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Grow your business in Canada with the Brilliant Catalyst
Start-Up Visa
🔖 About
Canada's Start-Up Visa (SUV) program gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to immigrate to Canada in order to establish a new business. The Government of Canada partners with approved investor groups and business incubators from across the country to administer this program.
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✺ ALPHA Program
Bringing your idea to life in a Canadian Market. Applications open all year round.
Understanding Your Team and Cofounders
Understanding the Canadian Market
Problem Validation in Canada
Design Thinking
Pitch Coaching
What does it take to get the Startup Visa?
✺ BETA Program
Building a business, moving and living in Canada. Invitation only program.
Alpha Program Benefits
1:1 Check in’s
Sales Coaching
Business Development
IP Creation and Commercialization
Content Creation and Lead Generation
Investment and Funding Opportunities
Ontario Tech U resources and support
12 Month Brilliant Catalyst incubation
✺ Our Referral Partners
The Brilliant Catalyst works with referral partners around the world. To learn more about working with one of our referral partners in your home country, contact us for more information!
📃 FAQ
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The Alpha and Beta program can take up to a maximum of 5 team members each with a minimum of 10% equity. This means 4 additional co-founders are welcome to join the principal co-founder application.
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During the Alpha Phase, you can change your idea as often as you like. During the Beta Phase you are not allowed to change your idea, as this will forfeit your application to the Canadian Government for your Startup Visa.
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As the Government of Canada is responsible for all immigration decisions to Canada, we cannot guarantee the success of your application. Should your application be denied for any reason, you will have to start the Alpha program again.
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You can never be 100% sure of anything especially when it comes to creating a high potential innovative startup. As we are a designated entity, with staff who have received the Startup Visa before, we are your best chance of helping you get a startup visa. Our program is divided into two phases to ensure that we can evaluate the quality of your idea in the Alpha phase before inviting you to the Beta phase. During the Beta phase we also have a panel of advisors who invest directly in the Startup Visa, and a direct line to Immigration Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to help give you the best chance at success.
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Yes, The Brilliant Catalyst is one of the only designated entities to run a virtual Startup Visa program. All applicants can continue participation while located abroad. We do have the option to incubate in person in Canada and all Beta startups are welcome to utilize that opportunity.
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We do not help you get customers because as an early stage incubator, our focus is to help you find the right product for the right customer. While we have key advisors in industry, top sponsors, municipal stakeholders, and angel investors with a vast network that can help get you customers, we do not provide this as part of our core services. The responsibility is on you to secure customers.
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No you do not. You can apply with a foreign entity, however you must show commitment to build and register a company in Canada.
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Yes. Foreign nationals located in Canada can apply to the Alpha Program.
Brilliant Catalyst at Ontario Tech University was recently appointed as a Designated Entity and we are privileged to be a member of NACO in good standing. As Canada's only national platform for both angel investors and the innovation hubs that support Canada's entrepreneurs, NACO's membership includes 4200 angel investors, 44 angel groups, and 45 of Canada's most prominent incubators and accelerators. Over the past decade, NACO members have invested more than $1 billion into more than 1500 Canadian companies.
The National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) is the Government of Canada's partner that makes recommendations for angel investor groups and business incubators. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship designates organizations based on these recommendations.