This three-phase program begins with an application process where you'll assess eligibility and complete an application form. If you meet the program's requirements, you'll progress to interviews with Startup Advisors, ultimately leading to acceptance into the program. 

Once enrolled, you’ll enter Phase 1, a structured business development program where participants are evaluated based on readiness and progress to earn a Letter of Support.

The top five candidates in each cohort for the Startup Visa (SUV) will receive a Letter of Support.

Strong applicants who successfully complete Phase 1 and are applying for the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneurship Stream (FGES) will receive a Letter of Recommendation.

Participants must apply for permanent residence or a work permit within six months of receiving their nomination.

After arriving in Calgary, founders receive one year of in-person support, coaching, and networking to help integrate into Canada’s tech ecosystem.

‍

Platform Calgary is a non-profit organization and will not take any equity.

The Startup Visa (SUV) program targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Calgary that are innovative, can create jobs for Canadians and can compete on a global scale. Learn more about SUV eligibility.‍

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (FGES) is an economic immigration program that nominates talented and qualified foreign-educated graduates (within the past ten years) from outside Canada for permanent residence once they have launched their startup or innovative business in Alberta. Learn more about FGES eligibility.

No, this is a business scaling program – we help you strengthen your business plan and our Letter of Support/Recommendation Letter is a requirement when you apply to the government, and adds legitimacy to your individual SUV/FGES application.

The review process can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks based on time of submission. Please note that this time may be longer or shorter depending on workload

If we do not accept your application, we will contact you.

We want each participant to take the program seriously, so payments will not be refunded. The only way participants will not move forward in the program is if they are not completing what is required of them.

1. Payments made for the Global Startup Visa program are strictly non-refundable. The progression of a company from Phase 1 to Phase 2 is subject to the final decision of the Platform, and the advancement to Phase 3 is determined solely by the government. Please note that we do not have any control over the government’s decision.
2. Participants will face removal from the program if Platform Calgary determines that they have made insufficient progress with their applied learning and fail to meet applied learning goals without showing evidence of recovery. In such cases, Platform Calgary reserves the right to review the participant’s continued participation in the program and if participation is terminated, payments will not be refunded.

No, we only accept companies with an MVP, meaning they have a product in the market with revenue and/or customers.

Platform Calgary is recognized by the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada as a designated programming organization to connect your business with appropriate networks, provide business counseling, and officially endorse your business during the immigration process.

Our selection criteria includes whether the participants have fulfilled all of their participant contractual obligations, including attending all mandatory group sessions, workshops, and coach meetings. The decision is also dependent on the quality of the revised business plan and pitch deck submitted after the 8 weeks of structured programming.

Applicants must choose either the SUV or FGES stream when applying. Switching is not allowed, but requests may be reviewed case-by-case by the Platform team.