The first session of the Startup Gateway webinar series, hosted by Mary Yazdani, Founder & CEO of GenesisLink, set the foundation for a candid, experience-driven conversation about how the Startup Visa (SUV) program actually works in practice — beyond theory, marketing claims, or outdated assumptions.

This inaugural webinar brought together immigration consultants, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem stakeholders from Canada, Iran, India, Hong Kong, Jamaica, and beyond, highlighting the truly global nature of the SUV ecosystem.

The featured guest was Stuart Browne, CEO of Pycap, a federally designated organization under the Startup Visa Program, offering a rare DO-side perspective on compliance, due diligence, pricing, and IRCC expectations.

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Why Startup Gateway Was Created

Mary opened by explaining why GenesisLink launched the Startup Gateway series.

While the Startup Visa remains one of Canada’s most powerful business immigration pathways, it is also:

• Highly complex
• Constantly evolving
• Often misunderstood by both founders and advisors

The purpose of this series is not promotion — but education:

• To bridge knowledge gaps
• To share real-time insights
• To provide transparent discussions with Designated Organizations, industry leaders, and professionals working inside the system

“Our goal is to empower consultants and entrepreneurs with the right information — not assumptions.”

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Introducing the Guest: Pycap & Stuart Browne

Stuart Browne introduced Pycap as:

• A venture capital firm with approximately $20M AUM
• 17 portfolio companies
• A Startup Visa designated incubator active for 4–5 years

Pycap works with SUV teams not only at intake — but throughout their business development journey.

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Major Startup Visa Policy Changes (April 29, 2024)

One of the most important segments addressed recent regulatory changes, with Esart clearly outlining what shifted.

Key Changes Explained

• Letter of Support (LOS) cap introduced
  • Designated Organizations limited to 10 companies per year
• Oversight changes
  • NACO and CBCA removed from governance roles
  • IRCC assumed full oversight
• Peer Review Panel eliminated
  • IRCC now performs final assessments internally

“This fundamentally changed supply and demand across the entire SUV ecosystem.”

No new operational manuals or formal guidelines have been issued since — and uncertainty remains.

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Backlogs, Layoffs & AI: What This Means for Processing

Audience questions turned to IRCC capacity.

Esart noted:

• The LOS cap was intended to reduce backlog
• At the same time, IRCC announced approximately 3,300 staff reductions
• There is speculation that AI-driven efficiencies may offset staffing cuts

The reality:

• Processing outcomes remain unpredictable
• Timelines vary widely
• No single “normal” benchmark exists

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Due Diligence: Why It Matters More Than Ever

One of the strongest takeaways centered on due diligence.

Esart was clear:

• IRCC evaluates whether Designated Organizations performed proper due diligence
• Insufficient DO diligence can be grounds for refusal — even for strong companies

Why this matters:

• DOs exist because IRCC relies on them as market experts
• Their role is to screen for real entrepreneurs with real businesses

“If a DO fails in its due diligence role, IRCC may question the entire file.”

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There Is No Checklist — And That’s Intentional

A recurring theme was IRCC’s deliberate avoidance of checklists.

Progress indicators are:

• Business-specific
• Market-specific
• Stage-specific

An e-commerce startup and a cybersecurity firm will not be evaluated the same way.

Esart’s advice:

• Build a real business
• Progress in a way that makes sense for your model
• Document everything

“If you focus on building a legitimate company, you’ll be able to answer whatever IRCC asks.”

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How Startups Should Document Progress

Esart offered a powerful analogy:

“Think like you’re pitching a venture capital fund.”

Visa officers, like investors, look for:

• Traction
• Evidence
• Rational decision-making
• Signs the team can execute

At Pycap:

• Startups complete structured assignments
• Analysts review progress
• Mock “visa-officer style” audits are conducted
• Gaps are identified before IRCC does

This creates:

• Tangible documentation
• Numerical benchmarks
• Defensible narratives

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The Real Role of Designated Organizations

Esart clarified a critical misconception.

What DOs Are Responsible For

• Screening applicants
• Ensuring fit with the Canadian market
• (For angels/VCs) committing required capital
• (For incubators) providing ongoing business guidance

What IRCC Ultimately Cares About

• Genuine entrepreneurs
• Long-term economic contribution
• Resilience and persistence

Importantly:

• Startups are not required to succeed
• PR is not revoked if a business fails
• Founders must show good-faith effort and progress

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Red Flags IRCC Watches For

The most serious red flag identified:

No evidence of business progress related to Canada.

Even if:

• Traction exists abroad
• Revenue exists in the home country

Applicants must still show:

• Market validation
• Planning
• Execution steps tied to Canada

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Pricing Shock After April 29: What Really Happened

A major audience concern was the sudden increase in LOS fees.

Esart explained it plainly:

• LOS supply dropped sharply (cap introduced)
• Demand stayed high
• Many DOs have high fixed operating costs

“It was a textbook supply-and-demand correction.”

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Priority Processing & Canada Tech Network (CTN)

Clarifications shared:

• Pycap is not on the priority processing list
• Priority processing is tied to CTN membership
• Private DOs not receiving government funding are typically excluded

However:

• Investment pathways may still allow priority consideration in specific cases

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Future of the Startup Visa Program

Looking ahead 2–3 years, Esart acknowledged:

• Elections introduce uncertainty
• Immigration is politically sensitive
• Further changes are possible

Yet his position was clear:

“From an economic perspective, Startup Visa makes too much sense to disappear.”

Canada needs:

• Entrepreneurs
• Innovation
• Job creators

The program may evolve — but demand for it will remain.

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Apply Now or Wait?

On timing, Esart’s advice was unequivocal:

“If you are serious, apply as soon as possible.”

April 29 served as a cautionary example:

• Teams who waited were pushed into a more competitive, expensive regime
• Those who applied earlier avoided the shock

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Core Takeaways from Webinar #1

• Startup Visa is not a checklist program
• Due diligence by DOs is critical
• Business progress matters more than promises
• Documentation should mirror investor readiness
• LOS pricing changes were structural — not arbitrary
• Waiting for “certainty” is risky
• Collaboration across founders, consultants, and DOs is essential

“Focus on building a real business — and align everyone around that goal.”