Programs
International Accelerator
Startup Visa Program
“Your bridge to the
startup ecosystem.”
Welcome
International
Entrepreneurs
This program is for international entrepreneurs looking to base their business operations in Canada, specifically York Region.
The Treefrog International Startup Visa Pilot Program (SUV) is a 6-week program that provides a launchpad for entrepreneurs to successfully relocate to York Region. We do this through hands-on advisory support to ventures, soft-landing skill development, tailored education offerings and upon successful completion of the program, a Startup Visa letter of support and commitment certificate.
Admission Criteria
-
- Your company can be business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C)
- Your company product/service must incorporate some type of technology (hardware and/or software)
- Your company stage is post-ideation, between the development of a minimum viable product (MVP) and achieving sales
- If your company is in the MVP stage, you need to demonstrate traction from interested customers. Ideally, you will have raised at least $250,000 CAD from funding sources
- If your company has sales, you must have recurring monthly revenue. Ideally, this would be between $10-20K CAD per month.
- You must have a comprehensive business plan detailing your business objectives, unique value proposition, competitive analysis and differentiators, financial statements and projections, and marketing strategy
- Your company must demonstrate that you have a strategic plan to relocate to Canada, including an IP or patent strategy
- Your company must possess the team required to execute your business plan
What you Receive
The Treefrog International SUV Program is founder-first.
We are focussed on supporting your business development through tailored programming, one-on-one mentorship and support, and access to world-class speakers and industry professionals.
By successfully completing the program we will provide a commitment certificate and letter of support to support your permanent resident application.
The Process
-
- Review the program overview and determine if you meet the eligibility criteria
- Submit your application
- Our team will review your application and if you are selected, reach out to collect more information.
- If selected for the program, you will be assigned to an upcoming cohort
- Throughout the program, our team will support your journey and offer feedback and mentorship
- When you successfully complete the program, we will submit the commitment certificate to IRCC and a letter of support to you.
Program
Cost
The total cost of the program is:
- CAD $25,000 (+ applicable taxes) for teams of 1-3
- CAD $30,000 (+ applicable taxes) for teams of 4-5
Please note that the cost does not cover immigration-related costs. It covers the Treefrog Accelerator program, coursework preparation, and delivery.
Upcoming 2022-2023
Accelerator Dates
Cohort S3
Jan 23, 2023 – March 7, 2023
Cohort S4
April 24 – June 2, 2023
Cohort S5
August 21 – September 29, 2023
Cohort S6
December 4, 2023 – January 26, 2024*
*Note that our S6 cohort is paused from December 18 – January 8
International Program Material Outline
Building Your Business in Canada
- Program Introduction
- Starting Your Life in Canada
- Get to Know York Region
- Setting Up Your Business In Canada
- Business Ethics & Culture in North America
- Banking In Canada
- Canadian Startup Ecosystem Roundtable
- Government Relations & Policy
- Canadian Banking & Taxes
- Canadian Business Law
- Intellectual Property in Canada
- Employment in Canada & Employment Standards Act
- Culture of Selling in Canada
Building & Marketing Your Startup
- Project Management
- UX Product Design
- Marketing Theory & Product Positioning
- Product Market Fit
- Pitch Practice
- One-on-one Mentor Check-In opportunity
Business Basics
- Regional Program Introduction
- Pitching for Investment
- Lean & Agile Customer Development
- Pitching Structure
- Startup Ecosystem
- Pitch Practice
Sales, Strategic Partnerships, & Culture
- Building an Enterprise Sales Process
- Hiring & Building Culture
- Corporate Law for Startups
- The Entrepreneurial Journey
- Pitch Practice
- One-on-one Mentor Check-in
What to Build & How
- Entrepreneurial Journey
- Human-Centred Design Thinking
- Product Roadmapping
- Business Model Canvas
- One-on-one Mentor Check-In opportunity
- Pitch Practice
Investment & Finance
- Accounting & Taxes
- Government Grants & Loan Programs
- Angel Investors
- Seed Stage VC
- Partner Information Session
- Open House
- One-on-one Mentor Check-in
Weekly Schedule*
Week 1
Monday
9:00- 10:00am
Tuesday
9:00- 10:00am
Wednesday
9:00- 10:00am
Thursday
9:00- 10:00am
Mondays
9:00- 10:00am
11:30-12:30pm
Tuesdays
9:00- 10:00am
11:30-12:30pm
Wednesdays
9:00- 10:00am
10:00-11:00am
11:30-12:30pm
Thursday – Friday
We will offer additional programming
on Thursdays and Fridays depending
on scheduling.
*Dates and times are subject to change
International
Accelerator
Closing Words
Each cohort concludes with a virtual or in-person showcase and networking Open House event. Guests are invited to meet with the founders to learn more about their startup, or gather for a private conversation within the virtual event space. The events are attended by diverse stakeholders in the startup community, including investors, local government, entrepreneurs, and mentors. We’ve welcomed over 430 guests to our Open Houses.
Questions? Let’s Connect.