PORCH 

It's hard out there and exponentially harder for an immigrant entrepreneur. 

The existing ecosystem is only focused on business needs. But we all know you can't build a billion-dollar business (or any business) if you can't live happily in a new country. 

PORCH is an exclusive club of international entrepreneurs who 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.

This comes to life through events and community. 

PORCH Events include topical sessions with high-profile speakers and experts and highly engaged IRL events focused on relationships, learning and fun.
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 was built to level the playing field and give you a greater chance at success.

Founder / COO

Unfiltered w/ PORCH

They say entrepreneurship is hard. Well, try doing it in a country where you weren’t born, in a language that isn’t your first, with a social network you’ve had to build from scratch. 

That’s the story of the immigrant entrepreneur. However, the biggest problem is the story is rarely told from the POV of the immigrant. So, let’s change that. 

Welcome to Unfiltered w/ PORCH, where we explore what it means to be an immigrant entrepreneur from the POV of the immigrant.  Real stories. Real journeys. Immigrant entrepreneurship, told by those who have lived it.

Co-Creator

HunterMorris

I wear many hats, but they all point in the same direction: helping brands communicate clearly, creatively, and consistently. I lead full-scale marketing initiatives with a strong focus on storytelling, design, and strategy.

My primary role with companies is with Newsletter Creation: I manage end-to-end creation of monthly newsletters for multiple companies, from CRM setup, content planning and writing to design, distribution, and analytics.

Other projects have included ongoing graphic design (logos, social content & graphics, etc), many website design projects (from full website builds to revamps), and full community builds.

Founder

WeitzmanGTM

Intuitive AI

Sales And Market Development

Look Media

Sales and Business Development

Oil Thigh Designs (OTD)

Managed team of 5 responsible for in-store processes such as payment collection, inventory, POS functionality, and managing International Shipping program. Oversaw e-commerce and retail store sales channel growth.

E-Commerce Director

Digital Operations Coordinator

Smith School of Business at Queen's University

Working as a Teaching Assistant for COMM 161: Introduction to Mathematical Analysis for Management (Calculus) and COMM 162: Managerial Statistics

Teaching Assistant

Cam's Kids Foundation

Cam’s Kids Event Head

Tree2Table Originals

Founded an e-commerce business making handmade charcuterie boards, managing production, sales, and website/social media marketing

Founder / COO @PORCH – helping 1M immigrant entrepreneurs succeed in Canada

Combining my passion for entrepreneurship and desire to make a change with my first startup, PORCH. 

1.  My job is to make the journey as an immigrant entrepreneur easier.
2. I am a firm believer that community, when done right, is so powerful.
3. The diversity of Canada is truly beautiful and the possibilities are endless. Everyone just needs access to the right people and resources to succeed.

One specific event didn't inspire me to be an entrepreneur. For me, it was something that I was passionate about since I was very young. Whether it was watching Dragon's Den with my dad or spending the long car ride hours on the way to hockey games coming up with full businesses, being an entrepreneur was what I have always wanted to do.

Fast forward through years of entrepreneurship classes in high school, participating in youth business and entrepreneurship competitions, and starting a few small businesses of my own, I entered my fourth and final year of the Smith School of Business at Queen's University, and I decided it was time to put my education, experience, and passion to the test and go after my dream of starting a true business.

After working with some great companies (Intuitive AI, Look Media, Knoow) and also starting my own custom charcuterie board business during the pandemic (which was such an incredible experience), I learned about the endless effort it took to run a startup/company.

So, in October of 2022, I founded PORCH, 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.

It was a full circle from those long nights on the couch watching Dragons Den and Shark Tank. I have the honour and privilege to be able to pursue this entrepreneurial journey with my co-founder, friend, and Dad.

We need more of this. Let's make the world a better place.

