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Comment by macspoofing | Hacker News Reader

It is most certainly not the standard procedure.

EDIT (for your edit): >To clarify, I mean modestly wealthy individuals attempting to take advantage of hopeful entrepreneurs is SOP in Canada. I've seen it on the west coast first hand, and have reports from the east coast about similar things.

Again, this is NOT the standard operating procedure in Canada. I'm sure there are individuals who have no qualms about squeezing entrepreneurs, but I can't imagine this is any different from US. The one problem I found is that, though Canada (Ontario at least) has a wonderful Angel network, and phenomenal government programs (e.g. FedDev, SRED), there is a lack of Series A (and later) VC money.

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I have first hand experience in your quoted excellent programs. I'm using a temporary username as I don't want to link my comments to past identifiable use of this website.

SRED is a dirty game where consultants will elaborate on your less than applicable research to boost your chances of getting grant money. And hey, the consultant will get paid, the company will get paid and the tax-payer with the actual developer who's SIN and identity is used gets chucked on the hook for it. It's absurd. Both of the programs you have mentioned get people that I know very rich, tax-payers poorer and regular workers adding to it by paying on average 33% - 37% taxes.

Sometimes, I wonder if playing by the rules without leeching off the system is worth my while. And as long as I have enough to keep a roof over my family's head, I just might stay on the right side of this debacle of a ruse.

Having also gone through the SRED (as well as Arts grants) process, I concur. But, this is the "grant" game in Canada.

I've been advised many times to pursue SRED rebates but have zero interest in spending my time on all that onerous paperwork. I suspect that a willingness to jump through government hoops to pursue government money is inversely correlated with being the kind of innovator the money is supposed to be for.

>SRED is a dirty game where consultants will elaborate on your less than applicable research to boost your chances of getting grant money.

It's as dirty as you want it to be. If you want to lie and cheat, you can try, and you may be able to get away with it. Or you can honestly approach the process, and sleep better at night.

>I wonder if playing by the rules without leeching off the system is worth my while

Playing by the rules? These are federal and provincial programs. There's nothing shady or illegal about them. I think the startups that qualify do benefit from them immensely.

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