Charlène Roussey wins the grant of the 2022 cohort of Startup Montréal’s FoundHers pre-accelerator

MONTRÉAL, July 18th 2022 – Startup Montréal is proud to announce that Charlène Roussey has won the $5,000 pre-startup grant for her business project called Michel as part of the 2022 cohort of the FoundHers pre-accelerator (Envol path). Michel is a virtual sommelier designed to create food and wine pairings worthy of the finest restaurants. A true partner for servers, it facilitates their work and allows them to offer customers a unique taste experience. In addition to the grant, Charlène will receive six months of personalized support to help her implement her entrepreneurial project.

“The FoundHers pre-accelerator allows us to concretely contribute to the increase of the diversity of the Montréal startup ecosystem. Through this program, we support women in their projects by facilitating the transition from idea to action and by allowing them to propel their startup. They join a rich, mobilized and dynamic community in which mutual aid and collaboration are key values,” says Liette Lamonde, executive director of Startup Montréal.

The 2022 cohort was made up of committed and motivated women entrepreneurs, 25% of whom are working full time on their business project, 50% of whom are from diverse backgrounds, 63% of whom have a technological component and 39% of whom have already made their first sales. Among the main sectors of activity represented, we find health care and social assistance, arts and entertainment and educational services. The twelve entrepreneurs and 11 projects that completed this pre-accelerator cohort are Alexia-Frederique Baha, Virginie Caparros, Lia Ferranti and Laurence Fafard, Véronique Gaumond-Carignan, Audrey Gauthier, Marie-Claire Hamel, Jennifer Kwan Teau, Rita Lahlou, Jennifer Montreuil, Katherina Piché and Charlène Roussey. 

The Coup de Coeur award went equally to Katherina Piché for her project SOJE and to Lia Ferranti and Laurence Fafard of À la trois média. 

“Contributing to the advancement of women in business is one of our core values at BMO. Our commitment to the Startup Montréal FoundHers program is part of our desire to recognize women for their entrepreneurial endeavours and to help them achieve their ambitions. Congratulations to the winner and to all the participants of the 2022 cohort,” says Fatiha Senhaji, General Manager, Sector Program, Commercial Banking, BMO Financial Group.  

“We are proud to contribute to the Founders program, which supports women entrepreneurs in the implementation and growth of their business projects. It is important for us to support these women who energize the economic fabric of Québec and who propose bold and inspiring initiatives every year,” says Lucile Bousquet, assistant vice president of corporate affairs at Ubisoft. 

Startup Montréal would like to acknowledge the contribution of its main financial partner BMO, without whom the Founders pre-accelerator would not be possible, of Canada Economic Development, as well as the precious collaboration of Ubisoft. The organization also wishes to thank its main service partners: ACCLR, District 3, L’Esplanade, Evol, Futurpreneur, Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montréal, Le Wagon, LOJIQ, PME Montréal and the Product Development Institute. 

For more information, visit the program’s website : https://startupmontreal.com/en/our-projects/foundhers/

About Startup Montréal

We are Startup Montréal, a not-for-profit organization created through the merger of Bonjour Startup Montréal with Montréal inc. Our mission is to increase the potential already offered by Montréal’s startup ecosystem, in two ways: by extending its outreach and by multiplying its positive impact. We pilot collective and collaborative projects – including Grant+, the FoundHers pre-accelerator, and the Conciergerie – which benefits individual entrepreneurs and the entire innovation community. To achieve our mission, we receive financial support from the Government of Québec, the City of Montréal, the Government of Canada and other key partners and corporate donors.

www.startupmontreal.com

For more information, contact:

Marie-Pier Kouassi, Officer, public relations and government affairs

Startup Montréal

Marie-pier@startupmontreal.com | 1-581-993-5009