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

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 at the beginning of 2025 before the kick-off of the Cooperathon – Entrepreneurs Alpha Journey in Spring.
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.

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 1
2024

Beginning of the Beta Startups Journey

Late October &
early November*
2024

Personalized meetings with mentors & experts

Mid-November*
2024

Pitch competition

November 28
2024

Announcement of winners of the Startup Beta journey

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 can we contribute to the improvement of the noise environment in a port area, to enhance the quality of life of local residents, by testing new innovations, integrating new technologies or using the area as a test ground to increase knowledge on the topic?

Challenge proposed by

How can technology empower companies to apply effective strategies to achieve their carbon footprint reduction goals?

Challenge proposed by

How can we adapt the visitor’s welcome and experience using technological tools to create immediate and personalized recommendations?

Challenge proposed by

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

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.

    Cooperathon @ FacebookCooperathon @ InstagramCooperathon @ TwitterCooperathon @ YouTubeCooperathon @ Linkedin

    Subscribe to the Cooperathon Newsletter

    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.

    Cooperathon @ FacebookCooperathon @ InstagramCooperathon @ TwitterCooperathon @ YouTubeCooperathon @ Linkedin

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