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Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

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Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#91
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We hire a lot in Montreal. Mid-size startup. Range is more like CAD 85-140k for generalist frontend and backend developers. In the larger cities, salaries have really gone up in the last few years.

Name the company my man! Then don't mention Montreal again, we don't want everyone coming.

Might be a well-known streaming company that definitely has interesting technical issues. Problem for some is the content and reputation.

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#92
post #27

This article doesn't mention one of the major reasons for talent leaving Canada: if you work there, you need to stomach a 50% pay cut in average salaries vs the US. This is true pretty much across the board regardless of tech niche on the 2017 Stack Overflow Developer Survey[1]: Machine learning specialist: US 108k, Canada 53k (49%) Embedded applications/devices developer: US 100k, Canada 53k (53%) Systems administra…

Shopify https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salary/Shopify-Ottawa-Salaries-EI_I...

Software Developer $80,947 Software Engineer $96,600

500px https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salary/500px-Salaries-E600778.htm Software Engineer $93,333

The averages are pulled down by lots of mediocre companies. Startups and big places like Google and IBM have salaries that are nowhere close to your numbers. Couple this with taxes here being much much lower than say the bay area, and you are doing really well living here.

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#93

I'm surprised to see how little funding/support there is specifically from Alberta[1], given the oil/gas wealth and the general awareness (going back decades) that they need to diversify their economy. 1 - https://www.mentorworks.ca/what-we-offer/government-funding/

Alberta used to be the best province regarding the behaviour of government, and this was one of the great things. The provincial taxes are fairly low, and until the most recent regime change none of the cities had municipal debt. I would take lower taxes over a grant most days.

How do taxes play a role for a startup that defers profit for growth? Taxes won't be a factor until you've succeeded.

Or is it that your experience with grants are that negative that you value them so poorly?

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#94

I'm surprised to see how little funding/support there is specifically from Alberta[1], given the oil/gas wealth and the general awareness (going back decades) that they need to diversify their economy. 1 - https://www.mentorworks.ca/what-we-offer/government-funding/

Interestingly in AB the investor community is adverse to tech. Because they've had few successes, don't understand it, and have plenty of opportunity to invest in what they do understand (energy).

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#95
post #90
post #27

This article doesn't mention one of the major reasons for talent leaving Canada: if you work there, you need to stomach a 50% pay cut in average salaries vs the US. This is true pretty much across the board regardless of tech niche on the 2017 Stack Overflow Developer Survey[1]: Machine learning specialist: US 108k, Canada 53k (49%) Embedded applications/devices developer: US 100k, Canada 53k (53%) Systems administra…

I recently moved from Waterloo to San Francisco. My salary had doubled in the process, but my living costs have also substantially increased. I live in a 1-bedroom condo with similar square feet; my diet stayed the same, I pursue the same hobbies and similar habits (fitness, education, entertainment). In the end, the higher cost of living offsets my salary increase, and my quality of life stayed the same.

You are either not paid enough for a SF/SV engineer, or were paid quite a lot in Canada. Even with my increased rent and food I'm saving in a year what took me 2-3 in Canada.

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#96
post #92
post #27

This article doesn't mention one of the major reasons for talent leaving Canada: if you work there, you need to stomach a 50% pay cut in average salaries vs the US. This is true pretty much across the board regardless of tech niche on the 2017 Stack Overflow Developer Survey[1]: Machine learning specialist: US 108k, Canada 53k (49%) Embedded applications/devices developer: US 100k, Canada 53k (53%) Systems administra…

Shopify https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salary/Shopify-Ottawa-Salaries-EI_I... Software Developer $80,947 Software Engineer $96,600 500px https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salary/500px-Salaries-E600778.htm Software Engineer $93,333 The averages are pulled down by lots of mediocre companies. Startups and big places like Google and IBM have salaries that are nowhere close to your numbers. Couple this with taxes here being much much lo…

For reference: $96,600 CAD == $71,718 USD

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Pinapple Express" is an ironic term for what is, in fact, days of shitty weather. There are waves of heavy rain. The air might not be that cold, but you will be if you're soaked.

"Shitty" is subjective. The fact is, the Pineapple Express brings warmer, tropical-esque temperatures. I grew up in Vancouver and didn't move away till I was 18. I've always thought the rainy weather was nice and didn't think too much about it. That's just me...haha :D

[deleted]

Re: Canada is North America’s up-and-coming startup center

#100
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just money. You need the backing of movers and shakers who know doors to knock, open, and barge through.

Absolutely. See this a lot more in Waterloo/Toronto for sure. Just had a convo with a NYC venture friend who was raised here in Vancity and his quote was revealing. He said the stink of the VSE resource pump and dump era is still prevalent. I've been approached by 3 different groups trying to list us pre launch here in town. When that's the culture of the investment scene, it's tough to make anything great.

What is "VSE resource pump and dump"?
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