Challenge yourself for a good cause with Bonjour Startup Montreal

If you are currently an entrepreneur, your top priority is your company – you are 200% focused on your project, and everything you can do to achieve it. But, in order to do so, you need opportunities to catch your breath.

On October 13th, join the Bonjour Startup Montreal team for a few hours, for an epic sports adventure! The Tough Mountie Race is organized for the benefit of pediatric research – all collected funds will go to that purpose. It is a unique occasion to join Montreal’s startup community, including many investors that will be present for the occasion, such as Luge Capital, Real Ventures, Panache Ventures, and many others.

Join a unique team

The Tough Mountie Race is an obstacle race with courses similar to police training, including activities that involve anti-riot equipment and shooting practice. This run, organized by Foundation of Stars, and in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), is a one-of-a-kind event.

Foundation of Stars is the biggest non-governmental financing source for pediatric research in Canada. For over forty years, the Foundation has been funding paediatric research to protect, promote and improve the health and well being of children and teenagers. All funds collected are used for research purposes and to improve the quality of life of children and that of their families.

The goal of such sporting events has always been to collect donations, but they also give participants the opportunity to take up a challenge, and be proud of reaching a goal they had set. With that in mind, the Foundation has started, over the past few years, organizing police training challenges in schools, in partnership with the RCMP. These small-scaled practices have been increasingly popular and led the Foundation to see things bigger: creating an obstacle race in the city, taking advantage of the unique urban mountain that is Mount Royal, while mixing participants of all ages, specialists, and non-specialists, with the common objective of challenging themselves.

Overcoming challenges is, in fact, what all entrepreneurs really do when they launch their startup. Josée Saint-Pierre, President and CEO of Foundation of Stars, points out that her mission is aligned with that of startup ecosystems:

“Scientific research committees and startups function in a very similar ways: they always look for innovative solutions, for additional funding, and to launch new projects”.

Going out of your comfort zone

On this occasion, Bonjour Startup Montréal challenges entrepreneurs to join its team with startup members, supporting organizations and investors. In addition to taking part in the run, it will offer startups and investors an opportunity to meet and discuss in an informal atmosphere – not your traditional pitch between four walls.

Joining the Bonjour Startup Montréal team is an opportunity to not only prioritize your well-being through physical activity, but also to get out of your comfort zone, and meet other entrepreneurs and investors (Luge Capital, Real Ventures, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Panache, RBC…).

“We hope we will gather many young companies and raise awareness on medical research. We want startup founders to think about their own health. The Tough Mountie Race is a beautiful challenge to tackle, but it requires preparation and it sets a goal out of their startup environment.” David Nault, General Partner at Luge Capital

Last year, over 400 participants came to the run and $73,000 were collected for paediatric research. This year, up to 600 runners are expected from Montreal but also from other parts of Quebec, Ontario and the US. If you want to get your tickets, click here!

More information on our Facebook event!