With its critical mass of venture capital and talent, Silicon Valley is a huge draw for enterprising Canadians who, by current estimates, now number around 300,000. They flock there to work for companies such as Google or Apple – or to strike out on their own.

The original nickname for the region south of San Francisco, thanks to its pleasant orchards, was “Valley of Heart’s Delight.” The orchards have been replaced by some of the world’s largest technology firms, and the Valley is now the source of a different kind of delight for successful business owners and their employees.

Kamal Shah (MechE 8T9, MASc 9T2) bubbles with excitement as he describes his business, Fotobabble, which allows users to record their own audio to narrate photos.

The 43-year-old native of Guelph, Ont., and University of Toronto mechanical engineering graduate, has secured financial support for Fotobabble, which is now in use by big media companies such as NBC, and has being touted by Wired magazine and the Los Angeles Times. After building out the concept for most of 2010, including development of apps for use with iPads and smart phones, Shah says 2011 is “shaping up to be a very good year.” …

Mr. Shah, despite keeping close ties to Canada, is staying put.

“I still have very strong ties to Canada; I’ve kept my citizenship. But I am very excited to come down here and take advantage of what is on offer.”

Follow the link to read the full article on The Globe and Mail’s website.