As a Canadian venture capitalist based in California for the past 20 years, I’ve kept a close eye on the tech scene back home – and the transforma

Is Canada on the fast track to becoming the next Silicon Valley?

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2021-05-19 02:51:25

As a Canadian venture capitalist based in California for the past 20 years, I’ve kept a close eye on the tech scene back home – and the transformation during that time has been nothing short of spectacular.

How spectacular? Enough for Canada to shove Silicon Valley off the global innovation podium, and more than enough for me to move back from California to help with the pushing.

That might sound like hyperbole to those who haven’t been watching the geographical shifts among the tech world’s power centres. Sure, Silicon Valley still leads North America (if not the world) in venture capital committed, and it remains home to the world’s tallest tech giants and scores of talented immigrants.

But the Valley wasn’t always this green, and it’s getting less so by the day (try booking a moving truck out of California these days).

Remember Boston? It was the world’s leading innovation region as recently as the early nineties, but it became rigid and uncompetitive. Silicon Valley surged into top spot, but is now facing the same issues Boston did. This leaves Canada – and specifically, Ontario – perfectly positioned to come out on top.