Problem Validation and MVP Planning Guide
A structured method for confirming a customer problem and scoping the smallest product that tests it.
Resources
Founder resources, organised by module
PacTech guides, Y Combinator legal documents and Canadian government programs in one library.
Module 01
Start here
Core terms, stages and the Canadian ecosystem. Read these before the rest of the library.
Start here11 resources
Startup Glossary
Plain definitions of the funding, metrics and product terms used across PacTech programs.
Startup Lifecycle Overview
The five stages PacTech works with, from idea to maturity, and what each stage requires.
The Canadian Ecosystem, Province by Province
Economic overview, business registration and funding programs for each province.
Problem Validation and MVP Planning Guide
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
Early-Stage Startup Metrics Cheat Sheet
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
YC's essential startup advice
Source: Y CombinatorThe short list of principles YC gives every batch.
GuideOrder of operations for starting a startup
Source: Y CombinatorWhat to do first, from idea to incorporation to first users.
GuideHow to plan an MVP
Source: Y CombinatorA YC partner on scoping the first version of a product.
VideoStartup School
Source: Y CombinatorYC's free online course for early-stage founders, with weekly progress tracking.
Link · Account requiredCo-Founder Matching
Source: Y CombinatorYC's platform for finding a co-founder.
Tool · Account requiredMaRS Startup Toolkit
MaRS Discovery DistrictFree articles and learning bundles on validation, sales, fundraising and hiring, written for Canadian founders.
Link
Modules 03 and 04
Legal documents from Y Combinator
YC's standard SAFE forms and side letters, linked to YC's own documents page. Source: Y Combinator.
Legal documents from Y Combinator11 resources · Source: Y Combinator
YC's main SAFE forms are US documents. YC also publishes a Canadian version of the valuation cap SAFE and pro rata side letter. YC says to consult a lawyer licensed where your company was formed before using any of them. Canadian founders should get Canadian legal advice.
SAFE User Guide
Source: Y CombinatorYC's explanation of how the post-money SAFE works, with worked examples.
GuidePost-money SAFE, valuation cap, no discount (Canada)
Source: Y CombinatorYC's Canadian version of the valuation cap SAFE.
TemplatePro rata side letter (Canada)
Source: Y CombinatorOptional letter giving a SAFE investor the right to invest in your next priced round. Canadian version.
TemplatePost-money SAFE, valuation cap, no discount (US)
Source: Y CombinatorThe standard YC SAFE for US companies.
TemplatePost-money SAFE, discount, no valuation cap (US)
Source: Y CombinatorThe SAFE that converts at a discount to the next round price, with no cap.
TemplatePost-money SAFE, uncapped MFN (US)
Source: Y CombinatorNo cap and no discount. Takes the best terms of any SAFE you issue later.
TemplatePro rata side letter (US)
Source: Y CombinatorOptional pro rata rights letter for US SAFE investors.
TemplateSAFE conversion calculator
Source: Y CombinatorShows how much of the company a SAFE converts into at the priced round.
ToolSAFE vs. convertible note vs. priced round
Source: Y CombinatorYC's comparison of the three instruments on cost, speed and control.
GuideUnderstanding SAFEs and priced equity rounds
Source: Y CombinatorYC's explanation of how SAFEs convert and how priced rounds are set.
VideoSeries A diligence checklist
Source: Y CombinatorThe documents investors ask for in Series A diligence.
Template
Module 04
Corporate law and company setup in Canada
Incorporation, tax registration and Canadian model venture documents.
Corporate law and company setup in Canada8 resources
Incorporation Checklist for Canadian Startups
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
Legal support through PacTech partners
PacTech's corporate partners offer legal, banking and government support to founders in the program.
Starting a business in Canada
Government of CanadaThe Government of Canada's step-by-step list for planning, naming and registering a business.
GuideCorporations Canada Online Filing Centre
Corporations CanadaIncorporate a federal corporation and file annual returns online.
ToolBC Registries
BC Registries and Online ServicesRegister or incorporate a business in British Columbia.
