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

I’m driven by entrepreneurship and a deep belief that access to the right people and resources can change lives.

I founded PORCH to make the journey easier for immigrant entrepreneurs. Not just the business side, but the personal side too. From navigating a new country to finances, relationships, and belonging. I believe community, when done right, is one of the most powerful forces there is. Canada’s diversity is incredible, and the opportunity here is endless when people are supported properly.

I didn’t have a single “aha” moment that made me want to be an entrepreneur. It’s something that’s been part of me for as long as I can remember. Watching Dragon’s Den with my dad. Spending long car rides to hockey games coming up with business ideas. Building things always felt natural to me.

That curiosity turned into action through entrepreneurship classes in high school, youth business competitions, and starting small ventures of my own. By my final year at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University, I knew it was time to stop preparing and start building something real.

Along the way, I worked with companies like Intuitive AI, Look Media, and Knoow, and even launched a custom charcuterie board business during the pandemic. Those experiences taught me how demanding and humbling it is to build and run a company.

In October 2022, I founded PORCH. It’s a curated community of international entrepreneurs who have been there, done that, and are still doing it. They come together to support each other, share knowledge, and grow both personally and professionally.

It feels full circle from those nights watching Dragon’s Den. I now get to pursue this journey alongside my co founder, my friend, and my dad. I don’t take that lightly.

We need more community like this. Let’s build a better way forward.

Countries I’ve visited:
Canada, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Monaco, Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Morocco, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Australia, Dominican Republic, United States, Vatican City

Hunter Weitzman

Hey! Dev here, 

I’m a First-Gen Business Owner and the Managing Partner of Matrix Venture Studio. 🚀

My journey began in law, after I completed my Bachelor of Arts and Laws from the University of Calcutta, followed by a Master of Laws from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). My international journey continued as I worked in various roles, including at HPE, where I gained valuable experience in tech and business operations.

After practicing in India, I took the leap to Canada, where I experienced firsthand the challenges of being an immigrant entrepreneur.

I landed here with a law degree and no knowledge of how to build a business here. Through countless sleepless nights, navigating complex regulations, and some hard-learned lessons, I realised which doors to knock on.

Now, I help other ambitious entrepreneurs avoid the same pitfalls I faced.

My mission is to transform how global entrepreneurs enter the Canadian market through a streamlined Startup Visa program. I'm the friend you need in Canada who knows the ropes and speaks your language of business.

My expertise spans across:

- Startup Visa Program Optimization
- Strategic Market Research
- Cross-Border Legal Advisory
- Business Development Consulting
- Financial Planning & Forecasting

What makes my approach unique?

- Firsthand experience as an immigrant entrepreneur
- Deep understanding of global business ecosystems
- 10+ years of cross-border legal expertise
- Strong connections with Canadian innovation hubs

Beyond my work at Matrix, I contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem as an Advisory Board Member at The Passion Centre Inc, PORCH Ambassador, and maintain strategic partnerships with Canadian incubators.

My passion lies in bridging the gap between global talent and Canadian opportunities. With every entrepreneur I work with, I bring not just expertise but personal understanding of their journey.

Dreaming of expanding in Canada? Let's connect! 

Drop me a DM, and let's explore how to bring your business vision to life. 🚀

Dev Mitra

Everyone's posting about their 2026 goals.

I'm sitting here thinking about October.

That's when I started building what's launching this month.

Not because I'm special or disciplined.
Because I've learned something most people discover too late:

January doesn't create momentum.
It reveals whether you built any.

The first week always feels electric. Clean slate energy. Big declarations everywhere.

By week three? Most founders are already exhausted.

Here's what nobody admits:

If your momentum dies by the end of January, it wasn't momentum at all.
It was novelty wearing off.

Real momentum doesn't feel inspiring.
It feels repetitive. Quiet. Almost boring.

It's the same client calls every Tuesday.
The same content review every Friday.
The same uncomfortable conversations you don't skip.

I don't believe in New Year resolutions.
I believe in goal setting that starts months before January.

Because when everyone else is "starting fresh" on January 1st, you should already be mid-flight.

January isn't your starting line.
It's your launch pad.

The difference?

By February, the market stops caring about what you intended to do.
It only responds to what survived the routine.

So here's my question for you:

What are you building that still moves forward when the January energy fades?

That's not just momentum.
That's your actual foundation.

PS: On that note, wishing you an amazing 2026! May you smash your goals.

Dev Mitra 🇨🇦

Forbes Business Council I Helping Immigrant Entrepreneurs Build & Scale Startups | International Mobility & Startup Advisor | Technology Lawyer | Managing Partner @ Matrix Venture Studio™

I snapped a photo of rough notes.
No cleanup. No formatting.

Tome turned it into a storyboard.
Scene-by-scene. Visual flow. Voiceover cues.

This is the real shift creators need to notice.
Not “better ideas.”
Faster translation from thinking → shipping.

When tools remove friction, momentum compounds.
That’s how creators win now — not by polishing, but by moving.

taplio

The Battle

Hunter Weitzman

Dev Mitra

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