Martin Basiri

Martin Basiri is an innovative entrepreneur known for his role as the Founder and CEO of Passage, a financial access platform for immigrants and international students.

Prior to Passage, Martin co-founded ApplyBoard, the world's largest online international student recruitment platform, leading the company from 2015 to 2022.

Martin's entrepreneurial journey began with multiple successful inventions in Iran during his undergraduate studies, showcasing his early passion for innovation.

He pursued his Master's in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, where he later leveraged his experience to co-found ApplyBoard in 2015 with his brothers Meti and Massi.

Under Martin's leadership, ApplyBoard flourished into a global entity with a team of 1500+ members, assisting over 500,000 students from 130 countries in their study abroad endeavors.

ApplyBoard's partnerships with 1,600+ schools across several countries and its significant valuation of $3B under Martin's guidance solidified its position as a leader in the tech industry.

Driven by his commitment to education and the desire to support deserving students lacking financial resources, Martin established Passage in 2023 to provide financial access for individuals striving for educational opportunities.

While continuing his involvement with ApplyBoard as a board member, Martin focuses on building the financial infrastructure of Passage to enable social mobility and empower individuals to transform their lives through education.

Martin holds a Master's degree in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Waterloo, in addition to a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Shiraz University.

Throughout his career, Martin has held various roles, including Controls Engineer and Mechatronics Engineer at Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, as well as teaching and research positions at both the University of Waterloo and Shiraz University.

His diverse experiences in engineering, education, and entrepreneurship showcase his multidimensional expertise and dedication to driving positive change in the field of education and immigration.