Brazilian startups visiting Innovation Cluster
Entrepreneurs with five Brazilian startups are learning more about the Canadian marketplace as part of a soft-landing program hosted by the Innovation Cluster and Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) at the Venture North building this week.
It’s the second year the event has been organized by Next Level Hub and the first time it’s been held at the business incubator in Peterborough.
The idea was to provide participants with a different perspective, BCCC director of business development and operations Carolina Albernaz said.
It’s important for companies to know that coming to a smaller city with a “big” incubator can be very rewarding in terms of quality of life and cost of living.
“We’re very excited about this possibility,” she said, pointing out that it is also easier to access people and information here. “The knowledge is here as well.”
Last year, the program was held in Toronto, Waterloo and Oshawa, Next Level Hub CEO and founder Felipe Veras Soares said.
The main reason for the visit is to show the entrepreneurs Peterborough is a great first stop to enter the Canadian marketplace.
“You will build a longer path to success,” he said, adding that many choose to come here for personal reasons – such as raising a family.
The entrepreneurs will be in Peterborough all week and in Canada for about three weeks, to give them time for follow up and to build on partnerships created, Soares added.
An opening address by Mayor Daryl Bennett was followed by
several presentations, including Canadian Landscape for Business and Local Ecosystem Startups by the Innovation Cluster and Opening a company in Canada/Access to investment taxation by BDO.
The Workforce Development Board and New Canadians Centre also provided respective presentations on the labour market in Canada and social services support.
Participants were also provided an overview of immigration and learned about Canadian business culture.
The program is a great opportunity to bring jobs to Peterborough, such as if the participating companies were to decide to build software development teams, cluster president and CEO Michael Skinner explained.
He also highlighted the benefits of running a startup in a smaller city, where costs are lower and Toronto is only a couple of hours away – a particularly short distance for someone who may live in one of Brazil’s largest cities, he noted.
“Peterborough is a great example of that type of community,” Skinner said, calling the partnership the next step for the local ecosystem supporting startups. “Its obvious companies are looking at Peterborough … I think we are really well positioned.”
The mayor’s address was a great example of small town accessibility – locals may not get to meet the mayor of Sao Paulo if they travelled there, he added.
NOTES: Participants were planning on having lunch at Hot Belly Mamas on Monday.… For more information on the Innovation Cluster, call 705-536-1101 or visit www.innovationcluster.ca or its office on the third floor at 270 George St. N.