The Maple Scan co-founders raised $700K from AXL for Liquid Photos, an AI app that turns still images into interactive 3D assets. The goal: move beyond the text box.
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The co-founders of Maple Scan, the grocery app that logged more than 130,000 downloads during the buy-Canadian push, have a new company. Liquid Interactive raised $700,000 CAD from Toronto venture studio AXL and unveiled its first product, Liquid Photos, on Tuesday.
Liquid Photos uses generative AI to turn still images from a user's camera roll into interactive 3D visual assets. A set of photos taken at the same location can be rotated in three dimensions. Another feature splits an object into its visual components for navigation. The app is in beta for Apple and Android users.
Sasha Ivanov and Ben Pearman, who co-founded Maple Scan, said they want to push AI interaction beyond the text box. “When we compare text chatting to other experiences online, like video platforms, it's a lot less engaging,” Ivanov said in an interview. The company holds patented technology designed to make photos and visual assets more interactive. The goal is not to produce cheaper images but to create new ways to generate digital visuals, Ivanov said.
Liquid Interactive is incubated at AXL, a venture studio founded by University of Toronto professors that aims to launch 50 AI startups in five years. AXL co-founder Daniel Wigdor wrote that the startup shows how AI can “empower people to do what previously was impossible.” Wigdor said the way people use AI “has barely moved” and that the company that closes that gap defines the era. The broader shift toward Enterprise AI Will Be Defined By Trust has seen many firms try to move beyond simple chatbot interfaces.
The launch comes as AI-generated visual content spreads across the internet, raising concerns about workers. A 2026 report by the Future Skills Centre found that demand for entry-level creative labour may fall because AI can cut costs. Ivanov said Liquid Interactive is not trying to replace human talent. “Our belief is that as content gets easier to generate, human judgement becomes more valuable,” he said.
Ivanov and Pearman hope to eventually sell their technology to operating system providers such as Apple (AAPL) and have its features built into camera roll apps. They are also demoing with brands that want online stores to be more interactive, mixing product info with 3D video assets. “Our goal right now is to work with as many brands as possible to really test this out,” Ivanov said.
The $700,000 round is modest but comes from a strategic backer. AXL, which focuses on AI startups, provides not just capital but also technical and business support. The venture studio model means Liquid Interactive can iterate quickly without the pressure of a traditional seed round. The next catalyst is the App Store launch, which could bring the product to a wider audience and generate early revenue.
For the founders, the new venture represents a shift from consumer activism to commercial AI. Maple Scan was built as a service, not a business, and is still running but not being scaled. Liquid Interactive, by contrast, has a clear path to monetization through brand partnerships and eventual licensing. The timing is favorable: the market for AI-powered visual tools is growing rapidly, and most competitors focus on text-to-image generation rather than enhancing existing photos. Liquid Interactive's approach could carve out a niche in e-commerce and personal media.
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