The Story Behind Triple IC – The Founder Tells His Story

I had fled my war-torn country with nothing but the clothes in my backpack and the memories of a once prosperous childhood full of dreams and expectations for the future. After years of uncertainty and fear living as a refugee, I was finally given the opportunity to be resettled in Canada. I arrived in Canada with a suitcase full of books I curated during my refugee life, a few clothes, and $10 USD in my pocket.

Many years later, that experience has filled me with not just hope and excitement, but also with a deep sense of gratitude to Canada. Upon arriving in Canada, I was struck by the warmth and kindness of ordinary Canadians. I felt welcomed with open arms. Not only was I provided with food and shelter, but I also received access to vast opportunities and all the tools I needed to rebuild my life.

As I settled into my new homeland, I began to think about ways I could give back to this country that had given me so much. It has not been an easy journey settling in Canada. My journey has been filled with many setbacks, countless failures, personal struggles, and dream-shattering experiences. 

I have always been an entrepreneur at heart, and that led me to establish two businesses and pursue a patent for a new fitness wearable device. Interestingly, all of my business endeavors failed and ended badly. After months of agonizing pain, critical thinking, and much soul-searching to find answers to what I considered unusual business challenges and failures, I began talking to other immigrant entrepreneurs, who unfortunately had similar challenges with their business ideas. 

After several casual conversations with a dozen or more entrepreneurial immigrants, it became apparent that all our collective experiences with failure in entrepreneurial pursuits could be summarized into four major categories. These would then become the organizing pillars for the vision of an immigrant-led and immigrant-focused business incubation/acceleration center to address the specific challenges of immigrant entrepreneurs:

1. Lack of access to capital
2. Lack of access to expertise
3. Lack of access to institutions
4. Lack of access to networks/markets

Armed with such valuable information from the experiences of immigrant entrepreneurs, I did not only recognize the deeply entrenched nature of their pains but also saw a unique opportunity to help other immigrant entrepreneurs like myself. I also noticed that many newcomers to Canada have great business ideas but lack the resources and support to turn them into reality.

Not only do I know firsthand the challenges of starting a business in a new country, but I also know that with the right help and guidance, these entrepreneurs can succeed. Given the unique sets of challenges immigrant entrepreneurs face, different from their Canadian counterparts, I knew that the current incubation and acceleration model would not have been adequate enough to handle such unique challenges.  with that in mind, I set out to establish THE WORLD’S FIRST BUSINESS ACCUBATOR, a model specifically designed to address the needs of immigrant entrepreneurs, and have been working tirelessly to secure funding, find a location, and recruit a team of experts to help run the center.

Finally, after months of hard work, the Immigrant Idea and Innovation Center (Triple IC) was fully registered as a Canadian non-profit on January 6th, 2023. The idea is gaining traction among immigrant entrepreneurs who cannot wait for the center to open its doors. The response has been overwhelming so far.

We are poised to be the first of its kind in Canada, and our ACCUBATOR MODEL sets us apart as thought leaders in immigrant entrepreneurship in Canada and the world at large. Proudly situated in the city of Hamilton, we envisage immigrant entrepreneurs from all over Canada and other places around the world flocking to the center, eager to get the support and guidance they need to succeed.  We also envisage scholars and researchers from around the world coming to understudy our ACCUBATOR MODEL. The center will work tirelessly to help immigrant entrepreneurs turn their ideas into thriving businesses, providing them with mentorship, training, and access to resources.

As the years pass, the center will evolve as a beacon of hope for immigrant entrepreneurs across Canada and the world. It will help launch countless successful businesses, creating jobs and contributing to Canada’s economy. While our team will be proud of what the center will accomplish in the long term, I will always know that it could not have been done without the support of the country that welcomed me with open arms. For me, the business ACCUBATION center for immigrant entrepreneurs is more than just a way to give back to Canada. It is a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit, and a symbol of the power of community to overcome even the greatest of challenges.