Countries I have been to:
Canada, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Monaco, Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Morocco, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Australia, Dominican Republic, U.S.A, Vatican City

Hunter Weitzman

Harlo Entertainment

Sr. Coordinator, People & Culture

PORCH

"Living in Canada" Channel Advisor

🔎 Moderate:
- help channel members get assistance
- tag / bring in other members to the discussion where appropriate
- contribute to and start engaging in discussions that benefit the community
- drive attention to important topics/unanswered questions to help members
- ensure members follow the code of conduct

Any immigrant entrepreneur knows, that, being an entrepreneur is hard.
Being an immigrant adds exponentially more complexity and challenges.

PORCH is an exclusive community for immigrant entrepreneurs and professionals in or coming to Canada. 

PORCH increases your chance of success by providing a curated, engaging, and safe place to build relationships, learn, and help each other grow.

Ambassador

CommoBuy

COMMOBUY is a multi-sided platform that connects petrochemical suppliers, logistics companies and customers. As a Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer, I am responsible for daily operations of the company, customer support, and platforms operational procurement strategies.

•	Enacted strategic policies to enhance regulatory compliance in navigating Canadian immigration 
        complexities. Resulted in seamless team and Company relocation to Canada.
•	Spearheaded efforts to strategically connect with local business leaders and industry stakeholders, 
        resulting in a thriving professional network. Formed 500+ valuable partnerships that fueled the 
        company's expansion and overall success. 
•	Informed strategic decision-making by analyzing local market dynamics, resulting in effective 
        market 
        positioning and a competitive advantage; facilitated successful market penetration with 
        comprehensive industry insights.
•	Directed all day-to-day operations of the company post-relocation to Canada, establishing and 
        launching the business with adherence to local rules and regulations.

Relocation and Operations Coordinator

Simeng Limited

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

•	Non-Operational Duties

-	Overhead all functions of the business on their non-operational deliverables and ensure timely 
         completion.
-	Overhead, coordinate and arrange for all infrastructural development of the business including but 
         not limited to Business administration, HR (recruitment, contract, KPI etc.), Marketing and Branding, 
         Legal.
-	Liaise with company’s consultants and brokers and other external resources with regards to 
         business current affairs.
-	Oversee the office daily routine in the absence of CEO.

•	Operational Duties

-	Be the focal point of contact with the client to support their requirements throughout the project.
-	Responsible for contract review and all necessary follow-up negotiations to secure the best interest 
         of the business.
-	Payment and project closure follow ups, ensuring the professional.
-	Overhead business operational team, and support them on their deliverable tasks, ensuring the 
         timely delivery of the projects and securing business/client interest.

•	Business Development Duties

-	Lead generation with capability to analyze the potentials.
-	Presenting and negotiating with potential clients.

Global Mobility and Administration Officer

Executive Expatriate Relocations (EER) is an international relocation services company headquartered in the UAE. EER is one of the region’s leading providers of relocation corporate services. EER assist companies and their employees from all over the world, including the UK, USA, and Europe, with global mobility solutions and business setups in the cities of the future.

Responsibilities:

•	Develop and maintain company policies and procedures to ensure adherence to compliance and legal frameworks.
•	Establish and manage any outsourcing arrangements with third parties (government agencies, service providers etc).
•	Analyse and prepare high-level summaries of all service activities.

Key Achievements: 

•	Working closely with the founder of the company to launch EER Iran branch. 
•	Work closely with the Head of Business Operations to develop and execute the company’s strategic plan.
•	Designing and creating the branch services and workflows based on the local procedures and customer needs.

Client and Administration Officer

Strategic and accomplished professional with over five years of experience in managing relocation and global mobility services. Proven expertise in directing all day-to-day operations of the company's local branch and office, with a primary focus on providing comprehensive Destination Services. Orchestrated seamless relocation processes for assignees across diverse industries, ensuring a smooth transition and delivering personalized support. This hands-on leadership has not only heightened satisfaction levels but has also contributed to bolstering the company's reputation for excellence in global mobility services.

taplio

The Battle

Hunter Weitzman

Somayeh Akbarshahi

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