Passage

Back in June, we raised C$40M to solve Canada’s labour shortages by finding and funding top international talent. Since then, immigration policies around international students have changed a lot. We think, largely for the better. Our mission has remained the same throughout: to provide access to life-changing opportunities. We believe that for us to offer better life opportunities to people around the world, immigration is a critically important channel that needs to remain open. For that to happen, Canadians need to feel like they’re winning with every newcomer landing on our shores. There is work to do. The best way to make Canadians feel the benefits is to make our immigration more agile. This adaptability means we can use immigration to meet the dynamic needs of the Canadian economy and be a tool to drive prosperity in Canada. We need to bring in top talent that can build homes, care for our elderly, and build the next generation of important companies that drive our economy forward. We’ve been hard at work toward this mission. Today, we’re excited to launch the first iteration of Passage with opportunities to help future-proof Canada in skilled trades, healthcare, and STEM. Passage is here to support top global right-fit talent and ensure Canada is better off as a result. And we’re just getting started! To learn more, check our website or sign up for our upcoming information session hosted by our Chief Growth Officer, Bobby Green tomorrow (link in the comments).

Our amazing founder Martin Basiri had the chance to speak at hashtag #SAASNORTH to share some of his lessons in building a mission-first company. Passage is a "game of the heart" - we are here to do something no one has done before. It will be very hard, but we will never give up!

I am excited to speak at SAAS NORTH Conference!

Among MacLean’s 2024 Top 100 Power List are three Iranian Canadians. On the Healthcare power list, Hamed Shahbazi, the Chairman and CEO of WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL), Canada's largest owner operator of outpatient medical clinics and leading digital health service providing software and services to more than one third of all Canadian physicians. Hamed has 20+ years of experience as a technology focused operator. In 1997, he founded TIO Networks (TSXV:TNC) a kiosk solution provider and transitioned it into a multi-channel payment solution provider, specializing in bill payment and other financial services. In July of 2017, TIO Networks was acquired by PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) for CAD$304 million. In the AI category, we find Mohammad Norouzi, a machine learning engineer and innovator. He is the CEO and co-founder of Toronto-based Ideogram, billed as the most advanced text-to-image generation company out there. Recent Series A financing—$80 million, to be precise—suggests the Ideogram team are on the right track. Before launching Ideogram, Mohammad Norouzi spent time at Google Brain, the search giant’s AI research lab. We find Martin Basiri on the Tech power list with his new venture, Passage which opens up scholastic opportunities to talent from the developing world and removes financial barriers for students in high-demand fields like STEM and health care via an app that connects applicants with funding and grant opportunities. It has already attracted $40 million in seed funding. A pilot project launching in 2024 will bring 100 women from Afghanistan to pursue STEM studies in Canada. In 2015, Martin and his brothers launched ApplyBoard, an AI-enabled recruitment tool that helps foreign students apply to Western universities. That company earned a US$3.2-billion valuation and became one of the buzziest Canadian startups since BlackBerry.

Our Future of Work panel at last week’s Summit sparked a dynamic discussion on the evolving landscape of work environments, addressing the pivotal remote versus in-office debate. Thank you to our expert panellists—Erin Chapple (Bourke-Dunphy) (Microsoft), Elissa Barrett, and Martin Basiri (Passage), moderated by Michael Buhr—for highlighting the importance of intentionality and inclusivity and urging leaders to consider virtual options to foster a more inclusive workplace. The panel delved into the effectiveness of synchronous versus asynchronous work, the role of leadership in setting workplace norms, and the imperative for leaders to define success clearly and honestly for their teams. Key takeaways included the consideration that work location preferences can positively influence individual health, the significant impact of leadership styles on employee work habits, and the crucial need for companies to offer choices, allowing employees to opt in or out based on their preferences. This candid conversation offered invaluable insights into making informed choices about our workplaces' future, ensuring that values of inclusivity, flexibility, and clear leadership shape them. The panel's popularity underscored the urgency and relevance of these discussions for growth founders and leaders in today's rapidly shifting work environment. #C100Summit #FutureOfWork #Leadership #DiversityInTech

Earlier this week, our Founder, Martin Basiri, alongside other leaders, met with Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. The conversation focused on the federal budget and strategies for setting up our sector for long-term success.

We are #hiring

We are hiring!