He said individuals who are the cream of the intelligence technology (IT) crop are making $170,000 to $180,000 annually in the U.S., compared to $100,000 to $120,000 in Canada. Bright minds also pay lower taxes when they go stateside, have a higher dollar and enjoy fantastic benefits. Right now there are 350,000 Canadians living in Silicon Valley, he said.

“These guys have amazing campuses with all the perks like free daycare, on-site chefs, beach volleyball and sleeping pods,” he said.

Rodrigues also called for programs that prompt Canadian start-ups to stay Canadian.

Start-ups that the Canadian government may invest in through grants and subsidies often get bought out a few years after inception by American companies, he pointed out.

“The government has great ideas to help start-ups get off the ground,” he said. “Then the next day, they (the start-ups) will take financing from the U.S. or sell out to the U.S. All the investment that the Canadian government pumped in is lost.”

His suggestions for keeping Canadian start-ups from selling out to foreign investors and for keeping bright technical minds in our country included:

· The government could forgive student loans for high-performing graduates.

· Taxes could be lowered.

· A fund could be established to provide signing bonuses for innovators who stay in Canada.

· Visa requirements need to be relaxed to assist start-ups wanting to bring in talent from other countries.

· When the government gives money to a start-up, it should become a stakeholder in that company.

“If the government gives $20,000 to a start-up which then sells to Google for a billion, then maybe 20 per cent goes back to the government,” he suggested.

“There should be some incentive for a company to stay in Canada. Canadian brains are living inside Silicon Valley companies.”

SOTI is best known for its technology called MobiControl, which helps companies manage their mobile devices, contents and security. It claims 20 years of profitability with no external funding.