Leading the change for People, the Planet, and Prosperity
2026 Activities Calendar and Overview of the Training Program
Upcoming activities ↓
| Activity | Location, Date and Time (EST) | Reservations |
|---|---|---|
| LAST CALL! Last activity before the program begins + Panel Alumni (bilingual) | In person in Montreal Thursday, April 23 • 5:00 PM | Save my spot |
| Team Leaders Info Session | Online Friday, April 24 • Noon | Team Leaders will receive an invitation by email |
| Ask Me Anything (bilingual) Stop wondering. Start knowing. | Online Friday, April 24 • 1:00 PM | Connect to the session Link goes live 5 min before the session |
| Activities and dates are subject to change. | ||
Past activities ↓
| Activity | Location, Date and Time (EST) | Reservations |
|---|---|---|
Thursday, January 29 • Starting at 1:30 PM | ||
Sponsored by Cooperathon | Dimanche, February 1 • Starting at 2:30 PM | |
In collaboration with Global Impact Hub | Wednesday, February 11 • Noon | |
In collaboration with DMZ | Wednesday, February 18 • Noon | |
In collaboration with Velocity | Wednesday, February 25 • 6:00 PM | |
In collaboration with University of Toronto | Friday, February 27 • Noon | Save my spot to attend |
In collaboration with Lakehead University | Wednesday, March 11 • Noon | |
In collaboration with QV Studio | Wednesday, March 11 • 5:00 PM | |
In collaboration with Université Laval | Thursday, March 12 • 5:00 PM | |
In collaboration with DMZ | Tuesday, March 17 • 4:30 PM | |
In collaboration with University of Waterloo | Wednesday, March 18 • 4:00 PM | |
In collaboration with Velocity | Tuesday, March 24 • 4:30 PM | |
| MUST ATTEND! | Wednesday, March 25 • Noon | |
In collaboration with McGill Innovation Fund | Thursday, March 26 • 11:00 AM | |
In collaboration with DigiHub | Tuesday, March 31 • 5:00 PM | |
In collaboration with LE CAMP | Wednesday, April 1 • 5:00 PM | |
In collaboration with INKUB | Thursday, April 2 • 5:00 PM | Save my spot |
In collaboration with Altitude Accelerator | Friday, April 3 • Midi | |
In collaboration with Université de Sherbrooke | Tuesday, April 7 • 5:00 PM | |
In collaboration with Technum Québec | Wednesday, April 8 • 5:00 PM | |
In collaboration with UQAT | Wednesday, April 8 • 5:00 PM | |
Thursday, April 9 • 6:00 PM | ||
Stop wondering. Start knowing. | Friday, April 10 • 1:00 PM | Link goes live 5 min before the session |
In collaboration with PME MTL | Wednesday, April 15 • Noon | |
| MUST ATTEND! | Wednesday, April 15 • 5:00 PM | |
Thursday, April 16 • 6:00 PM | ||
Stop wondering. Start knowing. | Friday, April 17 • 1:00 PM | Link goes live 5 min before the session |
Expand the training program ↓
| Week | Dates | Time | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | April 27 and 30 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM (ET) | INNOVATION – What do we need to unlearn to innovate? |
| Week 2 | May 4 and 7 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM (ET) | TEAM COHESION & ENTREPRENEURIAL POSTURE – An Idea Is 10% of Success. The Rest Is You! |
| Week 3 | May 11 and 14 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM (ET) | FROM IDEA TO OPPORTUNITY – Design an Opportunity, Not a Product! |
| Week 4 | May 19 and 21 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM (ET) | PROTOTYPING – Your Prototype Is a Question, Not an Answer! |
What is Cooperathon?
Powered by Desjardins, Cooperathon creates innovative, high-impact enterprises by providing a structured journey: tools, network, and support.
As a Canada-wide entrepreneurial program, it helps participants develop an innovative idea to start a business or advance academic research, culminating in a competition offering cash prizes and personalized support to help projects with the highest social, environmental, or economic impact potential come to life.
Cooperathon brings together citizens, communities, entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, SMEs, and large institutions to develop a socially responsible future.
More than a program, a profoundly human entrepreneurial Journey
Cooperathon is a 4-week entrepreneurial training program that extends to 7 weeks for teams selected after Phase I. Sessions are held online twice a week, 1.5 hours each. The program includes:
- Workshops led by renowned experts and access to multiple educational resources in the entrepreneurial field.
- Support from a network of exceptional mentors from across Canada and experts from diverse industry sectors.
- Leveraging technological and scientific innovations to amplify your project’s impact.
- Specialized training for teams advancing from Phase I, featuring pitch preparation and presentation coaching for the final competition in front of a jury of leading organizations, incubators and accelerators.
Why participate in Cooperathon?
- Experience entrepreneurship through starting a business, growing an existing venture, or advancing academic research.
- Develop high-impact projects alongside like-minded changemakers, focused on social, environmental, or economic transformation.
- Build connections with a wide network of experienced mentors, subject-matter experts, and industry professionals.
- Engage with the broader startup ecosystem and community.
- Get the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and support from leading industry experts and organizations.
