Their smartphone application utilizes cloud infrastructure to deliver real-time social media, text message and email notifications without a constant network connection, reducing battery consumption and data charges. They are currently updating technology and their business plan with the goal of hiring four Summerside employees within the next four months.
Gupta and Singh are the first immigrant entrepreneurs to reach P.E.I. through Canada’s Start-up Visa Program. It targets immigrants with the potential to build high-growth businesses that will generate jobs for Canadians and drive economic prosperity. Applicants must have the support of a government-approved business incubator, angel-investor group or venture-capital fund. IKBEE, a member of LaunchPad P.E.I., is located in Summerside’s historic Holman building with all the advising and mentoring services the business incubator has to offer.
IKBEE was a semi-finalist for Verizon’s one-million-dollar Powerful Answers Award, a year-long global challenge to discover and help commercialize technology-based solutions that can change the world. Gupta and Singh were invited to consider top incubator programs in the U.S., Chile and Ireland. A first-time trip to P.E.I. last year began the conversation that ultimately brought them here.
“We were looking for a place where our innovation could really flourish,” says Gupta. “That place is P.E.I.”
Former college classmates who have worked together for 15 years, they moved to P.E.I. from Delhi and Bangalore, cities of 25 million and 11.5 million people respectively. “We prefer small over big, with the calm that triggers creativity and productivity,” says Singh. “Proximity to the North American market was another factor.”
The welcome they’ve received is validating their decision. “People are super friendly, and the landscape is beautiful. Within a week, LaunchPad set up our office space. They want us to succeed,” says Gupta. “Business costs are reasonable, too. When you’re a start-up, these things matter.” Another advantage is the Start-up Visa Program, which permits their spouses to work and guarantees residency. “It gives us peace of mind to focus on our business.”
A decisive factor was the ability of their families to integrate within the P.E.I. community. Singh’s daughter is already enjoying the play areas and parks, while his wife appreciates uncrowded neighbourhoods with a family-oriented perspective. Gupta lives one kilometre from work with a four-minute commute. Singh likes P.E.I. mussels while Gupta proclaims the potatoes “very good.” They’ve yet to experience their first snowfall and have been avidly following winter-weather predictions.
Indications are that P.E.I. and the Start-up Visa Program have the capacity to persuade innovative immigrant entrepreneurs with existing businesses that their dreams of future success can be realized here. “We’re the first to arrive,” says Singh. “We should be the first of many.”
Margaret Magner, Ph.D., is a freelance journalist in Charlottetown (www.magnerink.com).
Their smartphone application utilizes cloud infrastructure to deliver real-time social media, text message and email notifications without a constant network connection, reducing battery consumption and data charges. They are currently updating technology and their business plan with the goal of hiring four Summerside employees within the next four months.
Gupta and Singh are the first immigrant entrepreneurs to reach P.E.I. through Canada’s Start-up Visa Program. It targets immigrants with the potential to build high-growth businesses that will generate jobs for Canadians and drive economic prosperity. Applicants must have the support of a government-approved business incubator, angel-investor group or venture-capital fund. IKBEE, a member of LaunchPad P.E.I., is located in Summerside’s historic Holman building with all the advising and mentoring services the business incubator has to offer.
IKBEE was a semi-finalist for Verizon’s one-million-dollar Powerful Answers Award, a year-long global challenge to discover and help commercialize technology-based solutions that can change the world. Gupta and Singh were invited to consider top incubator programs in the U.S., Chile and Ireland. A first-time trip to P.E.I. last year began the conversation that ultimately brought them here.
“We were looking for a place where our innovation could really flourish,” says Gupta. “That place is P.E.I.”
Former college classmates who have worked together for 15 years, they moved to P.E.I. from Delhi and Bangalore, cities of 25 million and 11.5 million people respectively. “We prefer small over big, with the calm that triggers creativity and productivity,” says Singh. “Proximity to the North American market was another factor.”
The welcome they’ve received is validating their decision. “People are super friendly, and the landscape is beautiful. Within a week, LaunchPad set up our office space. They want us to succeed,” says Gupta. “Business costs are reasonable, too. When you’re a start-up, these things matter.” Another advantage is the Start-up Visa Program, which permits their spouses to work and guarantees residency. “It gives us peace of mind to focus on our business.”
A decisive factor was the ability of their families to integrate within the P.E.I. community. Singh’s daughter is already enjoying the play areas and parks, while his wife appreciates uncrowded neighbourhoods with a family-oriented perspective. Gupta lives one kilometre from work with a four-minute commute. Singh likes P.E.I. mussels while Gupta proclaims the potatoes “very good.” They’ve yet to experience their first snowfall and have been avidly following winter-weather predictions.
Indications are that P.E.I. and the Start-up Visa Program have the capacity to persuade innovative immigrant entrepreneurs with existing businesses that their dreams of future success can be realized here. “We’re the first to arrive,” says Singh. “We should be the first of many.”
Margaret Magner, Ph.D., is a freelance journalist in Charlottetown (www.magnerink.com).
