Blog

Bird's-eye-view of ruins of San Francisco from captive airship, 600 feet above Folsom between Fifth and Sixth Sts.

<h2>The Allure of San Francisco for Canadian Entrepreneurs</h2>San Francisco, often dubbed the heart of the global tech ecosystem, is a city that pulsates with innovation and opportunity. For Canadian founders, the prospect of moving to San Francisco can be incredibly appealing. The city offers a unique environment that fosters growth, creativity, and success in the tech industry. But what exactly makes this city so attractive to entrepreneurs from the north?<figure id="figure-39h1qocqgm244s886"><img id="39h1qocqgm244s886" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1470204901966-f23336e57278?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyOHx8Z29sZGVuJTIwZ2F0ZXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3Mjg2MTUwNzR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="golden gate" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1470204901966-f23336e57278?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyOHx8Z29sZGVuJTIwZ2F0ZXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3Mjg2MTUwNzR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Access to Venture Capital</h3>One of the most compelling reasons for Canadian founders to consider relocating to San Francisco is the unparalleled access to venture capital. The city is home to a plethora of venture capital firms that are actively seeking to invest in promising startups. This concentration of financial resources provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to secure the funding necessary to scale their businesses rapidly. In fact, San Francisco boasts some of the highest venture capital investments per capita in the world.For startups in the early stages, this access to capital can be a game-changer. It allows founders to focus on innovation and growth without the constant worry of financial constraints. Moreover, the networking opportunities in San Francisco are second to none, with numerous events and meetups that connect founders with potential investors.<h3>A Thriving Ecosystem of Innovation</h3>San Francisco's ecosystem is renowned for its culture of innovation. The city is a melting pot of ideas, where diverse talents from around the globe converge to create groundbreaking technologies. For Canadian founders, being part of this dynamic environment can provide invaluable insights and inspiration.<figure id="figure-jnsumjke1m244s9hj" class=""><img id="jnsumjke1m244s9hj" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1532043772213-09a6cec77cfa?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxzaWxpY29uJTIwdmFsbGV5fGVufDB8fHx8MTcyODYxNTA3Nnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="silicon valley" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1532043772213-09a6cec77cfa?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxzaWxpY29uJTIwdmFsbGV5fGVufDB8fHx8MTcyODYxNTA3Nnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure>The collaborative spirit in San Francisco encourages knowledge sharing and mentorship, enabling startups to learn from the successes and failures of others. This environment not only accelerates the growth of individual companies but also contributes to the overall advancement of the tech industry.<h3>Access to Top Talent</h3>Another significant advantage of moving to San Francisco is the access to top-tier talent. The city attracts some of the brightest minds in technology, making it easier for startups to build strong, skilled teams. From software engineers to marketing experts, the talent pool in San Francisco is both deep and diverse.For Canadian founders, this means the ability to recruit individuals who can drive innovation and growth within their companies. Additionally, the presence of prestigious universities and research institutions in the area ensures a steady pipeline of fresh talent entering the workforce.<figure id="figure-3bbu4rat5m244sahs"><img id="3bbu4rat5m244sahs" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1582192730841-2a682d7375f9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxM3x8dGVjaCUyMGNvbmZlcmVuY2V8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI4NjE1MDc3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="tech conference" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1582192730841-2a682d7375f9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxM3x8dGVjaCUyMGNvbmZlcmVuY2V8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI4NjE1MDc3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Strategic Location and Global Reach</h3>San Francisco's strategic location on the West Coast of the United States offers Canadian founders a gateway to both national and international markets. The city's proximity to major tech hubs like Silicon Valley, as well as its accessibility to Asia and other parts of the world, makes it an ideal base for expanding operations globally.Furthermore, being in San Francisco allows startups to establish connections with industry leaders and potential partners, facilitating business development and expansion efforts. This global reach is a crucial factor for startups aiming to compete on an international scale.<h3>Cultural and Lifestyle Benefits</h3>Beyond the professional advantages, San Francisco offers a vibrant cultural scene and a high quality of life. The city's diverse neighborhoods, rich history, and stunning natural surroundings provide a balanced lifestyle for founders and their teams. From world-class dining to outdoor adventures, San Francisco has something for everyone.For Canadian founders seeking a change of scenery, San Francisco's mild climate and cosmopolitan atmosphere can be a refreshing change from the often harsh Canadian winters. This combination of professional opportunity and personal fulfillment makes the move to San Francisco an attractive proposition for many entrepreneurs.

