Lucalex, led by a former banker, guides Brazilian businesses through mentorship, free content, and customized strategies for expansion in Canada
By Pedro Augusto
It’s not always that successful entrepreneurs in Brazil manage to achieve the same success in Canada. Business and management strategies adopted nationally are often filled with cultural concepts that, in many cases, tend to be less effective when applied outside their original context. In other words, despite some similarities between the two countries—which maintain a strong commercial relationship—the legislation is different and customer behavior may vary when presenting a product or service. Having specialized mentorship that provides the necessary support to those who want to expand or start a business in Canadian territory helps minimize risks and enables professionals to thrive.
Founded in 2012 and based in Toronto, Lucalex operates with this mission: to help entrepreneurs avoid the “pitfalls” of starting a business when entering the Canadian market. Since its inception, it has assisted more than 30 Brazilian companies to establish themselves in Canada. The company is led by Marcelo Andrade, an engineer graduated from the Aeronautical Institute of Technology (Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica), former country risk manager at Royal Bank of Canada, and holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Toronto.
“Our idea has always been to accelerate learning — that’s what we do,” he says. “We offer short, direct, and well-focused content for entrepreneurs, but the real value of our work is in the journey; we stay alongside the company month after month to provide practical guidance for entrepreneurs who want to grow and establish themselves in Canada.”
Focused on security, ethics, and lasting results, Lucalex also assists temporary residents. Moreover, it teaches the step-by-step process to open a company and even supports the inclusion of entrepreneurs and their employees in federal and provincial programs created by the government. These initiatives aim to attract immigrants with specific skills and experiences to the country. “We work on all fronts to accelerate results, reduce uncertainties, and facilitate the integration of businesses into Canadian local culture,” Andrade emphasizes.
Incentive Programs for Immigrants
Despite the challenges, Canada stands out by offering a variety of programs that promote the inclusion of global talent into its growing economy. The Start-Up Visa is one of the innovative programs that allow foreign entrepreneurs to establish businesses in Canada, fostering the creation of startups that drive innovation and create jobs.
Additionally, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) give provinces and territories the ability to select candidates with specific skills that meet local market needs, ensuring more effective integration aligned with regional development.
Another well-known program, the Global Talent Stream, facilitates the hiring of highly skilled workers by Canadian companies, enabling them to acquire the expertise needed to compete in a global market. This initiative is part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and aims to reduce visa processing times, making it faster to attract talent to high-demand sectors.
Content to Support Entrepreneurship
Besides personalized services, the company offers free content on YouTube. In a recent video, Andrade explains how Brazilian entrepreneurs can access Canadian buyers, detailing real strategies to sell in the North American country. “Canadian buyers are somewhat ‘immune’ to the approach of a foreigner showing up with a new product,” says the founder of Lucalex.
Those interested can learn more about the consultancy’s services by visiting the company’s official website. It’s also possible to follow free content produced by the team on their YouTube channel, where they share guidance for anyone wishing to start or expand a business in Canada.
