Innovation at heart to lead the change
Innovation at heart
to lead the change
Co-presenting Partner
Are you an industry leader who leads the change?
Are you an industry leader who leads the change?
Cooperathon : The what & the why
Cooperathon it’s the platform for the creation of impact entrepreneurs and the competition with the greatest potential for societal impact in Canada, powered by Desjardins + Montreal Newtech.
Our mission is to connect citizens, communities, entrepreneurs, researchers, academics & large institutions to develop, together, a socially responsible future.
The 8th edition of Cooperathon: Innovation at heart to lead the change
When your idea generates a global social impact, it means that you take part in a more human and sustainable prosperity, that is to say a shared prosperity. Participate and lead the change!
Cooperathon’s 6-week training program includes:
- Workshops led by renowned experts and, moreover, with multiple educational resources in the entrepreneurial field.
- Leveraging scientific and technological innovations for the success of ambitious entrepreneurs.
- Support from a network of exceptional mentors, from multiple provinces of Canada, and subject-matter experts from different industries.
- A Pitch Competition in front of a jury made up of renown ecosystem players from the best incubators and accelerators in Canada!
- Turn your idea into a project that integrates at least one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
All across
Canada
Prizes
in cash & support
Socio-economic
challenges
1 goal:
societal impact
75 000 $ in prizes
(cash + support)
for the projects with highest impact potential
Grand Prize Cooperathon 2024
Entrepreneurs Alpha
($7,500 + support)
Impact Prize
Ontario-Atlantic-West Canada
($5,000)
AI Solution
with the highest impact potential
($5,000 + support)
Project with the highest impact potential in these categories:
People
($5,000 + support)
Innovative solutions in health, personalized education, social equality, well-being, accessibility and inclusion, community empowerment…
Planet
($5,000 + support)
Innovative solutions in sustainable energy, habitat conservation, ecological materials, renewable resources, waste reduction, environmental management…
Prosperity
($5,000 + support)
Innovative solutions for financial inclusion and economic empowerment, societal impact platforms, infrastructure development, community health, democratization of education…
Overview of Cooperathon in numbers, since 2016…
+16 M
PEOPLE
joined on social media
+6,500
PARTICIPANTS
citizens & experts
from all fields
+100
PARTNER
ORGANIZATIONS
+550
MENTORS &
VOLUNTEERS
+ 650
INSPIRING
STORIES
Why participate in Cooperathon?
- Integrate a network of professionals, mentors & experts
- Become a social and economic changemaker
- Understand how Data and possibly Artificial Intelligence could be used in your project when you may not have even considered it!
- Access to a wider network of contacts
- Prizes in cash and support by leading organizations and industry experts
Global, the collaboration platform of Cooperathon
Our true platform of open and social innovation where, throughout Cooperathon, you will be able to access training, mentors, the calendar of activities as well as exchange with other participants and teams… In short, you are just one click away from the whole community!
Aspiring entrepreneur or startup in development?
We’ve designed two unique journeys to match the maturity of participating teams and startups, so that they can benefit from tailored support and training, and compete with teams at the same level of development: Entrepreneurs Alpha and Startup Beta.
The Entrepreneurs Alpha journey
An Entrepreneur Alpha is a team of aspiring entrepreneurs that either have an idea or do not, and without a working prototype at the time of registration for the competition.
Advantages
• Mentoring by industry professionals
• Group & private meetings with challenge partners
• Structured training journey to launch a startup
The Entrepreneurs Alpha journey is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The first part of the program ends with the submission of a dossier presenting your solution, how you integrate into at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, your team and your prototype.
If your project is selected, you’ll continue the adventure in the Alpha+ track, which will prepare you for the pitch competition in front of a jury!
Key dates
Several activities will take place before the kick-off of the Cooperathon – Entrepreneurs Alpha Journey in May 2024.
Among the most important are the Networking & Team Formation Sessions: these offer a unique connection opportunity.
Project leaders present their ideas to attract the talent they need for their team. In turn, the talents will have the chance to showcase their skills and interests in order to fit into a project that matches their values and expertise.
February, March & April 2024*
Multiple Networking & Team Formation Sessions
Please note that teams must be formed before the beginning of the Entrepreneurs Alpha journey.
May 3
2024
Beginning of the
Entrepreneurs Alpha Journey
May 27
2024
Submission of candidacies & selection of best projects
June 20
2024
Pitch competition
June 25
2024
Pitch competition
Ontario-Atlantic-West Canada
Mid-July*
2024
Announcement of the “Entrepreneurs Alpha Journey” winners
*Exact dates to be announced.
Dates are subject to change.
The Startup Beta journey
A Startup Beta is a Startup in development, composed of at least 2 people, with a working prototype at the time of registration for the competition.
Avantages
• Dedicated experts
• Group & private meetings with challenge partners
• “A la carte” journey according to needs
• Personalized follow-up (concierge) by La Foundry / Montreal NewTech
Composed of 3 tailored meetings, this short dedicated journey will allow developing startups to shape and fine-tune their existing solution, in order to tackle a challenge proposed by our Open Innovation partners with the highest possible impact.
Startups will have a unique opportunity to be able to create a maximum of momentum around their solution, in a short period of time, thanks to personalized coaching and quality time offered by seasoned experts: a truly unique experience!
Key dates
October 14
2024
Beginning of the Beta Startups Journey
Late October &
early November*
2024
Personalized meetings with mentors & experts
Mid-November*
2024
Pitch competition
November 27
2024
Announcement of the Beta journey winning startups
Early December*
2024
Cooperathon Grand Prizes Gala
*Exact dates to be announced.
Dates are subject to change.
The Startup Beta journey Open Innovation Challenges 2024
How might we bring our cooperative values to life by leveraging technology for the benefit of young members?
Challenge proposed by
This challenge will be unveiled soon
Stay tuned
This challenge will be unveiled soon
Stay tuned
The Gala evening
It’s time to make room for the awarding of prizes to the Entrepreneurs Alpha teams and Startups Beta that have distinguished themselves through their work, commitment and progress made during the weeks of training and personalized coaching. This recognition takes the form of a Gala in early December where the winners of the Cooperathon 2024 Grand Prizes will be announced.
It’s time to make room for the awarding of prizes to the Entrepreneurs Alpha teams and Startups Beta that have distinguished themselves through their work, commitment and progress made during the weeks of training and personalized coaching. This recognition takes the form of a Gala in early December where the winners of the Cooperathon 2024 Grand Prizes will be announced.
Early December
2024
Awarding of prizes to Entrepreneurs Alpha & Startup Beta winners
Open Innovation Challenges based on 3 wide themes:
People, Planet, Prosperity
Cooperathon participants are called upon to create innovative solutions to the challenges proposed by our Open Innovation Partners, leveraging data science or Artificial Intelligence to meet the challenges of people, planet and prosperity.
Are you an industry leader who leads the change? Become a partner or sponsor of Cooperathon
Without our partners and sponsors, there would be no Cooperathon.
We are looking for industry leaders who share our passion, values and vision to make this edition the most impactful yet.
Thank you to our Community Partners
General information & enquiries
We connect passion and talent, communities and academics. Together we develop a socially responsible future.
“Cooperathon” is a Trademark of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec.
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Subscribe to the Cooperathon Newsletter
We connect passion and talent, communities and academics. Together we develop a socially responsible future.
“Cooperathon” is a Trademark of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec.