Raising money is hard. Regardless of that is in Canada or in the US. The secret is to build successful companies. Different companies need to demonstrate success differently at different stages of development. I have actively suggested that Canadian companies get on planes to Boston, NYC, SF, Palo Alto and other places. They should use AngelList, and talk to as many investors and customers as possible. But as you’ll see from opinions like @bfeld:twitter, that http://startupnorth.ca/2013/01/22/the-first-rule-of-real-estate/

“Don’t try to get investors to do unnatural acts: Assuming you are looking for capital, focus your energy on two categories: (1) local investors – either angel or VCs and (2) VCs that are interested in the specific business you are creating.” – @bfeld:twitter

Having a local lead is one way, but not the only way, to get VCs to avoid unnatural acts.

Additionally there might be more capital available through Friends, Family and Fools in other geographies. My argument is that in Boston or SIlicon Valley, many employees have additional disposable income and a relationship with someone that was a founder or an early investor in a company that has had an exit. This makes tech angel investments more familiar and appealing. But I don’t have data to back this up.

Given that YCombinator doesn’t do studies, they make investments, made up data without sources can’t be trusted as anything other than misinformation or hearsay. The specific data you source is from the Kaufmann Institute http://www.kauffman.org/uploadedfiles/kfs_2012_report.pdf not YCombinator. Additional coverage at http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2012/09/03/do-older-or-younger-entrepreneurs-have-the-greater-advantage/

I think Canadian entrepreneurs should aim to get as many rejections as possible early. Whether they are at home or abroad. They should also ask for meaningful feedback about the metrics and traction numbers that each investor would like to see to move the business forward. And upon returning to their desks/companies start executing to knock down those metrics. Maybe rather than treating “growth capital” as an entitled right, we should realize that we have to build businesses that earn it. Go out and build a crazy successful business with real customers that is growing like crazy.

And I’m a fake VC (even that gives me too much credit in the VC world, I’m an entrepreneur that is employed by a VC fund). For real VCs follow @derekjsmyth:twitter @howardgwin:twitter @rchabra:disqus @chrisarsenault:disqus and others.