Small by design. The right expertise when the work needs it.
Maple Spark Labs Inc. is a founder-led AI practice in Toronto that helps teams improve operational workflows and put useful changes into everyday use. Walter Varma-Chang founded it in 2022, leads every engagement and remains accountable for the work.
Twenty-plus years on the operations side
Walter started in software engineering with an IBM co-op in 2002. Twenty-plus years later, four things carry into every engagement.
- Regulated operationsCustomer portal, smart meters and billing at Toronto Hydro.
- Product and delivery leadershipLed a 20-person delivery practice across three cities at Slalom Canada, including large-scale service and operations redesign for enterprise clients, and directed product delivery at AIR MILES.
- Security-sensitive environmentsTravel Rule and KYC product features as a Product Manager at Bitbuy.
- Hands-on AI product buildingIn 2026 he designed, built and shipped Droplet Learn, an AI learning product with its safeguards in the first version.
Before AI was the question, Walter's work was cross-functional delivery: getting business, operations and technical teams to a shared decision about what to change and in what order.
Getting an AI demo to work is the easy part. Earning trust inside a real operation is the work.
AI-first, ourselves included
We use AI throughout our own work: research, analysis, prototypes and documentation. How client information is used, including with AI tools, is agreed with you for each engagement.
It keeps our engagements small, focused and quick, and it means we know where AI falls short, because we run into those limits first.
When the work needs more
Walter leads every engagement and is your accountable point of contact. When a piece of work needs specialist depth, Maple Spark Labs can bring in or refer a trusted independent expert.
Specialist depth we can draw on
- Product and experienceProduct design, service design and user research.
- Technology and riskData and AI engineering, security and architecture.
- Enterprise platformsSalesforce, integration and related platform expertise.
- Delivery and adoptionComplex program leadership, change and operating-model design.
How it works
- Walter remains the accountable engagement lead.
- Any specialist is named, scoped and approved before joining.
- Access, confidentiality, ownership and commercial terms are agreed in writing.
Specialists are independent, not Maple Spark Labs employees. Availability is confirmed for each engagement.