ToolRegister for a business number
Canada Revenue AgencyHow to get a CRA business number and program accounts, for residents and non-residents.
GuideRegister for a GST/HST account
Canada Revenue AgencyWhen registration is mandatory or voluntary and what you need to apply.
GuideCVCA model legal documents
Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA)Canadian venture financing documents based on the NVCA models, including articles of incorporation.
Template
Module 05
IP, trademarks and privacy
Protect the brand, the code and customer data.
IP, trademarks and privacy6 resources
IP and Trademark Guide for Canadian Startups
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
Founder Series Module 07. Who owns what the AI wrote?
Ownership of AI-generated code and content, customer data, and what model provider terms say.
Trademarks
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)How to search, apply for and maintain a Canadian trademark.
GuidePatents
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)How Canadian patents work and how to apply.
GuidePrivacy for businesses
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of CanadaGuidance on collecting, using and protecting personal information in Canada.
GuidePIPEDA overview
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of CanadaThe federal private-sector privacy law and who it applies to.
Guide
Modules 03 and 06
Fundraising and pitching
How rounds work, how to pitch and what investors check.
Fundraising and pitching8 resources
Fundraising Basics
PacTech's introduction to funding rounds, investor types and the steps in a raise.
SAFE and Cap Table Guide for Canadian Founders
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
Seed Pitch Deck and Data Room Guide
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
Founder Series Module 05. Pitching investors in the AI era
How to answer investor questions on model costs, gross margin at scale and platform risk.
A guide to seed fundraising
Source: Y CombinatorYC's reference guide to raising a seed round.
GuideHow to build your seed round pitch deck
Source: Y CombinatorWhat each slide of a seed deck should cover.
VideoHow to design a better pitch deck
Source: Y CombinatorDesign rules for a deck investors can read quickly.
VideoThe YC standard deal
Source: Y CombinatorThe terms YC offers its own companies, for reference on what a standard deal looks like.
Link
Module 03
Finance, pricing and unit economics
Metrics, pricing and margins.
Module 02
Go-to-market and sales
First customers, founder-led sales and product-market fit.
Go-to-market and sales8 resources
Founder-Led Sales Playbook for B2B Startups
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
Founder Series Module 06. Go-to-market with no sales team yet
A dev-tools startup uses AI for prospect research, call prep and follow-up before its first sales hire.
Founder Series Module 09. AI support that doesn't lose customers
A marketplace automates its 10 most common support tickets and decides which ones always go to a person.
How to get your first customers
Source: Y CombinatorA YC partner on prospecting, outreach, demos and closing.
VideoThe sales playbook for founders
Source: Y CombinatorHow founders run sales before hiring a sales team.
VideoThe real product-market fit
Source: Y CombinatorHow to tell whether you have product-market fit.
VideoDo things that don't scale
Paul Graham (Y Combinator co-founder)Paul Graham's essay on recruiting early users by hand.
GuideTechstars founder advice
TechstarsArticles from Techstars on fundraising, co-founders, planning and sales.
Link
Module 08
AI for founders
The PacTech Founder Series. Ten modules, each with a video, a PDF guide and optional homework.
AI for founders13 resources
Founder Series Module 01. Your moat after AI
The four advantages AI coding tools cannot copy quickly, and a test to score your own company.
Founder Series Module 02. The 6-person SaaS that ships like 20
A seed-stage team builds with AI coding tools for a week. What it saved, what broke and the review habits that followed.
Founder Series Module 03. AI wrapper or real product?
A test for whether an AI feature stands on its own or disappears when a model provider ships it for free.
Founder Series Module 04. Rebuilding the org chart
A 40-person Series A fintech plans its next 10 hires now that AI handles first-line support and QA.
Founder Series Module 05. Pitching investors in the AI era
How to answer investor questions on model costs, gross margin at scale and platform risk.
Founder Series Module 06. Go-to-market with no sales team yet
A dev-tools startup uses AI for prospect research, call prep and follow-up before its first sales hire.
Founder Series Module 07. Who owns what the AI wrote?
