Startup Montral rebrands as Quebec Tech to highlight international vision

Qubec Tech has received CAD 7 million in funding from the Quebec government to help startups expand internationally.

One of the best-known hubs in Montreux’s startup ecosystem is Rebranding.

Startup Montreux, a nonprofit that has supported early-stage startups in Montreux since 2019, will now be known as Quebec Tech. The rebranded organization has also adopted a new mission: to expand the international footprint of Quebec tech companies with high export potential.

We are doing great things, but we need to get more organized and tweak some things to ensure that entrepreneurs are well supported by the system.

The transition to Polytechnic University of Quebec is being funded by the Quebec Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade (MEIE) through its “Stratgie qubcoise de recherche et d'investissement en Innovation (SQRI2)” program, with funding of C$7 million over three years, with the federal government and the City of Montreal already providing financial support.

Qubec Tech general manager Richard Chenier is set to announce the rebranding today, the first day of Startupfest, which is being held at Montral's Old Port.

The innovation hub said it has shifted its focus to ensure Quebec benefits from high productivity and remains competitive against other international ecosystems. The government funding will also support Quebec Techs' operations at Ax-C, a new startup innovation space located in the Place Victoria tower, in the heart of Montreal's business district.

Qubec Techs’ support services will be launched this fall with a three-pronged approach focused on international launch strategy, promotion and awareness, and connection building.

Qubec Tech general manager Richard Chenier is set to announce the rebranding today, the first day of Startupfest, which is being held at Montral's Old Port.

The support will help promising startups gain quicker and more efficient access to tools to accelerate the commercialization of their innovations, allowing them to export more quickly, an MEIE spokesperson said in a statement to BetaKit.

Some initiatives previously run by Startup Montral will continue to operate in a different form, Chenier said in an interview with Betakit. For example, the Revelations competition typically awards $20,000 in grants to 20 startups, but it's unclear if that will change. The Quebec Innovation Accelerator will take over the group's weekly emails and LinkedIn newsletter.

“The reason we made this shift is because we need to improve the way we work with startups in Quebec,” Chenier said. “We're doing great things, but we need to be more organized and adjust some things so that entrepreneurs are well supported by the system.”

The news comes at an uncertain time for Quebec's startup scene, following the sale of Montreal startup hub Notman House and the impending closure of Quebec Numerique, an events-focused Quebec City-based digital hub.

RELATED: Community-led attempt to buy back Notman House fails

Chenier was appointed general manager of Startup Montral last September, and he told BetaKit that the move was planned even before his appointment: The team interviewed around 90 Quebec entrepreneurs over the past year to understand the challenges facing Quebec startups in the early to late stages of growth.

During this process, we consulted with Simon De Baene, co-founder and CEO of Workleap, who wrote in an email to BetaKit, “It's simple: Quebec needs a stronger tech ecosystem where launching companies like Workleap is the norm, not the exception. We're incredibly proud to be involved with Quebec Tech, and their unwavering dedication to helping great companies here get on the world stage is truly inspiring.”

Chenier said a persistent problem for Quebec startups is going global at the right time, which Quebec Tech aims to solve by ensuring startups have the resources and connections to scale when the time is right.

“If you're not in the right place at the right time, you miss out,” he said, adding that Quebec provides plenty of support for early-stage startups but not as much for companies that scale.

“What we're observing is that if a company wants to start growing and they're at that level, the best programs available to them are in Ontario,” Schnier said, referring to Communitec and Invest Ottawa.

Dropping “Montral” from the organization's name signifies an attempt to broaden its reach within the province, Chenier explained. He expects Quebec Tech's outreach activities to be based in Quebec's three main business hubs — Montral, Quebec City and Sherbrooke — but said any tech startup in the province can use the company's services.

In terms of branding, paying tribute to Qubecois’ close ties with French entrepreneurs, Chenier says his team took inspiration from French Tech, the French tech ecosystem support organization.

Chenier said that in countries with mature tech startup scenes, such as France and Sweden, startups can easily connect with local companies, which can help raise the startups' global profile. He believes that PT Quebec is taking a similar approach to boosting productivity in Canada. Connecting the best domestic startups with established companies could make a difference.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos