Immigrants are among the best when it comes to delving into new business ventures, and a Toronto business development organization is helping them do just that.
“When your family made sacrifices to be here, you’re going to be extremely motivated to be successful,” says 29 year-old self-made millionaire Haroon Mirza, who immigrated to Canada as a teenager. “When I was young, I didn’t know what I wanted or how I would achieve it, but I knew that I would pursue whatever vision with an extreme intensity.”
Sacrifice, hard work and adaptability are common traits in both immigrants and entrepreneurs, and TiE’s local Toronto chapter is working to bridge both worlds through a new mentoring program.
TiE was founded in Silicon Valley in the early 1990s, as many South Asian immigrants poured into the area ready to build their own companies. The organization, whose acronym stands for Talent, Ideas, Enterprise, now has over 50 different chapters internationally.
“We are fully devoted to entrepreneurs and helping people start a business,” says Toronto chapter of TiE president Suresh Madan. “We believe immigrants have the advantage … the impetus that causes someone to immigrate provides a certain risk-taking ability that is required in starting a new venture.”
TiE was responsible for mentoring Mirza and his two colleagues, allowing them the opportunity to build their venture and succeed.
“The mentor really helped and forced us to articulate our thoughts better,” says Mirza, who sold his business to CognoVision in 2012 for an undisclosed amount.
Source: Toronto Star