Workshops are held face-to-face (hybrid format available) at the CDPQ every 2-3 weeks, on Thursday mornings from 9am to 12pm, on the following dates:

November 7        November 21          December 5          January 9           January 23          February 6         February 20      March 13  March 27 (Town Hall: pitch to investors)

Finally, the 10 hours of one-to-one coaching, as well as the individual pitch sessions, can be planned flexibly with your coach, according to your schedule, and run until June 2025.

The Perspectives Entrepreneurs Program offers comprehensive support for women and non-binary entrepreneurs seeking to raise venture capital.

Personalized support over 5 months (November to March)

Here are the 8 main topics to be covered:

The Perspectives Entrepreneurs program is:

A safe place to ask questions and get answers.

A clear understanding of VC expectations.

Help in defining a financing strategy aligned with your growth and impact.

Intensive preparation for fundraising.

Support in identifying aligned financial partners and developing lasting relationships.

An exchange on bias towards women and non-binary people.

It is not:

A fundraising guarantee.

A turnkey solution.

Direct financing.

Applications must be submitted via the web form by October 06th at 11:59 pm.

The selection process will take place in 2 phases:

The jury’s final decision will be announced around October 21.

For this call for projects, any type of business sector is eligible, as long as the project has a proven social and environmental impact.

We are particularly interested in the environment, healthcare and food systems sectors.

Sometimes, raising venture capital funds isn’t the best way to go – and that’s exactly what we want to help you clarify in the Perspectives Entrepreneurs program.

Venture capital (or VC) can be a powerful solution for innovative young companies with high growth potential. It provides equity financing to support growth at critical moments, particularly when bank loans are hard to obtain. But is VC really right for your company? Here are some tips to help you ask the right questions:

How does it work?

Venture capitalists (private funds or institutional investors) invest in young, innovative companies with high growth potential, with the aim of generating significant returns when their shares are resold. Their investment horizon is generally 5 to 10 years. As a shareholder, a VC investor enjoys specific rights, such as access to management information and the power to approve certain management decisions. They can request a seat on the Board of Directors, either for their organization or for an independent director. In addition to financing, a VC investor can bring his or her network and specific skills to the table.

But ask yourself: Are you ready to share control of your company with outside investors? Does this fit in with your vision of running your business? What type of investor should you choose?

There are two main types of venture capital investor (non-exhaustive list):

 Institutional investors are financial entities with the capacity to make investments on their own behalf, and with substantial resources at their disposal. Institutional investors include insurance companies, savings banks, banks and pension funds. Private equity is a type of asset in which they invest. They provide equity financing for companies. This can involve companies of any size and in any sector. When they invest in young, innovative companies with high growth potential, they are referred to as venture capitalists.

  They are more generalist and less directly involved in company management. As they have substantial funds at their disposal, they are not always constrained by investment duration (evergreen funds) and are able to reinvest in a new round of financing, but they will not always be at your side for operational decisions.

  Venture capitalists specialize exclusively in venture capital investments in young companies with high growth potential. These funds generally have a limited lifespan (7 to 12 years).

A single venture capital firm may position itself in several specific segments in terms of sector, entrepreneur profile, business model or theme, defining its investment thesis. This specialization enables them to more actively support the companies in which they invest, offering both operational and strategic support.

So, what type of investor is best suited to your project? Are you looking for a committed strategic partner, or for discreet but lasting financial support? Or both?

Raising venture capital funds can be an incredible opportunity to accelerate your company’s growth. However, it often means giving up part of your business and accepting the idea of eventually exiting (via a sale or IPO, for example). This model is not for every company, nor every entrepreneur.

Ask yourself these questions: Do I really need this cash injection to grow? Am I ready to cede some control of my company?

Does venture capital align with my long-term goals? If you’re not sure, or if you’re asking yourself these questions intensively, it’s a great idea to come and discuss them at the Perspectives Entrepreneurs  program. We’ll help you assess whether VC is the best option for your company, or whether other alternatives, such as non-dilutive financing, might be a better fit.