Ten startups presented innovative solutions to Desjardins member manufacturing SMEs

The Desjardins Open Innovation Program
seeks to build the manufacturing sector’s resilience 

MONTRÉAL, September 30, 2021 – The Desjardins Group, in collaboration with Bonjour Startup Montréal and Centech, closed its Open Innovation Program on September 29 with an event proposing solutions to the challenges faced by the manufacturing sector. This sector includes many Desjardins member businesses.

The virtual event allowed ten startups, including seven based in Québec, to propose solutions to eight Desjardins member manufacturing businesses. This meeting’s objective was to create win-win networking, in which startups can improve manufacturing resilience and stipulate economic recovery by major manufacturers in this sector. 

“We were delighted by the relevance of the solutions proposed by the startups for the manufacturing sector, which can propel its progress through innovation,” says Jean-Yves Bourgeois, Executive Vice-President, Business Services, Desjardins Group. “The manufacturing SMEs present at the event, operating in sectors as varied as agri-food, robotics and construction materials, were impressed. We are very eager to see the impact these solutions will have on the recovery of this key sector.” 

Desjardins chose the Montréal startups Axya and ENKIDOO as their favourite startup of this selection. Axya helps simplify the task of managing supply chains by providing a platform to connect businesses and suppliers. ENKIDOO accelerates digital transformation of SMEs by easing the inventory and restocking processes. Manufacturers present at the event are invited to select their favourite solutions with the goal of developing relationships with the startups. 

“We are proud to have been able to achieve this positive convergence between startups and major corporations, especially for the manufacturing sector in an economic recovery context.  We are confident this meeting will lead to concrete collaboration in the future, especially with the high quality of the solutions proposed by the startups,” says Guillaume Courcy, Director of Innovation at Bonjour Startup Montréal.

About Desjardins

Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in North America and the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world, with assets of $377.0 billion. In 2020 it was ranked as one of the world’s Top 100 Employers by Forbes. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the world’s strongest banks according to The Banker magazine, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry. 

About Bonjour Startup Montréal

Bonjour Startup Montréal is a non-profit organization whose mission is to facilitate the creation, growth and influence of Montréal startups and position Montréal among the world’s most dynamic ecosystems. It is supported by the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation, Ville de Montréal, Canadian Economic Development, the Business Development Bank of Canada and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. https://startupmontreal.com

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Information about Bonjour Startup Montréal and interview requests:
Guillaume Lajoie, Advisor, public and government relations
guillaumelajoie@bonjourstartupmtl.ca