May 29, 2015 — Toronto — Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander, touted the success of the Start-up Visa Program today with the announcement of more successful applicants who have been approved for permanent residence in recent months.
The Start-up Visa Program is helping to spur entrepreneurialism and create economic growth across the country and in a variety of industries. Successful applicants and their companies will be based in Toronto, Halifax, Thunder Bay, Vancouver and Victoria.
Since the launch of the program, 16 principal applicants have been approved for permanent residency, helping launch and grow eight companies. There are currently nearly 60 applications at various stages of the process.
Alexander met some of Canada’s newest entrepreneurs today at an event hosted by the Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC), the business incubator working with two of the start-ups that have benefitted from the program.
The new permanent residents (PR) supported by TBDC include Nick Back, who is originally from the United Kingdom and has launched Physicool Canada with Canadian business partner Dr. Joe Chiodo, as well as Shankar Raventhiran, Anand Suriyanarayana Raja and Jaishankar Rajagopal, all originally from India, who are launching Green Anthem Foods.
Quick facts
- Foreign entrepreneurs can apply for permanent residence only after they have secured a commitment from a designated organization.
- More than 50 Canadian venture capital funds, angel investor groups and business incubators are now designated organizations in the Start-up Visa Program.
Link to News Release on ToptipsClub Page
Link to News Release on CIC Page