This financial assistance program has a budget of $1.5 million for three years. It aims to: 

• Support the development and consolidation of specialized counselling services for start-ups.

• Foster business links between medium and large companies, financial backers and start-ups, with the aim of developing and bringing to market their products.

Non-profit organizations (NPOs) must:

• Be legally incorporated in Québec
• Be established in the Montréal Urban Agglomeration (MUA)
• Pursue a mission related to business incubation, acceleration or university entrepreneurship
• Demonstrate sound financial and governance practices

Organizations with annual grants from Montréal of less than $100,000 are given priority

The submitted project must:

• Take place within the MUA
• Operate within one or more of the “promising sectors” of the metropolis
• Improve the start-up’s competitiveness and optimize its financing
• Propose actions that promote product marketing, acquisition of initial customers and protection of intellectual property
• Aim at networking with medium and large companies or industry clusters
• Rely on recognized strategic partners in innovation (e.g. research institutions, universities, foundations, consulting organizations or other incubators and accelerators)
• Demonstrate the complementarity, continuity and consistency of services offered to start-up companies

Only one project per NPO may be submitted.

• Aeronautics
• Biofood
• Cybersecurity
• Cultural and creative industries
• Artificial intelligence and big data
• Real estate and construction
• Logistics and mobility
• Advanced manufacturing and robotics
• Life sciences and health care technologies,
• Financial technologies
• Tourism

The organization can identify other sectors of activity deemed to be promising for Montréal and justify their choice based on the assets of the Montréal territory (for example, the presence of industry, research centres, a pool of talent or the volume of new entrepreneurs in the sector).

Unveiling of projects:  January 2023

Project completion: no later than December 2025

The NPO can benefit from acontribution of up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of $450,000 over 3 years. 

• The contribution is allocated based on the scope of activities, the project’s financial structure, expense categories and revenue sources, including self-sourced and private sector revenues.
• The city’s financial assistance shall not exceed 50% of the total project funding. 
• At least 20% of the project cost must be covered by contributions from private or independent sources (contributions in goods and services are accepted). All monies provided by various city departments, boroughs and related cities are considered public funding.

The evaluation committee and the municipal government may recommend a financial contribution differing from that requested. If necessary, the applicant will have the opportunity to revisit certain project activities. 

Eligible expenses

• salaries
• professional fees required for the realization of the project
• acquisition or rental of equipment or supplies
• space rental 
• communication and promotion expenses 
• management costs (administrative support) - maximum 10% of project cost
• technology costs directly related to the project
• planning-related costs

Ineligible expenses

• expenses that cannot be justified or are not directly related to the project
• operating costs of the organization
• expenses incurred prior to the signing of the agreement between the two parties 
• direct financial support to companies
• capital expenditures and depreciation
• debt service and repayment of future loans

You have until December 2, 2022 inclusive to submit a project.

1 - Consult the project submission guide (in French) for full details

2 - Gather the following documents in digital form:

• Letters patent, or memorandum of association if the organization is a trust
• List (in French) of the organization’s board members and their functions as well as the list of people assigned to the project and their roles 
• Board resolution authorizing the organization’s representative to submit the application
• Most recent financial statements
• Project budget (in French)
• Summary of objectives and planned actions (in French)
• Letters of agreement with the partners involved in the project, if applicable
• Last year’s activity report, if applicable
• Any other document deemed relevant

3 - Complete the Project submission form (in French) and attach the required documents

Have questions? Fill out this form (in French).