TechPreneur Contest

Supporting future technology leaders

PME MTL Centre-Ouest, one of PME MTL’s six areas of service, the Ville de Montréal's business support network, in partnership with Desjardins, the Centre d'expertise industrielle de Montréal (CEI MTL) and the Réseau Mentorat Montréal, is launching an entrepreneurial contest aimed at supporting future technology leaders: TechPreneur.

The TechPreneur competition is intended primarily for young technology businesses that are looking to set up (or have already) on the Technoparc Montréal territory.

Click here to access the application form →

Testimony of a Technoparc Montréal business

Being part of the Technoparc community is in line with our culture of innovation rooted in a spirit of collaboration and communication. This scientific campus is the ideal place to pursue our growth and offer a quality work space to our employees.

-Luc Leblanc, President & CEO, Orthogone Technologies

Technoparc Montréal: a hub for tech companies

For almost 35 years, the Technoparc Montréal area has been a centre of attraction for technology companies. Small and large players in the industry have set up here, including two large data centres (Cologix and Vantage Data Centers), companies specializing in security such as the Québec leader Genetec, as well as leading cloud computing businesses such as Amdocs and Accedian.

This science and technology park with huge potential is currently home to more than 110 companies operating in three industries: technology, life sciences and aerospace.

Technoparc Montréal is served by several bus stops, numerous bicycle paths, is accessible by two highways and will be home to a light rail (REM) station starting in 2023.

Managed by the Ville de Montréal, Technoparc Montréal is a science and technology business park with an international vocation as well as a research and commercial development site.

Learn more about the Technoparc Montréal →

Financial and strategic partners supporting the next generation of Montréal technology leaders

For this first edition of the TechPreneur competition, PME MTL Centre-Ouest, the Ville de Montréal, Desjardins, the CEI MTL and Réseau Mentorat Montréal are working together to offer a complete ecosystem to the winner.

Everything has been designed to facilitate the set-up and development of technology companies: set-up grants, digital transformation training, access to a dynamic ecosystem, strategic advice and mentoring, etc.

$45,000 to be won in grants and prizes

$30,000 grant offered by PME MTL Centre-Ouest and Desjardins
Digital transformation coaching offered by the CEI MTL
The possibility of showcasing your products in the CEI MTL's technological showroom (under certain conditions)
Individual or group mentoring offered to the 5 finalists by Réseau Mentorat Montréal, depending on your needs
PME MTL Centre-Ouest is committed to providing coaching and support to all candidates who submit an application file that meets the selection criteria.

Detailed information concerning the grants and associated prizes →

Important Dates

November 22, 2021 to February 28, 2022: Submission of applications
February/March 2022: Preselection of the 5 finalists
April 2022: Final selection of applicants and official announcement of the winners

The winning business will have until June 30, 2022 to present a signed commercial lease for a period of one year and until October 31, 2022, to set up shop in one of the two business centres of the Technoparc Montréal.

Note: Contest dates may change in response to the constantly evolving health situation.

Eligibility conditions

Until February 28, 2022, technology businesses that meet the following criteria are invited to submit an application file:

Operate a technology company, i.e. a company that designs and/or develops one or more technological solutions or services, whether digital or electronic
Operate a business that has been in existence for less than 5 years
Have a legally constituted business registered with the Registre des entreprises du Québec (REQ)
Work full time in the business (minimum of 35 hours per week)
Be set up or plan to set up in one of the two Technoparc Montréal business centres by June 30, 2022 at the latest
Consent to meet with a jury and take part in promotional activities for the contest and consultation service and communication activities offered by contest partners
Submit all required documents before the contest deadline, by February 28, 2022 at the latest

N.B.: Businesses that meet the following criteria are not eligible:

Businesses that have received a Jeune entreprise subsidy through the PME MTL network
Businesses operating in the sex and gaming sectors

Required documents

Duly completed contest entry form (see below)
Business plan or summary (maximum 15 pages)
Financial forecast for the first 2 years of operation of the business

You are free to use our models, if you wish →

Conditions for awarding grants

After the contest winner is announced, an agreement will be signed between the entrepreneur(s) and PME MTL Centre-Ouest. In order to receive the grants and the various services offered by the contest partners, the winning entrepreneur must do the following:

Present and/or sign a commercial lease for a period of at least 12 months in one of the two Technoparc Montréal business centres (if newly set up) by June 30, 2022.

Other eligibility conditions may apply in the form of technical, financial and documentary requirements.