FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PALO ALTO, California, January 27, 2021 — Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, announces a new Canadian legal partnership with the international business law firm Torys LLP to help progress the Canadian startup tech ecosystem.
Founder Institute is also the largest pre-seed accelerator in Canada, launching more new incorporated tech startups than any other accelerator, as they launch over 100 startups a year across the country. The accelerator conducted a legal sponsorship bid process in late 2020 where Torys was selected as the successful law firm.
Founder Institute worked with alumni graduate Sponsor Circle to complete the national search for a firm with a Canadian office. The requirements were they needed a partner who understood the needs of tech startups and shared a vision of building a vibrant startup community across Canada.
We worked with Founder Institute to identify the top 30 law firms with offices in Canada. Using our platform we had firms submit their proposals for what they could do to help build the Canadian tech ecosystem," said Sponsor Circle founder Mary Beth Kyer. "Without question, Torys proved they understood the startup landscape better than any other firm.
Firms were requested to submit proposals on why they were the best-suited law firms to represent the needs of tech startups. Legal firm priorities included the ability to understand intellectual property (IP) requirements for both hardware and software startups, the coordination of large fundraising rounds, and the need to help startups quickly scale globally.
Many law firms pretend they understand the unique needs of emerging and high growth technology companies but few can actually prove they do," says Founder Institute Waterloo-Toronto Director, Jordan Jocius. "It was really important for us to identify an international full-service law firm that shared the vision of seeing Canada as among the best places in the world to launch a startup. By investing in the grassroots Canadian tech ecosystem, I predict that Torys will become the best law firm in the country in a decade.
As part of the Canadian partnership, Torys has launched a new incorporation portal specifically for Founder Institute startups with special resources available and a seamless incorporation process. The partnership will make Torys the largest new incorporation law firm for emerging and high growth technology companies in the country.
For full-service legal support, from incorporation and building an IP strategy right through to raising financing rounds and beyond, Torys LLP is positioned to help tech startups," says Ryan Unruch, Counsel at Torys. "We are excited to be the exclusive legal partner for Founder Institute from Western Canada to the Innovation Corridor, Toronto, and beyond.
Torys LLP is an international business law firm with offices in Toronto, New York, Calgary, Montréal and Halifax. They are more than legal advisors and act as strategic partners in helping founders determine when to raise money, how much to raise, how to achieve the right economic structure, how to think about board and control issues, and how to navigate successfully through the different stages of growth.
Want to learn more about the Founder Institute program? Founder Institute will be hosting several free startup online events in Toronto over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Sep 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351205
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Develop a Winning Product Strategy for Your Startup: 1:00pm, Sep 10, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/355299
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Kamal Hassan: 1:00pm, Sep 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351211
- Inside Venture Capital: Secrets to Securing Funding with Rohin Sethi: 1:00pm, Sep 18, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/355120
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Sep 23, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351213
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Sep 25, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351216
- How to Adopt an Entrepreneurial Mindset In a Corporate Environment: 8:00pm, Sep 26, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/356814
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Oct 02, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351267
- How Startup Founders Improve their Hiring Strategies With AI-Driven Solutions: 1:00pm, Oct 07, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/356382
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 8:00pm, Oct 14, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351272
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Oct 23, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351275
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Oct 30, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351279
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 1:00pm, Nov 04, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351337
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, Nov 06, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351339
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00pm, Nov 18, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351343
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Nov 25, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351348
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 1:00pm, Nov 27, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351351
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Dec 02, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351412
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 1:00pm, Dec 04, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351415
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Dec 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351422
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Dec 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/351426
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the devoted support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding. Participants in the 4-month core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute's industry-leading post-programs.
Media Contact:
Jordan Jocius, Director, Founder Institute Waterloo-Toronto Corridor
Founder Institute
jordan.jocius@fichapter.com
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