With the support of 
CALL FOR PROJECTS
Do you have an innovative entrepreneurial project in the food systems field?
Join our next Collision cohort!
Deadline: January 21th 2024, 11:59 PM
In collaboration with
⚠ This call for projects is now closed. To make sure you don’t miss out on the next ones, and to follow the announcement of the selected entrepreneurs, sign up for our newsletters!
Start-up stage
4 workshops
15 hours of coaching
6 months
Structure your project, validate your impact!
Esplanade Québec, Quebec’s leading accelerator of social and environmental impact entrepreneurs, is launching a new cohort to support 8 to 10 entrepreneurial teams developing food system solutions. These companies will be the 14th cohort of our Collision program!
This program aims to maximize the chances of success for young innovative food systems companies, by offering them specialized coaching on their business, financing and impact strategies.
You’ll have access to:
A rich support program, with workshops, resources and tools, peer-to-peer support, and personalized guidance from our coaches and experts
Access to our privileged partners to obtain feedback, validate your problem and initiate field experimentation projects, particularly with the support of partners in our Food system division
The support of a community of entrepreneurs and players in the food systems sector, committed to sharing, mentoring and collaborating
Increased visibility, thanks to our communication platforms
Walk away with…
An innovative business model
An impact strategy
An experimental plan for your prototype
What former participants have to say
'Working with Esplanade has enabled us to develop a clear impact strategy as we prepare to scale up. Thanks to the expertise of the coaches, we have been able to refine our approach and use our resources in the most effective way possible. Thanks to their advice, we have been able to fine-tune our approach and focus on creating long-term impact. We are grateful for the insights and support provided, and would recommend their services to any organisation looking to make a significant difference.'
'A most rewarding experience with a competent and versatile team. My project was able to take on a whole new dimension thanks to the support of Esplanade Québec.'
'Our participation in one of the Esplanade cohorts was a pivotal moment in our career. Our coach, Thibauld Joubert, was hugely involved.'
Who is it for?
Entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial researchers and intrapreneurs in Quebec (OBNL, coop, Inc..) :
Carrying out an innovative entrepreneurial project with the mission of solving a problem affecting food systems,
Currently in the start-up stage.
See below for full details.
Targeted themes
We are mainly looking for solutions that address the following food systems issues:
innovation in food security
innovation in food production, supply and financing
food processing
soil regeneration (regenerative crops)
management and reduction of food waste
urban agriculture
See below for full details.
Benefit from the expertise of our experienced coaches
Business coaches will be assigned to you according to your specific needs, model and sector. Among the coaches working with us:
Strategic planning, Social inclusion
SABINE KERNER
Strategy, Project Management and Technology
DAVID GODBOUT
Expert in food systems, circular economy and mass retailing
THIBAUD JOUBERT
Communications, Public Affairs, Public Transport
MARIEKE TREMBLAY
Connect with key Esplanade partners
You will be able to…
Meet key players in Quebec’s food systems sector
Be put in touch with potential partners for your development, depending on your needs and the nature of your project
Benefit from the knowledge of experts in your sector, in particular through expertise clinics
The Esplanade’s network in food systems partners includes: Lassonde, Zone agtech.
Detailed information on the programme
Who is the Collision program for?
This program is for you if:
You have an entrepreneurial project with high impact potential, and are either:
in a COOP
in a non-profit organization
in a private company
in an intra/entrepreneurial approach, whether you are a researcher or a professional
You can apply even if you haven’t yet defined your legal form.
Your project is at the start-up stage, i.e. you have validated your proof-of-concept or are at the validation stage (for more details, see the next section).
Your project/solution responds in an innovative, efficient and realistic way to an identified problem or need concerning food systems, either by :
a technological innovation (hardware or software);
organizational innovation (collaboration and changes in practices);
and/or social innovation (new approach, structure, intervention).
Your company is located in Quebec
Your ambition is to make a real positive impact on society, and in particular on improving the healthcare system and our ability to address priority issues and needs (see below).
How do I know if I'm at the right stage of development?
It can be difficult for a young company to know how to qualify its stage of development.
In this call for projects, we are looking for entrepreneurial projects at the structuring and/or validation stage of their project and wishing to explore or structure their business model from validation to pre-commercialisation..
