Frederik(43)

For fifteen years I had run a digital marketing agency in Utrecht. Good clients, stable income, but I wanted to build something new — a SaaS platform for the hospitality sector. The Netherlands is a fine place to do business, but the market is small. Canada offered scale, a vibrant startup ecosystem and the Start-up Visa Program.

The Start-up Visa (SUV) is unique: you receive permanent residence if you set up an innovative business supported by a designated Canadian incubator, angel investor or venture capital fund. I pitched my concept to an incubator in Montreal and was accepted. With their Letter of Support I could submit my SUV application to IRCC. The process took fourteen months — longer than Express Entry, but you get PR status right away.

Why Montreal? First: the costs. Compared to Toronto or Vancouver, Montreal is significantly cheaper. Office space in Mile End — the startup district — costs a fraction of what you pay in the Randstad. Second: talent. Montreal has four universities and is a global hub for AI and gaming. I found my first two developers through a local meetup.

The bilingual aspect was the biggest challenge. Quebec is officially French-speaking, and language legislation (Loi 101) requires businesses with more than 25 employees to communicate in French. My French was mediocre when I arrived. I took an intensive course at Université de Montréal and after a year I could conduct business conversations. It's an investment, but it opens doors you'd otherwise miss.

Quebec business culture differs from Dutch culture. The Dutch are direct; Quebecers build relationships before doing business. Lunches are long, personal questions are normal and a handshake means more than a contract. I had to adjust my approach, but the result is a network that goes deeper than purely professional.

After two years my company is running, I have eight employees and we serve clients across North America. The SUV program didn't just give me a visa — it gave me a platform. Montreal is affordable, creative and ambitious. My tip for Dutch entrepreneurs: look beyond the obvious cities. Montreal is a hidden gem.