Launch Academy’s startup visa program

Launch Academy, the Vancouver-based not-for-profit startup accelerator, is starting a new program in partnership with the Canadian government that does away with this requirement. Instead, Launch Academy and its advisers will vet applicants and recommend them to the Canadian government for the visa and permanent residency process. Because of this, it’s not just an option for startups but also for founders of more mature companies that want to put their roots down in North America.

Successful applicants — and their families and core team — will be immediately eligible to apply for work visas and permanent residency. Those visas should arrive within weeks (and potentially faster) and the residency process should take about six months.

The team is especially looking for companies that work in AI, VR/AR/MR, blockchain, fintech, data science, quantum computing, healthtech and cybersecurity, though others can apply.

Entrepreneurs will also get access to the Launch Academy network of mentors and support and services from companies like Microsoft, Amazon and Google (mostly in the form of cloud credits). Sadly, entrepreneurs will not receive a lifelong supply of delicious poutine.

The fact that both family members and core employees are included here is key, especially given that most U.S. visas only allow the primary applicant to work. For many entrepreneurs, that can be a deal breaker, both because they want their spouses to be able to work and because they want to stay close to their team. This also means that if the startup fails for whatever reason, they can still stay in Canada.

The Launch Academy team tells me that it received about 100 pre-applications with more than 20 promising candidates. Geographically, they hail from all over the world and include Harvard, Yale and MIT grads, as well as former Google and Facebook employees.

It’s worth noting that this is a paid program that is paid by the applicant company. As Launch Academy CEO Ray Walia tells me, the cost of the program will be $30,000 (Canadian, of course). “In that time frame we help the program participants acclimate their business to the North American marketplace and integrate their business into the community and connect them with resources to also help their families settle in to their new lives in Canada,” he explained. Launch Academy says it will reinvest all of the program’s proceeds back into the Canadian tech and talent ecosystem and it won’t take a stake in the companies.

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Deadline: Ongoing