For more information, we invite you to consult Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s description of Technology Readiness Levels, as well as its Technology Readiness Level Assessment Tool.
You can also attend our information session on December 7, at noon.
What are the specific themes and issues targeted by the call for projects?
For this cohort linked to our Food Systems Unit, we are particularly looking for projects tackling the following issues:
Innovation in food safety
Innovation in food production, supply and financing
Food processing
Soil regeneration (regenerative crops)
Urban agriculture
Managing and reducing food waste
These are the main issues targeted by this call for projects, but we invite anyone with a project that has a significant impact on food systems to submit an application.
What is the Collision program?
Personalized support over several months
Intensive final selection bootcamp: 2 days where teams are put into action on the Impact Gaps Canvas
Up to 15 hours of one-on-one coaching with coaches and experts in impact, innovation, entrepreneurship and business development
4 workshops on tools developed by our impact entrepreneurship experts, directly applied to your project
The program will help you to work on these skills:
Understanding your ecosystem
Validate your solution with your users
Build your roadmap to impact
Structure your action plan
Following the workshops, your team will be put in touch with a senior business coach. Our coaches and experts will offer you hours of personalized coaching, tailored to your objectives and your sector. These hours can be spread from the end of April to the end of July 2024, depending on your availability.
Here are a few examples of the topics covered during coaching:
project financing and financial planning
research and development projects
operations and human resources management
communication and marketing strategy
business development
strategic planning
What are the program dates?
Call for projects
November 20, 2023 to January 21, 2024 11:59 PM
Information session
December 7Preselection
January 25 2024
Final selection bootcamp
February 8 and 9
First workshop
February 23
Workshops are held in the mornings, from 9 AM to 12:30 PM, on the following dates:
February 23
March 15
April 9
April 19
The bootcamp will take place in person, in Montreal. Workshops and coaching are approximately 5 hours per week, and take place online, unless otherwise specified. Coaching can be done online or in person.
End of coaching: end of July, 2024.
How are projects selected?
Selection process
The selection process is divided into 2 phases:
Pre-selection on the basis of applications: an initial selection will be made on receipt of the application files. Applications will be analyzed according to the evaluation criteria below by the Esplanade team.
Final selection bootcamp: up to 15 projects will then be invited to take part in the bootcamp. Teams will be put into action on the Impact Gaps Canvas. Impact experts will be on hand to evaluate the teams throughout the exercise. Following the bootcamp, up to 10 projects will be selected by a jury to participate in the full Collision program.
Evaluation criteria
We select projects as much on the quality and potential of their impact as on the team’s ability to carry the project through and help it grow. We pay particular attention to:
Entrepreneurial team expertise (business experience and sector knowledge)
Potential for positive social impact on identified communities, and ability to scale up the project
Availability, level of commitment and motivation
Degree of project innovation, and differentiating and complementary value proposition
Stage of solution development and degree of business model validation
Team know-how and ability to be challenged
Do I have enough time for that?
Devoting around 5 hours a week to this coaching program will bring you benefits that far outweigh this investment.
Entrepreneurship is a lonely and demanding adventure, and you need to surround yourself with people who understand this reality and can guide you. The Esplanade, which has already supported the development of nearly 300 impact companies, has seen it all and knows what you need. The Esplanade will lead you to questions you hadn’t even considered yet, and which will become central to the pursuit of your project.
Among the unsuspected benefits of accompanying someone to the Esplanade:
Be challenged by an experienced outsider who doesn’t know your project and who will ask you the questions that hurt and help you move forward
Benefit from a privileged relationship with the business coach assigned to you, within the framework of personalized coaching that is human, conscientious and adapted to your needs
Meet the entrepreneurs in your cohort and discuss your issues, fears, concerns and obstacles, which promise to be similar
Meet the team behind the Esplanade: open-minded, caring and competent people who will listen to you and bring you unexpected opportunities (interesting partnerships, financing options, advice of all kinds, etc.).
Need more information?
An information session will be held online on December 7, 2023 at 12 noon.
The program manager
The Collision program is managed by Aurélie Carpentier.
You can write to her at [email protected] or book a time to chat with her.
Cohort partners and sponsors
Our partners in the food systems sector
