Ara Labs Founders Receive Start-up Visas

At an event in Fredericton, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced that the founders of Ara Labs Security Solutions are the latest successful applicants for permanent residence through the Start-up Visa Program.

With a $250,000 investment by the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), Ehsan Mokhtari and Hadi Shiravi Khozani’s start-up has developed a platform for the real-time monitoring of fraudulent behaviour affecting the advertising campaigns of its customers. Both Mr. Mokhtari and Mr. Shiravi Khozani, formerly of Iran, were PhD candidates at the University of New Brunswick prior to launching their company and obtaining a venture capital investment from the NBIF.

“As a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship, NBIF is interested in working with entrepreneurs and start-up companies who wish to set up, launch, and operate their innovative businesses in New Brunswick. Entrepreneurs can start by sending us a fully-developed business plan and from that, we can assess the merit of sponsoring them through the Start-up Visa Program.”
Calvin Milbury, President and CEO , New Brunswick Innovation Foundation

Alexander made the announcement at the University of New Brunswick’s National Research Council – Institute for Information Technology Building, where he noted that Ehsam and Hadi are the first successful Start-up Visa Program applicants in Atlantic Canada.

“Our government is proud to welcome Canada’s latest successful applicants under the Start-up Visa Program. These individuals are bringing innovative business ideas to Canada which will help fuel economic growth and job creation. Our government remains focused on a fast and flexible immigration system focused on attracting the world’s best and brightest.”
Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister.

The Start-up Visa Program, the first of its kind in the world, links experienced Canadian venture capital funds, angel investor organizations and business incubators with foreign entrepreneurs who want to launch their start-up companies in Canada.

It is an important part of the government’s plan to build a fast and flexible economic immigration system, with a primary focus on meeting the new and emerging needs of the Canadian economy.