Canada is a great country for entrepreneurs looking for a place to set up a new business thanks to strong start-up ecosystem hubs in major Canadian cities, the latest Global Start-up Ecosystem Index Report reveals.

“Canada has massive potential,” states the report published by the start-up ecosystem think tank StartupBlink. “Considering the active approach by an efficient public sector to develop start-up ecosystems, and a relative abundance of resources, there is no reason Canadian start-up ecosystems should not take an even more substantial role in producing massive global hubs. 

“For this to happen, there will have to be more Canadian start-ups with global impact.”

Foreign investors looking to create start-ups with such a global impact through Canada’s Business investor program can take comfort in knowing the country’s many advantages have it ranked in the top five countries in the world yet again this year for start-up ecosystems. 

In the 2021 Global Start-up Ecosystem Index Report, Canada is again ranked fourth – and boasts more cities in the top 50 than most other countries with only two exceptions: the much larger the United States and China.  

“Canada is fortunate to have three cities in the top 50 globally, with the ecosystem of Montreal increasing three spots to rank 46th globally. Only the U.S. and China have more cities in the top 50 than Canada, showing the diversity of the nation’s strong global and regional hubs.”

Market-Oriented Economic System, High Standard of Living

In the education technology industry and energy and environmental technology sector, Canada ranks even higher, in third place globally.

The report is clear. The only thing Canada needs to become an even stronger player on the world stage when it comes to start-ups is to work harder to attract more “high-quality foreign talent.”

Asset management firm Mercer’s 2021 Cost of Living City Ranking report has shown that even Vancouver, Canada’s most expensive city, is far below many others throughout the world in 93^rd spot in the rankings. New York City, by comparison, is the 14^th most expensive city in the world and Los Angeles the 20^th.

Canada’s ongoing affordability and progressive immigration policies put it in good stead to attract a growing share of immigrant entrepreneurs through the Start-Up Visa program. 

Start-Up Visa: Permanent Residency for Immigrant Entrepreneurs

Under that program, immigrants can get Canadian permanent residence if they qualify as immigrant entrepreneurs.

Three types of private-sector investors are considered: angel investors, venture capital funds, and business incubators. 

• A designated venture capital fund must confirm that it is investing at least $200,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more commitments from designated venture capital funds totaling $200,000. 
• A designated angel investor group must invest at least $75,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more investments from angel investor groups totaling $75,000. 
• A designated business incubator must accept the applicant into its business incubator program. It is up to the immigrant investor to develop a viable business plan that will meet the due diligence requirements of these government-approved designated entities.

How PI Immigration Can Help

That investing and the development of the business is usually done with the help of business consultants in Canada’s start-up ecosystem with oversight from experienced and regulated immigration consultants who can ensure a start-up’s business concept meets all industry-required terms and conditions.

Candidates applying under the Start-Up Visa program can initially come to Canada on a work permit supported by their designated Canadian investor before their application for permanent residence is finalized.

The basic government-imposed candidate eligibility requirements for the Start-Up Visa program are:

• a qualifying business;
• a commitment certificate and letter of support from a designated entity;
• sufficient unencumbered, available, and transferable settlement funds to meet settlement funding, and;
• proficiency in English or French at the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark level 5.  However, it frequently occurs that higher levels of English are needed to meet due diligence requirements imposed by designated entities.

Ottawa does not give financial support to new Start-up Visa immigrants. When candidates apply, they need to show evidence they have the finances to support themselves and their dependents in Canada. This money cannot be borrowed.

Additionally, it often occurs that candidates will need to show additional, sufficient funding to meet start-up costs of their business project, as a condition of investment by a designated entity (VC or Angel).

This is an area where experienced legal consulting will prove invaluable. The amount of settlement funding needed depends on the size of the candidate’s family.

No Previous Management Experience

Unlike almost every other federal and provincial-level entrepreneur program which requires a minimum of one or two years of previous experience either owning a business or in top-level management, the Start-Up Visa program does not require previous management experience.

The support of a government-designated entity is enough. That support can be either financial or in the form of accepting the candidate into a business incubator program. 

Immigrants who avail themselves of the Start-Up Visa program consistently report that it is quick, both for the initial work permit and permit residence application.

With a viable start-up business project, an immigrant entrepreneur can expect it to take about four to six months to secure a commitment certificate or letter of support from a designated entity. Once that letter of support is received, the application for permanent residence can be submitted.

Five Candidates Can Apply With One Business Investment

It will then take approximately 18-months to finalize the application through to the issuance of a permanent residence visa.  For the candidate to qualify for permanent residence:

• The intended business must be incorporated and carrying on business in Canada;
• The candidate must own at least 10 percent of the voting rights in the corporation, and;
• No other person can hold 50 percent or more of the voting rights in the corporation.

As many as five candidates can have their permanent residence application supported by the same business investment.  But that can come with a risk. Certain candidates may be designated as essential to the business. If any of the essential candidates withdraw their applications or are refused, all other candidates under the same business investment will see their applications terminated.

Surveys suggest Start-Up Visa candidates usually go on to succeed in Canada, in terms of growing their business, attracting further investment, networking, or selling their business for a profit.