The Start-Up Visa was created to target immigrant entrepreneurs who wish to build their businesses in Canada. The program, which links immigrants with Canadian investors, is the first of its kind in the world.

The program was designed in part to help Canada become attractive to tech developers, who are often drawn to the US and technology hubs like Silicon Valley. However, US immigration law results in many foreigners having great difficulty transitioning from temporary to permanent residency. The Start-Up Visa program grants Canadian Permanent Residency to successful applicants.

During his trip to Silicon Valley, Minister Kenney will be attending the TiECON conference, an entrepreneur meetup with links to South Asian businesses. He will also speak to students and professors at Stanford University, known for producing some of the country’s greatest entrepreneurial minds.