FR
FR
2023-09-21
Fondatrices
Fondatrices
Information Community Event Program Mission

You are a woman and you want to launch a business but do not know where to begin? Discover Fondatrices! Our mission is to give you all the keys to make your business project a reality and prove to you that YES, you have what it takes to succeed!

Coaching Support Sharing
Coaching
Support
Sharing

Practical information

For whom
Women with a business idea, determined to make an impact and contribute to change in our society.
Format
- One-off activities
- A BOOSTcamp event
- A pre-acceleration program

* You can sign up for one or all three of the proposed support platforms. Being part of the community or participating in the BOOSTcamp is not a prerequisite to access the program.
Dates of the program
- Fall 2023 Cohort: September 15 to November 17, 2023
Language used
Mainly in French but a few workshops are in English.

Fondatrices is an initiative from Startup Montreal created in 2018, with the objective of increasing the number of women entrepreneurs in Montreal. To achieve this, we have deployed a service offering for any woman with an interest in entrepreneurship and who wishes to be accompanied in the realization of her project.

The applications are now closed but we suggest you to join the community so you can know about our next activities and important dates of the program. Subscribe to the mailing list.

Within Fondatrices you can join

A community
A community Connect with women with an interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. Participate in our many networking events, inspiration and workshops to grow your idea and network.
A BOOSTcamp
A BOOSTcamp A full day given twice a year to demystify the first steps of creating a startup, motivate you to launch and give you a first toolbox.
A program
A program A 10-week program for a cohort of up to 30 women, twice a year. Workshops, personalized coaching, mutual aid within the cohort: move quickly from idea to action!

Join the community

  • You are in the early stages of your idea
  • You are not sure if you are ready to enter the pre-acceleration program
  • You want to meet other women, like you, with an entrepreneurial ambition
  • You need help to formulate and develop your project
  • You are looking for advice, training, tools, and connections to get your project off the ground

 

Participate in our one-off activities! About once a month, Startup Montreal welcomes you with open arms for workshops, networking activities, friendly coaching with experts, conferences, and much more!

Rates: mostly free, with some exceptions

 

Subscribe to the mailing list to be kept informed of the activities!

Event

Rate: $35

BOOSTcamp is a full-day event, held twice a year, that aims to inspire and facilitate your transition to action.

 

On the agenda:

  • A shot of inspiration: panels and exchanges with experienced women entrepreneurs: successful women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs who have participated in our Fondatrices program will share their experience, their daily life and their advice.
  • Tools: we will give you tips and tricks to help you take action and introduce you to the Montreal entrepreneurial ecosystem (resources and organizations available to help you get started).
  • Connections: small group sessions with peers about your business idea and opportunities to exchange with participants, attending entrepreneurs and speakers.
More details in our Events section

Fondatrices Program

Winter 2022-2023 Cohort:

  • January 31 to June 2, 2023 (currently in progress)

(Call for applications closed)

 

Fall 2023 Cohort:

  • A 10-week program
  • September 15 to November 17, 2023
  • Call for applications open May 6, 2023

Rate : $150

Fridays 8:30 am-3:30 pm.

Cohort of 30 women with a business idea who have been selected following the application process.

  • Group workshops with experts
  • 1:1 coaching sessions with a dedicated head coach
  • Access to an entrepreneurial network of over 1000 alumni
  • Peer-to-peer sessions
  • Mutual aid between participants (sharing experience, tools, network of contacts)
  • “1 hour with a CEO” activities (open and transparent discussion with a successful entrepreneur)
  • Tool box

 

Topics covered:

  • Deepen your Why and your strengths as a leader
  • Work on your value proposition
  • Start developing your first prototype or minimum viable product (MVP), test and fine-tune it with potential customers
  • Understand your market, your customers and confirm your assumptions
  • Define and structure your business model
  • Develop the premise of a marketing strategy
  • Demystify financial forecasting and fundraising
  • Learn the art of the pitch and practice in front of a friendly jury

 

How do you select the participants of the Fondatrices program?

 

  • Projects in the ideation phase and/or in the early stages of market validation
  • Participants who are motivated and ready to commit to the program
  • Projects with an impact on society and/or the environment
  • Intention to launch the business project in Montreal

At the end of the program, a finalist will be awarded a $5,000 grant that will allow her to advance her project + 6 months of personalized support from a network of 350 high-level experts.

  • Profile: women, 18 years of age or older (no age limit)
  • Status: Canadian citizen, permanent resident or CSQ holder
  • Ideation Stage:
    • You are in the early stages of a business idea or project. You have not yet taken any serious steps to validate its feasibility
    • or You are at the very beginning of your market validation process
  •  
  • Montréal : Launching your business on the island of Montréal
  • Commitment: Availability on the dates of the program
  • Question? If you are not sure of your eligibility, don’t be left alone with your doubts. You can discuss it with the program manager, Josée Desjardins (josee@startupmontreal.com)

 

Exclusion criteria

  • Non-profit projects
  • Projects of a sexual, religious or political nature
  • Illegal or recreational drug projects (therapeutic drug projects are considered)
  • Bar projects
  • Student projects: internships and university projects
  • Projects whose main activities are outside the Island of Montréal

How to apply?

The applications are now closed for the Fall 2023 edition but we suggest you to join the community so you can know about our next activities and important dates of the program. Subscribe to the mailing list.

This program is offered twice a year. The next edition will be in 2024. 

Applications closed

stay tuned for the next cohort applications dates!

Our mission

Only 15% of the entrepreneurs in Montréal are women. Startup Montréal wants to change the statistics by supporting ambitious women in making their entrepreneurial dream a reality. The program is geared both to the development of human potential and the development of the idea into a business project.
This program is offered twice a year. For those who will not be able to apply to this cohort, see you at the next Fall 2023 edition.
If you have any further questions, please write to us at josee@stratupmontreal.com

This program is offered twice a year. For those who will not be able to apply to this cohort, see you at the next edition in 2024.

If you have any further questions, please write to us at josee@startupmontreal.com.

Lead partner
BMO
In collaboration with
Fondatrices
In collaboration with
Cogeco
In collaboration with
Fondatrices
In collaboration with
Ubisoft
Services Partners: ACCLR, Centech, District 3, La base entrepreneuriale, L’Esplanade, Evol, Futurpreneur, Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montréal, Le Wagon, PME MTL.