Any Americans here moved to Canada for their tech career?
 

I have a mainstream tech startup that I think is really good and I want to move and grow it in a new city.
I'm born American and currently live in south florida and I hate it here. The people I meet in Florida are braindead and its been hard to network.
I want to move to a tech friendly city and try to grow this business.

Im from Boston and I dont want to go back to Boston (you have to move forward in life) so Im thinking of the next city I want to move to.

- NYC is way too expensive for me.
- San Francisco/ Silicon Valley is the best place for a tech startup, but its way too expensive for me.
- Austin TX was OK but it didn't do anything for me.
- I *hate* LA.

A city I did visit and I loved was Toronto. I actually love Canada. Its clean, its safe, the people are very intelligent, sophisticated, friendly and hard working. Toronto is a big city for tech startups too.
When I think of the city I would actually like to live in, I think of Toronto.

Has anyone here relocated there, was it a pain in the ass for paperwork?
Am I stupid for thinking of leaving the states to start a business in Canada?

Just keep the weather in mind. Half way through winter here and I already want to hang myself. I dont mind the cold so much as long as we get some sunshine. Hasnt been too bad this year but I do recall some years that were brutal for being bitter cold, windy and grey.

I lived in Toronto through much of the 80s - can't say I miss it. Not a bad place to visit occasionally, but I have no desire to live there again.

Mainly I can't stand the big city traffic and lineups for everything. Winters can be bleak and gray...but the trend lately is generally mild and more tolerable than the past. Winters make you appreciate the good summer weather all the more.

As for biz opportunity - you can't go wrong. It's definitely a happening city these days (although the relative cost of living is high by comparison to surrounding communities). My suggestion would be living on the outskirts and commuting.

tons of major porn companies in Toronto....

I was going to say Boston, but you already X'd that one off the list. :winkwink:

Personally, I'd think you would want to be in a city with a lot of college students, specially a place with higher end college near by.

I enjoyed the couple of years I spent in San Diego, but not sure if I'd say its exactly what you are looking for, but a nice place to live none the less...