TBDC’s Ontario Soft Landing Program is a 9 month startup incubation program that helps immigrant entrepreneurs relocate and grow in Ontario, Canada - powered by the startup visa
TBDC’s Soft Landing Program (SLP) is a 9-month virtual and in-person startup incubation program that helps immigrant entrepreneurs start businesses in Ontario. Our program acclimatizes business owners to the Canadian market and equips them with the knowledge and tools they need to hit the ground running in Canada.
The SLP is powered by the Canadian StartUp Visa (SUV) Program. The Government of Canada SUV Program offers Permanent Residency to immigrant entrepreneurs who want to start, build, and grow innovative businesses and use Canada as a gateway to world markets while creating jobs and adding value to the Canadian economy.
Entrepreneurs accepted into TBDC’s SLP will receive a Letter of Support (LoS) that makes them eligible to apply for and receive a Work Permit and Canadian PR.
About TBDC
TBDC is one of Toronto’s oldest business incubators, established by the City of Toronto with the support of the Province of Ontario in 1990. Since its inception, it has built a reputation as one of the leading business incubators in the country. To date, TBDC has helped over 9000 entrepreneurial businesses grow. Our network of experienced mentors, founders, and investors from Canada and the US are here to help you scale quickly.
TBDC is a designated organization by the Government of Canada for their Startup Visa Program. Our Soft Landing Program is offered in partnership with the Ontario Centre of Innovation.
Ontario Centre of Innovation
The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) brings industry, academic, and government partners together to invest in collaborative R&D, technology development, and commercialization opportunities that generate the highest return on innovation for Ontarians. As an ecosystem connector, OCI initiates unparalleled partnership opportunities, develops, and manages successful industry-academic collaborations, supports high-potential SMEs in commercializing ground-breaking research, and provides hands-on training and skills development opportunities for the next generation of highly skilled talent. OCI drives economic growth and job creation through investments in the development, commercialization, and adoption of advanced technologies.
TBDC’s 5-step application process includes a detailed pitch deck, founder interview, panel interview and due diligence.
2Application Acceptance
Applications are processed within 5-6 weeks. The final decision is made by TBDC.
3Letter of Support Granted
Once accepted, TBDC issues a Letter of Support (LOS) to the entrepreneur.
4Work Permit and Permanent Residency Application
Entrepreneurs can now apply for a Work Permit and Permanent Residence with the IRCC. If rejected, TBDC provides a full refund.
5Virtual Incubation - Prepare
After you have submitted your Work Permit application, you will be invited by your venture manager to attend a session on immigration and register for virtual incubation. This Prepare Stage is a three-month virtual incubation where you will build your roadmap to launch in Canada.
6Relocate to Canada
Upon receipt of the Work Permit, the entrepreneur can immediately relocate to Ontario to startup.
7The Next Steps: Prepare & Connect
After landing in Ontario, the entrepreneur can engage in the second and third stages of our startup incubation program.
8Let’s go!
By the end of the Soft Landing Program, our entrepreneurs have typically filed an IP, set up a pilot or launched their product or service in Canada.
How to Apply
1Online Application
Create an account, fill out the application, and submit a detailed pitch deck outlining your business idea and your Canadian game plan.
2Assessment
TBDC reviews your application. If selected, All founders must attend an interview to explain and defend their pitch deck and Q&A.
3Due Diligence
Shortlisted startups must submit the following documents within 8 days of selection:
Articles of incorporation
Capitalization table
Logo
Customer + supplier lists
Intellectual property docs
Proof of personal funds
Audited financial statements
Financial forecasts
Resume
Passport copy
Language test score
Profile picture
4Panel Interview
Shortlisted startups are invited for a Panel Interview with TBDC mentors and advisors matching your industry. This includes a pitch presentation and Q&A.
5Acceptance
TBDC shares the good news via email. Entrepreneurs receive a Soft Landing Program Agreement detailing the scope of the Incubation Program, as well as an invoice for the Program Fee Deposit (50% of 30,000 CAD + tax). The Letter of Support is issued at this stage so the entrepreneur can apply for their Work Permit and Permanent Residency.
Did you know?
TBDC is the only designated incubator for entry into Canada that covers all of Ontario
With TBDC you get access to 6 months of prime real estate in downtown Toronto and US$500000 of perks
Since TBDC is supported by the Government, you get a full refund if the work permit gets rejected
TDBC boasts one of the lowest rejection rate for Letter of Support
In the first stage of programming, TBDC acclimatizes international entrepreneurs to the cultural nuances of Canada, identifies the right resources for research on the Canadian market, and gets them started on
Duration: 3 months - Virtual
Curriculum (Sessions, Workshops & 1-on-1):
Company Incorporation
Gap Analysis
Immigration Support
Compliance and Knowledge
Roadmap to Canada
Cultural Sensitization
Introduction to Ecosystem
Communications Part 1
Coachability
Leadership / Values
Market Research Part 1
Grants + Funding Landscape
Go-To-Market Strategy
In Stage 2, TBDC mentors entrepreneurs about tactical business needs and gives them advice about business strategy. This results in a solid foundation upon which the entrepreneur can build pilot projects and attract business development opportunities.
Duration: 3 months - In Person with office access
Curriculum (Sessions, workshops & 1-on-1):
Communications Part 2
Personal Branding
ASK definition Part 2
Banking
HR Compliance
Legal Considerations
Pitch Coaching
Market Research Part 2
Funding
1:1 mentorship
In Stage 3, TBDC connects you with municipalities, research centres, funding organizations, academic institutions, incubators/accelerators, investors, talent networks, and business support services as required.
Duration: 3 months - In Person with office access
Curriculum (Sessions, workshops & 1-on-1):
1:1 mentorship
Strategic Introductions
Extended support
Industry leading Partners to help your startup grow
“The kind of support we’ve got from the Soft Landing Program and the entire TBDC team has been commendable. It has helped us pivot from the Indian working culture to the Canadian working culture. They’ve helped us set up things, shown us which doors to knock on. That’s the most important part when you start working in a new country, we don’t even know who to talk to. TBDC has helped us a lot with that.”
“TBDC helped us with the move to Canada three-fold. Number one was the financial know-how, we weren’t really familiar with the financial landscape from a personal standpoint, business standpoint, daily operations standpoint and a strategic standpoint, they gave us a lot of insight into how finance works in Canada. Second, was around labour law, how labour and hiring works in Canada. And the third thing was making introductions to local talent and the ecosystem around local talent in the tech sector, that really helped us.”
Harvey Kondola
Founder of Documize
Want to startup in Canada? Ontario is ready for you