“What is the one thing you are going to build that will change the world?” were the first words Dhruv Patel (’18) spoke to Armon Shokravi (’18) on their taxi ride from the Toronto airport to Loran’s 2018 National Selections. From Fort McMurray, AB, and Vancouver, BC, respectively, the pair were exhilarated to be in the company of other graduating high school and CEGEP students who, despite their young age, were ready to embrace the challenge of leaving the world better than they found it. Armon shares, “becoming Loran Scholars was an inflection point in our lives. Dhruv and I believe two founder traits often determine how far a business can go: the resilience to keep pushing through setbacks, and the confidence to think bigger than what feels immediately possible. Receiving the Loran Award helped bolster us both with a lot more confidence and surrounded us with people who challenge the status quo, much sooner than some come into that in their lives.”
In 2020, as fellow in-stream Loran Scholars, Dhruv, a Mechatronics Engineering student at the University of Waterloo and Armon, a Business student at Western University, co-founded Aftersell – the leading eCommerce platform that helps 50,000+ merchants optimize their checkout flows, democratizing technology previously only available to large businesses. Aftersell’s organizational values (drafted by the two alumni) reflected Loran’s influence by celebrating strength of character, commitment to service, and leading with integrity for the collective good. Later, when Dhruv and Armon connected with Rokt and CEO, Bruce Buchanan, the company that would go on to acquire Aftersell, they immediately identified it as another like-hearted organization, whose culture and mission similarly prioritize values such as ‘smart with humility’, ‘better together’, and ‘force for good.’
“We wouldn’t have arrived at Rokt with Aftersell had we not had the Loran values – that’s how closely they are aligned,” shares Dhruv.
Full Circle: From Scholars to Builders
“Loran was a step change in my life,” shares Dhruv. “Receiving the Loran Award felt very confidence-inspiring. It encouraged me to think bigger about what I could do in the world, and provided me with both the self-belief and the skills to lead a large team. There were many intangible elements of the Loran program that I look back on now and realize were the underpinning of much of my current work, such as the constant encouragement to try things outside my comfort zone. Every entrepreneur I speak to along my journey says, ‘stepping outside your comfort zone is a requirement for the job,’ and I was fortunate enough to have Loran embolden me to pursue unconventional paths at an early age.”
“We would not be where we are, were it not for Loran.”
“None of what we are presently doing in our lives would have happened without Loran. From having met one another, to forming a supportive community with other scholars and alumni, to the broadening of our perspectives and the enrichment of our skills throughout the program, it all had a monumental impact on our lives, and we carry the Loran values and lessons learned with us every day,” adds Armon.
Now successful entrepreneurs helping to build a global technology company, and beneficiaries of a program and community that recognized their promise and provided the resources, mentorship, and network to unlock their full leadership potential, Dhruv and Armon are choosing to give back—reinvesting in the Foundation and pledging to underwrite the journey of a 2026 Shokravi Patel Loran Scholar, ensuring that the same door remains open for the next generation. They are the youngest alumni to ever underwrite a Loran Scholar.
And for them, this isn’t just a financial contribution—it is a deeply personal act of service. “Through entrepreneurship, we can create impact at scale,” they explain. “Like Aftersell, it empowered many small businesses to grow, and that kind of effect can ripple through entire communities. It also provides us with resources we can then reinvest through philanthropy. For us, both building and giving are our expressions of service.”
The Power of Paying It Forward
The decision to underwrite a scholar stems from a shared belief in the importance of paying it forward. For Dhruv and Armon, the Loran experience was a catalyst that helped shape their leadership and entrepreneurship journeys.
Dhruv recalls a pivotal moment during his years as a Loran Scholar, when a perspective-shifting conversation with alumnus Stephen Lake (’07), CEO of Jetson Home Inc. (then Co-founder & CEO of Google-acquired North), guided him to pursue entrepreneurship instead of following a more traditional career trajectory. “As a fellow member of the Loran community, I trusted Stephen’s advice to follow my instincts,” says Dhruv. This type of peer support by a Loran alum was one of countless touchpoints that collectively inspired both Dhruv and Armon to develop their purpose through entrepreneurship.
“That’s why, when we thought about where to meaningfully give back, underwriting a Loran Scholar was the clear answer. For us, the Loran Award was so much more than a scholarship—it was the foundation for how we think, how we lead, and how we built Aftersell.”
“Aftersell would have never gotten to this point without Loran. It makes so much sense to give back to the organization that gave us the framework and foundation to think differently.”
“The program gave us confidence early, removed financial pressure, and surrounded us with people who pushed us to really challenge ourselves. Since Loran created that kind of transformation for us, the most meaningful thing we can do is help create that same opportunity for someone else. It’s about continuing that cycle of investment,” the pair notes.
By underwriting the four-year journey of a Loran Scholar, they are providing another exceptional young person with:
- Leadership Enrichment: Developing a student’s skills and capacity to lead with integrity.
- Experiential Learning: Facilitating practical work opportunities for an undergraduate across the public policy, enterprise, and not-for-profit sectors.
- Financial Freedom: Allowing a student to focus on their studies and community impact on and off campus.
- Inspiration and Mentorship: Connecting them to a lifelong network of peers, alumni, and community leaders.
- A Vote of Confidence: Validating the potential and purpose of a young person who demonstrates strength of character, commitment to service, and leadership potential.
Dhruv and Armon’s commitment ensures that another high-potential youth will benefit from the same launchpad they did, unlocking their potential to grow, serve, and lead.
As Loran enters its 38th year, moments like this reflect the enduring impact of its mission—to cultivate leaders who act with character and a deep commitment to others. Thank you, Dhruv and Armon, for investing in the leaders of tomorrow and demonstrating how that commitment comes full circle.