PORCH 2025 Vision
Letter from the Founders
At PORCH we talk a lot about learning, and we, the founders of PORCH, might have learned more than anyone.
PORCH has evolved a lot since we launched 2.5 years ago, and now, our learning has led us here.
Sadly it remains hard out there, and it has only gotten more difficult to be an international entrepreneur.
While most people have the right intentions, the landscape is only getting more complex and difficult to navigate.
When we started PORCH, we thought the primary need to help immigrant entrepreneurs was to support them on their BUSINESS journey - from helping them learn to pitch their business more effectively, to how to raise money, to how to sell and market their company in a new country.
And, yes these things are needed. But there are a ton of accelerators and other organizations in the entrepreneurial ecosystem doing this already (some are doing it pretty well and many are not, but that's another story).
We learned over the last two years that the biggest barrier to an international entrepreneur's success is not the founder's ability to do a great 3-minute pitch or if they write good email copy. Don’t get us wrong, all these things are critical for a founder to learn, but they pale in importance to the personal side of the founder journey.
People need to be able to live happily. This means different things to different people.
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some people need help with opening bank accounts
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investing in Canada and U.S
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having fun
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who to trust for accounting and tax support
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some with mental health and wellness
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some just need a few friends going through the same challenges as them
There is an endless list of topics that immigrant entrepreneurs might struggle with that many of us take for granted.
Founders need to be able to take care of themselves before they can take care of their business.
Enter the renovated PORCH :)
PORCH is an exclusive club of international entrepreneurs that have been there, done that, and are still doing it. They have come together to support one another on the personal side of the journey (from living to finance to relationships) to learn and grow, and to share their superpowers.
PORCH was built to level the playing field and give you a greater chance at success.
This comes to life through events and community.
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PORCH Events include topical sessions with high-profile speakers and experts and highly-engaged IRL events focused on relationships, learning and fun.
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PORCH Community: 24/7 real-time discussion and support through the active PORCH platform, on-demand resources and content for asynchronous learning, and powerful perks.
PORCH – the club for international entrepreneurs for the personal side of the journey (the stuff that accelerators don’t do)
Come join us on the journey.
Sincerely, Neil & Hunter (written on the PORCH)
Well, in Canada, the front porch has long represented a place of gathering. A place where friends, colleagues, and family might go to talk, give advice, lend a listening ear, or relax together and share a drink. This community is just like that. PORCH is a place where you can feel safe and ask any question. A place to help each other. A place where there is no judgment, only a shared passion for helping each other to succeed and be happy – in Canada.
Why did we call this community PORCH?
Let's not overcomplicate it. PORCH is a community of people who want to help each other succeed. At PORCH, you can share your experiences, ask questions to those who have been there and done that, join topics of interest, view helpful content, and network with interesting people. We have experienced incredible value from these things over the years, and we hope at PORCH, you will too.
We have been told many times that the immigrant and entrepreneur communities are based on giving back and helping each other to be successful. We have seen it first-hand. A rising tide lifts all boats.
What is PORCH?
You may wonder how you got here and what brought you to read about PORCH. Well, let us tell you. We will keep it short, so you can return to learning, growing, solving your challenges, and helping others do the same. After all, that is the essence of PORCH.
Our co-founder was born in this beautiful country (we are speaking about Canada, for those reading this from a different location). We have seen it grow and develop as a beacon for immigrants worldwide. Canada is a mosaic of diverse ethnicities, races, and religions. That is what makes Canada both an incredible and fascinating place to work and live.
Over the years, we have been a part of different communities and groups that have helped us learn and develop as a business executive and a person. If not for these communities and networks of peers, we would not have been able to solve many of my challenges in business and life. We are grateful for every community we have joined and for every person who took some time to help us. I can only hope that we were able to return the favour to others as well.
Neil Weitzman, PORCH’s co-founder, has worked as a Chief Revenue Officer and an Advisor to various immigrant entrepreneurs. Regardless of your origin, all entrepreneurs experience similar challenges. However, we have learned a lot about the unique challenges that immigrants experience and have incredible respect and admiration for immigrants who have come to Canada to build their businesses and life.
Through hundreds of discussions with dozens of immigrant entrepreneurs, the idea of PORCH was born.