Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#1

Post by gotrecruit » Fri, May 16, 2014, 1:47 AM UTC

I'm currently planning to study CS in Canada, and have received offers from both UBC and UofT. My main objective going to school, however, is to go find the right people to found a startup with, or to recruit the right people to join me.

Which has a better startup ecosystem? Which school would be better for recruitment for this purpose? Which school has a better pedigree?

Re: Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#2

Post by [deleted] » Fri, May 16, 2014, 3:09 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#3

Post by fananta » Fri, May 16, 2014, 3:38 AM UTC

I would say Toronto. There's a growing startup ecosystem here and the entrepreneurship culture at UofT is taking off.

I'm building my second startup here (and also helping UofT with entrepreneurship initiatives). If you have more questions, send me an email: f.ananta@gmail.com

Re: Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#4

Post by Mankhool » Fri, May 16, 2014, 4:03 AM UTC

I'm in Vancouver and I would have to say . . . Toronto. The West is the Best, but for startups the East is the, er, Beast?

Re: Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#5

Post by kpatrick » Fri, May 16, 2014, 4:18 AM UTC

In BC, UBC and SFU are considered recruiting universities with UBC being slightly ahead of SFU, but behind Waterloo in Ontario. Vancouver is quite hot now for startups and tech in general. SAP alone has 1,000 employees in Vancouver, plus Microsoft which is doubling. IBM is decreasing its size though. Vancouver is often considered better for lifestyle except for the cost of housing. If you like the outdoors, Vancouver is the obvious choice.

Re: Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#6

Post by gabchan » Fri, May 16, 2014, 11:29 AM UTC

TORONTO: for its proximity to Waterloo, the centre of Canada's startup universe. Many UW students are from the GTA anyway.

Re: Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#7

Post by gotrecruit » Fri, May 16, 2014, 2:10 PM UTC

fananta wrote: post #3

I would say Toronto. There's a growing startup ecosystem here and the entrepreneurship culture at UofT is taking off. I'm building my second startup here (and also helping UofT with entrepreneurship initiatives). If you have more questions, send me an email: f.ananta@gmail.com

hey, i would be keen to connect with you when i'm about ready to go to toronto. i'm leaning towards toronto at the moment, but i'm also reading many articles and forum posts about how vancouver is actually heating up in terms of its startup ecosystem as well and it's swaying me a little.

if my goal to attend school (either UBC or UofT) is to recruit my team to found a startup, which school would you think is better?

Re: Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#8

Post by gotrecruit » Fri, May 16, 2014, 2:12 PM UTC

kpatrick wrote: post #5

In BC, UBC and SFU are considered recruiting universities with UBC being slightly ahead of SFU, but behind Waterloo in Ontario. Vancouver is quite hot now for startups and tech in general. SAP alone has 1,000 employees in Vancouver, plus Microsoft which is doubling. IBM is decreasing its size though. Vancouver is often considered better for lifestyle except for the cost of housing. If you like the outdoors, Vancouver…

one reasons i'm seriously considering UBC is because the degree i'm offered can be completed in only 20 months, and i've also heard the weather in vancouver can be very nice.

but there is an overwhelmingly larger number of articles and people saying toronto is the better place for startups and i can't help but feel that i might find better talent in UofT vs UBC.

is cost of housing in vancouver really sky high? and i do like the outdoors - i enjoying skiing and intend to do that perhaps once a month or so.

Re: Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#9

Post by isuraed » Fri, May 16, 2014, 2:34 PM UTC

Toronto. Waterloo is an enormous talent pool and there is much start-up activity happening. Even better for networking if you can take courses or do some projects with Waterloo students.

Disclaimer: Waterloo grad.

Re: Toronto or Vancouver: Which is better for startups?

#10

Post by gyardley » Fri, May 16, 2014, 8:43 PM UTC

gotrecruit wrote: post #8

kpatrick wrote: post #5

In BC, UBC and SFU are considered recruiting universities with UBC being slightly ahead of SFU, but behind Waterloo in Ontario. Vancouver is quite hot now for startups and tech in general. SAP alone has 1,000 employees in Vancouver, plus Microsoft which is doubling. IBM is decreasing its size though. Vancouver is often considered better for lifestyle except for the cost of housing. If you like the outdoors, Vancouver…

one reasons i'm seriously considering UBC is because the degree i'm offered can be completed in only 20 months, and i've also heard the weather in vancouver can be very nice. but there is an overwhelmingly larger number of articles and people saying toronto is the better place for startups and i can't help but feel that i might find better talent in UofT vs UBC. is cost of housing in vancouver really sky high? and i…

Toronto might be a little better than Vancouver, but the difference isn't that extreme - we're not talking Silicon Valley vs. Des Moines here.

You're concerned about the weather - Vancouver's the clear winner here. You can finish your degree in twenty months - again, Vancouver's the clear winner. Finally, that twenty-month UBC program's got extra resources to get people who aren't programmers and are switching careers up to speed - it's designed for your situation, while Toronto's ordinary CS program is just going to throw you in with everyone else.