Letter from our managing partner
If you’ve been directly affected by recent layoffs at any of the technology companies, we will waive our legal fees on a new incorporation for you so that you can start a new business with one less barrier to entry.
I started my career at BlackBerry during their years of global domination in smartphones and technology.
The pace of growth was rapid and it was an exciting experience to be part of that ride.
I left that after a few years to help start an HR technology company. But it wasn’t long after I left, that BlackBerry was dethroned by Apple (and many other market forces), and began announcing aggressive layoffs.
At its peak, BlackBerry had over 20,000 employees. People moved from across the world to Waterloo, Ontario to be a part of the history this small town company was making. The town revolved around BlackBerry.
So when big layoffs started being announced (one of the announcements was a 40% workforce hit), the tone in Waterloo shifted dramatically.
Families had moved to Waterloo, bought homes, built community, had kids in schools, and had a life there that went far beyond their work. They were all in, and layoffs pulled the rug from under all of that.
So many people were affected by the layoffs and it was something everyone in the community felt in some way or another.
But here’s what happened in the years that followed…
Many of those people that were affected by the layoffs ended up starting businesses. Some may have been floating ideas around for a while, and saw this as the opportunity to give it a shot. Some may have had no other option, and so took matters in their own hands to try and provide for their family. Every story was different, but what emerged from this massive blow to so many was a new wave of entrepreneurs and startups. And over the years that followed, many of those startups grew into successful businesses. Those businesses even ended up employing many of the BlackBerry alumni. And as I now look at Waterloo today (and more broadly, the Kitchener-Waterloo Region), I attribute so much of the massive growth, global impact, powerhouse economy, and vibrant ecosystem to those layoffs that started over a decade ago.
I’m always reminded of this story when I see layoffs in the news. I immediately feel the pain, the fear, the disappointment, and the anxiety that comes from news like that. But then I also have a fire of hope for the new life that can come out from it all.
As a law firm that focuses on high-growth companies and those that build them, we want to help anyone that has been directly affected by layoffs in the tech community by waiving the legal fees to set up a new corporation if you’re considering a new venture. Our hope is that this offers an additional path to you if as you consider your next steps. If you’ve been mulling over whether to take a run at that idea you’ve had, maybe this gives you the reason to give it a shot.
We’d love to chat, hear your story, and open a new chapter as an entrepreneur with you.
Geoff Dittrich
Managing Partner
Reach out to us at corporate@inkllp.com to set up a time with one of our lawyers!
The Details
We’ll set up a British Columbia corporation and waive the legal fees involved. This means that there are still the filing fees that need to be paid to the government, but with the legal fees waived, you’re saving around $1,000.
The corporation will be set up as a standard, high-growth company, with:
Standard Articles
Standard Share Structure
Initial Founder Shares Issued
Standard Intellectual Property Assignment
Standard Organization Details
Digital Minute Book
A no charge meeting with one of our lawyers/paralegals for a consult on what you’re building
Our firm will be the Company’s Registered and Records Office for at least 1 year, which just means that we’ll become the lawyer of record for the Company, with the hopes of being able to help with more than just the incorporation in the future. We are a firm that focuses on high-growth companies, so there’s much we can offer to you after the set-up to help you build, even if this is your first go at building something!
You need to have been directly affected by layoffs by a technology company in the last 6 months (though - just talk to us if you need an exception to that) and be incorporating for a high-growth company of some kind (intentionally pretty broad - talk to us about it if you’re not sure!).
Each new client will first need to pass through our standard onboarding procedure.
This conditional offer will expire on March 31, 2023, but we may extend it if we can see it doing some good! We reserve the right to make changes to any of this at any time and without notice.