was responsible for worldwide sales. During his career, He has been responsible for creating and sustaining sales channels, implementing business strategies for sales and marketing, and project managing several high profile interactive installations. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge of the touchscreen and displays markets, as well as a comprehensive understanding of channel management.
Kevin Kao
Kevin Kao
Director of Sales, APAC

Kevin has more than 15 years of global experience in driving sales, business development, and channel management in touch component, semiconductors and consumer electronics industries. …

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With in-depth experience to establish new markets and sales channels out from Asia, Kevin manages OEM/ ODM business as well as channel partners to increase the penetration of market for Baanto. Kevin was the Sales VP for Nextwindow before he joined Baanto and played the role to lead the business creation with various customers such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, NEC and Sony. Period to join touch industry, Kevin was a regional account manager for NXP (formerly Philips) Semiconductors.
Our Investors

Board of Directors

Avanindra Utukuri

CEO for Baanto

Mr. Utukuri was one of the founders of Baanto upon its formation in 2009 and is responsible for the technical direction of the Baanto product. As CEO, Mr. Utukuri is involved in design and management of projects in all areas of the business.

Ian Cunningham

Executive Management, Investor

Mr. Cunningham joined the Baanto Board of Directors in 2010, and has over 31 years of experience in executive management, marketing, operations, business development and sales. His experience includes Executive roles with Tangerine Bank.

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Tom Astle

CIO for Difference Capital

Mr. Astle has worked in the Capital Market and Technology sectors for over 30 years with a front row seat at some of the major economic and technology cycles of the 20th and 21st centuries. Currently, he manages the DCF CV/PE portfolio focused on late.

Matthew Gibson

President & CEO, Syngrafii Inc.

Matthew is the President & CEO as well as a Co-Founder of Syngrafii Inc.. He has been with the Company since its incorporation in 2004. Matthew is an inventor of record on 9 granted and 27 pending patents. Matthew has worked in corporate development for over twenty years.