Défi PME MTL announces the 18 winners of the Défi OSEntreprendre regional finals

Here are the new faces of entrepreneurial excellence in Montréal

At Montréal`s City hall, several new entrepreneurs were rewarded  at the Défi PME MTL, the organizer of the OSEntreprendre regional finals.
 Photo: Bastien Abraham - SpiritEvent, David Côté & Julie Poitras-Saulnier - Jus Loop, Jacob Charbonneau - Réclamation vol en retard Canada, Géraldine Martin, Director of entrepreneurship-Ville de Montréal, Valérie Munger & Silvia Gallo - Matletik, Émilie Nollet & Olivier Demers-Dubé - ÉAU, Gabriel Dupras & François Roy-Moisan de Sollum Technologies. Photo credits: Sylvie-Ann Paré. (Groupe CNW/PME MTL Centre-Ouest)

Montréal, May 3, 2017 – After a local selection of 64 finalists from a record 347 business plans submitted, the Défi PME MTL, proud organizer of the Défi OSEntreprendre regional finals, announced its 18 regional winners last night, with Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal, in attendance. These businesses have made their mark for their originality and added value to society. A dozen will move on to the Desjardins Grand Prize Gala, the national finals of the Défi OSEntreprendre, on June 14.

A gateway to entrepreneurship in Montréal, the PME MTL network for this first time issued a challenge in its image, as organizer of the local and regional competitions for the 19th Défi OSEntreprendre, the longest running entrepreneurship competition in Québec. “New entrepreneurs took part with an enthusiasm we’ve never seen before," said Marc-André Perron, executive director of PME MTL Centre-Ouest, the organisation responsible for regional coordination of the competition. “And quantity went hand in hand with quality. The projects submitted in each of the seven categories and for the Successful Business Inc. Prize constituted an outstanding pool of candidates from which it was hard to pick just a handful of finalists."

Fortunately, through the contribution of many partners, including Air Canada Corporate Rewards and the Ville de Montréal, more prizes were awarded, representing over $70,000 in bursaries locally and regionally. Candidates were selected by independent juries, put together for the Défi by Réseau M, a specialist in mentorship for entrepreneurs.

“The Défi OSEntreprendre was an opportunity for friends and partners of entrepreneurs in Montréal to mobilize forces for several weeks," said Bastien Poulain, founder of 1642 Sodas and honorary chairman for this edition. “What I take away from it is that Montréal is an incredible incubator for creative, innovative and socially responsible businesses."

The Montréal winners are...

Agri-Food

1st prize : Jus LOOP
juice cold pressed from unused fruit and vegetables.

2nd prize : OCNI Factory
a sensory design studio that specializes in food innovation.

Commerce

1st prize : Pharmacie Benoît Picard & Karl Desjardins
an online pharmacy for today’s patients.

2nd prize : Automne Boulangerie
a neighbourhood bakery.

Social Economy

1st prize : Le Grand Costumier
 preserves and showcases the invaluable cultural heritage of Radio-Canada television, while promoting the costume trades.

2nd prize : Bois Public
transforms public trees into community furniture, promoting job reintegration in the process.

Business Operation, Processing, Production

1st prize : Matletik
athletic wear for mothers-to-be.

2nd prize : imaginami
charming characters and snuggly things for little ones.

Technological and Technical Innovation

1st prize : Sollum Technologies
a lighting solution that produces sunlight without its harmful effects.

2nd prize : Technologies Nectar
technology that brings beekeepers and their bees closer together. 

Service to Companies

1st prize : SpiritEvent
cocktail vending machines developed by mixology pros.

2nd prize : Return Magic
software for online retailers to make it easier for consumers to return merchandise.

Service to Individuals

1st prize : onRègle/BigSettle
an intelligent platform that offers access to legal services at a reduced cost with shorter wait times

2nd prize : Réclamation vol en retard Canada
support for airline passengers entitled to compensation from their carrier

Special Awards

Student Founder of a Business Prize, presented by the Fonds de recherche du Québec

ÉAU Urban Food Ecosystems
aquaponic production of fruit, vegetables and fish to provide fresh food where it is not readily available.

Successful Business Inc. Prize presented by the Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l’Innovation du Québec, awarded to a past winner in business for over five years.

Succès Scolaire
specialized education services

Prix Jeune entrepreneur prometteur presented by the Fondation Montréal Inc.

Jus LOOP
cold-pressed juices made from unusable fruits & vegetables.

Druide’s Grand Prize for Entrepreneurship

Sollum Technologies
lighting solutions that reproduces the sun`s rays without the harmful effects

A dozen of these entreprises are heading towards the Gala des Grands Prix Desjardins, the national finals of Défi OSEntreprendre on June 14th. We wish them the best of luck!