2023 Retrospective
The year 2023 has been full of learning and growth for Garage&co. Each month has brought new achievements and challenges, bringing us closer to our vision of being a leader in Canada's hardtech ecosystem.
🚀 January - New Horizons!
The year got off to a flying start with crucial funding from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy. This financial breakthrough marked the beginning of a bold new era for Garage&co. The introduction of our committee-in-residence was a real turning point, bringing invaluable expertise that helped shape our groundbreaking program for hardtech startups, setting them on the path to success. We also signed our first partnership with Desjardins Caisse des Technologies with the invaluable support of Jean-François Trudel , Samir Mounir, Ph.D., MBA, and Loupin Gagné.
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🔗 February - Fruitful collaborations!
In February, our collaboration with Millénium Québecor - Université de Montréal took off with our involvement in the Datapreneur program. This initiative has allowed our coaches to distinguish themselves as exceptional mentors, building strong connections in the innovation ecosystem and opening doors to exciting co-incubations. This partnership has enriched our network and strengthened our ability to offer valuable resources and opportunities to our startups.
🚀 Mars - Building the future!
March was a pivotal month, marked by the launch of the new branding and website garageincubation.com (by Xavier Peich ) and the official launch of our recruitment campaign for the best hardtech startups in Quebec. We welcomed CortechSport, our first incubator, demonstrating our ability to attract and support innovative talent.
🌟 April - International outreach and mentoring
Our footprint is expanding: April saw Garage&co shine on the international stage with our notable participation in the Innovative Entrepreneurship Week in Liège, Belgium. Laurence, our Deputy Managing Director, excelled in coaching Belgian startups, paving the way for future partnerships and strengthening our international presence.
💼 May - Consolidation and Commitment
We were officially able to announce our funding (relief!), firmly positioning us as a key player in the hardtech ecosystem.
We are also setting up our advisory committee to strengthen our strategic relationships and surround ourselves with experts to support our ambitions and growth.
📈 June - Team and Program Growth
June was a month of significant growth for Garage&co, with the arrival of Daniel Meirelles de Moraes to the team, bringing new momentum and valuable expertise. Mouhamed and Titouan joined the team as interns.
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It is also at this time that we begin discussions with the Ax-C team for Garage&co's involvement in the future iconic building of the Quebec startup community.
🌆 July - Immersion in the Startup Ecosystem
Our participation in Startupfest in July was a resounding success, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the festive spirit of Montreal's largest startup event. This event was a showcase for our expertise and our commitment to hardtech innovation and Montreal's startup ecosystem. Our presence at Startupfest allows us to recruit three startups to join the incubator. We welcome a new member to the team, Dunia Abboud , who is launching Garage&co's presence on social media on a larger scale.
🔍 August - Strategic Preparation
August was dedicated to strategic planning, with teamwork sessions focused on Garage&co's future direction. This period of reflection allowed us to refine our objectives and prepare for the challenges ahead.
🚀 September - Concrete Support for Startups
In September, we solidified our support for startups with the award of six incubation bonds and two funding rounds for structuring hardtech projects. These actions embodied our commitment to innovation and ecosystem development. We have around ten startups engaged in the incubation process with the Garage&co team and we have a first article in La Presse to highlight the launch of our community. Laurence Audette-Lagueux is celebrating her two years at Garage&co and Continuums and is becoming Deputy Managing Director to continue supporting the work of Emmanuel Cameron .
🌟 October - Growth and Education
October saw an increase in interactions with interested startups, a sign of our growing influence. Our participation in La Certif' underscored our commitment to the team's upskilling and professional development.
The following week, the team split up to participate in @Montreal Connect, give a talk at CECI and attend Quantino 's Demo Day.
We are also launching, with the support of Desjardins, the Quebec hardtech community, which brought together 160 people. The event will most likely be repeated in 2024 with partners in Quebec City and Sherbrooke.
🔗 November - Network Expansion
In November, our participation in the Hardtech Summit in Toronto strengthened our ties with the Quebec and Ontario hardtech industry and expanded our network, positioning us as a key player in the Canadian landscape. Our networking evening attracted a great range of attendees. We also submitted a grant on behalf of Manufacturier.Québec for a social manufacturing project.
🌐 December - Vision for the Future
Launch of the Coaches' Guide and the Garage Academy, which provides better support for startups and coaches. Christian Beaubien, entrepreneur in residence, is named Mentor of the Year at the Startup Community Award. The end of the year was marked by planning the development of Quebec's world-class hardtech hub, laying the foundation for a 2024 full of promise and innovation.
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Entrepreneurs supported in 2023
Jean-Simon Boucher - Cortech Sports
Francis Desjardins - Fire Canada Inc
Ben Poirier, Eng., Ph.D., PMP - BluEauAsis
Mike Simard - Artik
Maria Julia Guimaraes - Totum Tech
Mathieu Caschetto-Lamoureux - Scape&co
Mishel Wong - Bo
Luc Leblanc, PSM - @Orä Solutions
Lara Emond - Iris&Arlo
This is Sifi - HOC
Wendkouni Lionel J. ILBOUDO - LIO
Claude Coulombe - EurekIA