Why Canadian Founders Should Consider Moving to San Francisco

Business man's feet and route with start and goal word

There are many resources around how to start a startup.Sam Altman writes wonderfully. Same with Paul Graham.Tactically, there is a lot of great knowledge out there encouraging people to start a startup. There's not that explores whether you should start one.I believe everyone should start a business.And I think most people should try to start a startup.However, startups have their own unique set of rules that people should know going in. Here are the 4 questions I’d deeply consider before starting a startup.<h3>Are you ok with taking a massive pay cut, and having complete economic uncertainty for the next 5-10 years of your career?</h3>When fired up to start a company, most people answer "hell yeah" when asked this. They’ve saved up some cash, their personal burn rate isn’t that high, and they’re just fed up with the rat race.Fast forward a month without a salary, and they panic.I felt this after selling my first business.Despite almost unlimited personal runway, I felt a lot of anxiety around not having a salary. My burn rate was reasonable, but I had set the goal posts higher.Coupled with stock market losses and macro-economic uncertainty, I needed to hard reset on what was important to me.For people without the buffer - it’s 10x harder.As Nassim Taleb says "the three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary."Going cold turkey on your monthly paycheck fucks with your head.Even if you’re ok with it, is your partner? Family pressure can be real. You need to make sure you’re fully aligned on the costs of burning through your savings, and the stress that it causes. That additional fear kills more startups than most.Not having a steady salary until 5 years into my career was one of the main reasons I stuck it out so long - I didn't know what I was missing.The best antidote is to start a startup earlier in your career. When I was 20 I didn't have anything to lose, and just needed to make cheap rent.Set your expectations accordingly.<h3>Can you (sometimes) enjoy the process?</h3>I originally wrote “can you have fun with it?” here.I don’t think that’s the right expectation.Startups are really hard. They’re full of unique highs - getting your first customer, making your first 100/1000/1m dollars in revenue, getting featured in some exciting publication, building something new, making customers happy, meeting amazing people, etc.For those highs, you’re trading off the fact that EVERY GODDAMN SECOND of your spare time will be spent worrying about something. From a massive existential risk to your business, to some annoying employee issue, to a line of copy on your marketing site that is still bugging you. This underlying anxiety is manageable, but it never fully goes away.The first vacation I tried to take in years ended up with us getting DDOS'd while my dev-ops engineer was on a 6 hour plane ride. Seeing your net worth evaporate (not really, but it feels like it) every second your site is down is a unique startup experience.My biggest regret of my last decade of work is not enjoying the ride enough.Get your mindset right going into it, and you will enjoy it more.I aspire to Tobi Lutke's view on startups as an infinite game.The other things to optimize for in terms of enjoying your startup journey are1) what are you working on?2) who are you working with?I messed up both of these, many times over.Success can't be one of the criteria for enjoyment, because you will NEVER FEEL SUCCESSFUL ENOUGH.<h3>Do you have a group of people that can help you do it?</h3> Starting a startup alone is impossible. Do not attempt.You can be a solo founder, sure.But if you think you can sit behind your computer for 12 hours a day and pull a successful startup out of the universe - you are wrong.Start with a coworking space.Join one of 1000 accelerators. Get into YC, South Park Commons, Launch Academy.Find your tribe of people that you can share the real shit with - the actual numbers. The stuff you don’t tell anyone else.This is the only way to maintain your sanity.<h3>Even if you fail, will you be glad you tried?</h3> All this to say, you should still try it. Give it your best effort.Understand that failure is likely.Work on something that is so important to you (and hopefully the world) that even if you fail, it was worth the shot on goal.If the above is true, you're more likely to succeed.I'm rooting for you.

Blog

Why Canadian Founders Should Consider Moving to San Franc...

Should you start a startup?