Ownership of AI-generated code and content, customer data, and what model provider terms say.
Founder Series Module 08. Inference costs that eat your margin
The unit economics of AI features that cost more with every customer, and how to fix them.
Founder Series Module 09. AI support that doesn't lose customers
A marketplace automates its 10 most common support tickets and decides which ones always go to a person.
Founder Series Module 10. The 90-day AI plan on one page
One AI bet, one owner, one number to track and a decision point to scale it or stop.
AI Adoption Plan Cheat Sheet
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
PacTech AI Studio
The full Founder Series curriculum and how to get access.
Module 03
Canadian funding and grants
Federal and BC programs for Canadian startups. Check each program's current status before applying.
Canadian funding and grants9 resources
Canadian Startup Funding Cheat Sheet for IRAP, SR&ED, BDC and Futurpreneur
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
The Canadian Ecosystem, Province by Province
Funding programs listed by province.
NRC IRAP
National Research Council of CanadaAdvice and, in some cases, R&D funding for incorporated Canadian businesses with up to 500 employees.
LinkSR&ED tax incentives
Canada Revenue AgencyFederal tax deduction and investment tax credit for R&D done in Canada.
LinkBDC Venture Capital
BDCBDC's venture capital arm, which invests in Canadian technology companies.
LinkFuturpreneur Startup Program
FuturpreneurLoans of up to $75,000, including BDC co-financing, plus up to two years of mentorship for founders aged 18 to 39.
LinkInnovate BC programs
Innovate BCFunding and talent programs for BC technology companies.
LinkMitacs programs
MitacsFunded research internships and talent programs that pair companies with post-secondary researchers.
LinkBusiness Benefits Finder
Government of CanadaGovernment of Canada tool that lists federal and provincial programs that fit your business.
Tool
Module 07
Going global
Export support, international founders and non-Canadian SAFE forms.
Going global5 resources
International Expansion Guide for Canadian Startups
Step-by-step PacTech guide with checklists.
Launch in Canada
PacTech's page on support for international founders building in Canada.
Trade Commissioner Service
Government of CanadaExport advice, market information and trade events in more than 160 cities.
LinkExport Development Canada
Export Development Canada (EDC)Financing, insurance and market knowledge for Canadian exporters.
LinkSAFE forms for Cayman Islands and Singapore companies
Source: Y CombinatorYC's valuation cap SAFE and pro rata side letter for companies formed in the Cayman Islands or Singapore.
Template
All modules
Events and recordings
PacTech webinars and module previews.
Free guides
Ten free guides for founders
Practical guides and cheat sheets, one or more for every PacTech module. Free with an email address.
Early-Stage Startup Metrics Cheat Sheet
The metrics investors and boards expect at pre-seed and seed, with definitions and formulas on one sheet.
Founder-Led Sales Playbook for B2B Startups
The sales process founders run before the first sales hire, from target list to signed contract.
Canadian Startup Funding Cheat Sheet for IRAP, SR&ED, BDC and Futurpreneur
The main federal non-dilutive and early-stage programs, who qualifies and how to start, on two pages.
SAFE and Cap Table Guide for Canadian Founders
How post-money SAFEs convert, how much ownership each one sells and how to model the cap table before the first priced round.
Incorporation Checklist for Canadian Startups
The decisions and filings to complete when a Canadian startup incorporates, in order.
IP and Trademark Guide for Canadian Startups
How Canadian startups secure ownership of their brand, code and data, and when to file with CIPO.
Seed Pitch Deck and Data Room Guide
The slides, numbers and documents a seed investor expects, and how to organize them before the first meeting.
International Expansion Guide for Canadian Startups
How to choose a first international market and the legal, tax and support decisions that follow.
AI Adoption Plan Cheat Sheet
A one-page method for choosing, staffing and measuring one AI initiative, based on Founder Series Module 10.
Mentorship
Work through the guides with a PacTech mentor
Put the guides into practice with mentors who have built companies.
These resources are general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. External resources belong to their publishers. PacTech is not affiliated with them unless stated.