Canada has a thriving start-up scene, with many entrepreneurs looking for opportunities to launch and grow their businesses. The Canada Start-up Visa Program was launched to provide a pathway for foreign entrepreneurs to obtain Canadian permanent residency by launching and scaling their start-up businesses in Canada. In this article, we will explore the Canada Start-up Visa Program and venture capitals and incubators that support it.
The Canada Start-up Visa Program
The Canada Start-up Visa Program is a federal program that targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to launch and grow start-up businesses in Canada. The program is designed to connect these entrepreneurs with experienced private sector organizations that can help guide them through the start-up process and provide essential resources and support.
To be eligible for the program, entrepreneurs must have a qualifying business idea and secure a commitment of support from a designated organization. These designated organizations include venture capital funds, angel investor groups, and business incubators.
Once a commitment of support is secured, entrepreneurs can apply for a start-up visa, which will allow them to launch and grow their business in Canada while obtaining permanent residency. The program provides a pathway for entrepreneurs to obtain permanent residency in Canada while simultaneously building their business and contributing to the Canadian economy.
Venture Capital and Incubators that Support the Canada Start-up Visa Program
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MaRS Discovery District: MaRS Discovery District is a Toronto-based innovation hub that provides start-ups with access to funding, mentorship, and resources to help them scale their businesses. MaRS works with a variety of partners to support start-ups, including the Canada Start-up Visa Program.
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Real Ventures: Real Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage start-ups across Canada. The firm has a focus on supporting innovative and disruptive companies that have the potential to make a significant impact in their industries.
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Extreme Venture Partners: Extreme Venture Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage start-ups in Canada and the United States. The firm specializes in supporting companies that are developing innovative technologies and business models.
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Highline Beta: Highline Beta is a venture capital firm and start-up studio that invests in and co-creates start-ups. The firm has a focus on supporting start-ups that are innovating in areas such as fintech, healthtech, and sustainability.
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Next Canada: Next Canada is a non-profit organization that provides mentorship, resources, and funding to support the growth of Canadian start-ups. The organization works with a variety of partners, including the Canada Start-up Visa Program, to help entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses.
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DMZ: DMZ is a Toronto-based start-up incubator that provides entrepreneurs with resources and support to help them launch and grow their businesses. The DMZ has a focus on supporting start-ups that are developing innovative technologies and business models.
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Ryerson Futures: Ryerson Futures is a venture capital firm and start-up accelerator that provides entrepreneurs with mentorship, resources, and funding to help them launch and scale their businesses. The firm has a focus on supporting start-ups that are innovating in areas such as fintech, healthtech, and cleantech.
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BDC Capital: BDC Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in Canadian start-ups across a wide range of industries. The firm has a focus on supporting companies that are developing innovative technologies and business models.
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Ventures West: Ventures West is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage start-ups across Canada. The firm has a focus on supporting companies that are developing innovative technologies and business models.
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Creative Destruction Lab: The Creative Destruction Lab is a start-up accelerator that provides entrepreneurs with mentorship, resources, and funding to help them launch and scale their businesses. The lab has a focus on supporting start-ups that
There are many more venture capitals,To apply for the Start-up Visa Program, your business idea or venture must get the support of one or more of the designated organizations listed here:
Designated organizations
Venture capital funds
You must get at least one of these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $200,000:
- 7 Gate Ventures
- Apex Innovative Investments Ventures
- Arete Pacific Tech Ventures (VCC) Corp
- BCF Ventures
- BDC Venture Capital
- Celtic House Venture Partners
- Extreme Venture Partners LLP
- First Fund
- Golden Venture Partners Fund, LP
- iNovia Capital Inc.
- Intrinsic Venture Capital
- Lumira Ventures
- Invest Nova Scotia
- PRIVEQ Capital Funds
- Real Ventures
- Red Leaf Capital Corp
- Relay Ventures
- ScaleUp Venture Partners, Inc.
- Tangentia Ventures
- Top Renergy Inc.
- Vanedge Capital Limited Partnership
- Version One Ventures
- WhiteHaven Venture
- Westcap Management Ltd.
- Yaletown Venture Partners Inc.
- York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) VC Fund
Angel investor groups
You must get one or more investors connected to these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $75,000:
- Canadian International Angel Investors
- Ekagrata Inc.
- Golden Triangle Angel Network
- Keiretsu Forum Canada
- Oak Mason Investments Inc.
- TenX Angel Investors Inc.
- VANTEC Angel Network Inc.
- York Angel Investors Inc.
Business incubators
You must be accepted into one of these programs:
- Alacrity Foundation
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
- Alberta IoT Association
- Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc. (operating as Manitoba Technology Accelerator)
- Brilliant Catalyst
- Creative Destruction Lab
- DMZ Ventures
- Empowered Startups Ltd.
- Extreme Innovations
- Genesis Centre
- Highline BETA Inc.
- Invest Nova Scotia
- Innovation Cluster - Peterborough and the Kawarthas
- Innovation Factory
- Interactive Niagara Media Cluster o/a Innovate Niagara
- Invest Ottawa
- Knowledge Park o/a Planet Hatch
- L-SPARK
- LatAm Startups
- Launch Academy - Vancouver
- LaunchPad PEI Inc.
- Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship
- NEXT Canada
- North Forge East Ltd.
- North Forge Technology Exchange
- Pacific Technology Ventures
- Platform Calgary
- Pycap Inc (o/a Pycap Venture Partners)
- Real Investment Fund III L.P. o/a FounderFuel
- Roseview Global Incubator
- Spark Commercialization and Innovation Centre
- Spring Activator
- The DMZ at Ryerson University
- Think8 Global Institute
- Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)
- Treefrog
- TSRV Canada Inc. (operating as Techstars Canada)
- University of Toronto Entrepreneurship Hatchery
- VIATEC
- Waterloo Accelerator Centre
- York Entrepreneurship Development Institute
3 comments
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