All across Canada
Prizes in cash & support
Challenges
of a socio-economic nature
1 goal:
societal impact
Overview of Cooperathon in numbers, since 2016…
700+
Startup companies
created
7,400+
Participants
citizens and experts from all fields
550+
Mentors and volunteers
100+
Partner organizations
in Canada
16 M+
People
joined on social media
The 2026 Edition: A unique entrepreneurial journey for both aspiring entrepreneurs and academic researchers
An exciting and fast-paced entrepreneurial training program designed for aspiring entrepreneurs with a spark of an idea or searching for one to start a business, without a working prototype, and academic researchers ready to translate their work into real-world impact. All you need is ambition, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.
Journey Overview
Late January to late April
Getting Ready
A series of activities designed to help you build the right team for your entrepreneurial journey. Project leaders present their ideas to attract the talent they need, while aspiring team members showcase their skills to find projects that align with their values and expertise.
- Info Sessions
- Team Creation
- Conferences
Early May to early June
Phase I of the training program
Led by renowned experts and access to multiple educational resources in the entrepreneurial field.
- Workshops
- One-on-one and group meetings with our Open Innovation leaders
Early June
Submission of the project
This is where your vision takes its first official step toward becoming reality. Show us the meaningful impact your project can create in the world.
- Present your team, your prototype, and the vision behind your work. Highlight how it aligns with at least one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
- If selected, you will advance to Phase II
Mid to late June
Phase II of the training program
Congratulations! You’re moving forward into the advanced training program. The next phase of your journey begins now.
- In-depth workshops
- Mentoring by industry professionals
- Pitch practice
Early July
Competition
Pitch your project to a jury of industry experts, accomplished entrepreneurs, seasoned professionals, and innovation leaders from diverse industry sectors.
Mid-July
Gala and Awards Presentation
Recognizing and rewarding teams that stand out for their highest potential for impact projects, commitment, and growth during the intensive training and personalized coaching
Have we mentioned it already?
$100,000 in prizes and support are at stake for the winning projects!
Cooperathon is thrilled to offer this exceptional opportunity that will reward the talent and creativity of projects with the highest potential for impact, bringing solutions for the benefit of People, the Planet, and Prosperity.
Three major challenges to undertake!
Coopérathon participants are challenged to develop innovative solutions aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals; whether through social impact, technological advancement, scientific breakthroughs, or sustainable business models.
People
Solutions promoting well-being, equity, and accessibility.
The Planet
Solutions for sustainability, climate resilience, and the natural environment.
Prosperity
Solutions for economic inclusion, industrial modernization, and digital trust.
Global: one centralized place where everything happens during the training program
Global is our online hub for open and social innovation throughout Cooperathon to connect with the entire community of participants and teams and access training, resources, mentors, the calendar of activities, notifications and more…
Thank you to our Program Leaders
Strategic
Open Innovation
Community
Are you an organization who leads the change in your industry?
Without our partners and sponsors, there would be no Cooperathon.
Step up as a Program Leader to share your industry knowledge, or propose a challenge from your activity sector, to drive tomorrow’s game-changing innovations.
Become a partner or a sponsor of Cooperathon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know to get started
From your first idea to your first pitch, here are the answers to the questions every aspiring entrepreneur asks.
What is Cooperathon?
Powered by Desjardins, Cooperathon is a pan-Canadian entrepreneurial program that helps participants develop an innovative idea to launch a company or advance academic research. Since 2016, it has brought together over 7,400 participants, created more than 700 startups, and mobilized over 550 mentors and volunteers from across the country. Its mission: build a socially responsible future by connecting citizens, communities, entrepreneurs, researchers, and large institutions.
Who is Cooperathon for?
Cooperathon is designed for anyone at the start of their entrepreneurial journey, whether you have a raw idea, are forming a team, or want to contribute your skills to a project that matters. This includes aspiring entrepreneurs, students, professionals, intrapreneurs, academics, innovation enthusiasts, and anyone passionate about innovation for social impact. No business experience required.
Is Cooperathon free to join?
Yes, 100% free. Cooperathon is an open program accessible to all participants at no cost. Every participant gets access to expert coaching, training workshops, networking opportunities, and the chance to compete for prizes and support.
How do I apply to Cooperathon?
Registration is done online at cooperathon.ca/register. You can join as an individual or as part of a team. If you don’t have a team yet, don’t worry, our info sessions and networking activities are specifically designed to help you find teammates or co-founders who complement your skills.
Do I need a startup idea before I apply?
No. You can join Cooperathon with just a spark of curiosity. Some participants arrive with a developed concept; others come with a passion for a problem area but no defined solution yet. The program is designed to help you go from idea to validated concept, the ideation process is part of the journey, not a prerequisite.
What does the training program look like at Cooperathon?
The Cooperathon program runs as an accelerated training journey over 4 to 7 weeks, 3.5 hours per week. You’ll move through structured ideation workshops, problem definition, solution design, prototype development, and pitch preparation.
What is the General Track?
The Cooperathon General Track is the training journey open to all aspiring entrepreneurs with or without an idea, in the pre-startup phase, and without a functional prototype at the time of registration for Cooperathon.
What is the University Research Track?
The Cooperathon University Research Track welcome projects originating from university-led research that have not yet been commercialized. This track is designed to leverage university research to create innovative products and services in any sector.
One of the applicants on the team must be enrolled in an undergraduate, master’s, or PhD program and work on a research project that:
• Has been developed within the framework of a university research program
• Has not yet been commercialized
What kind of support and mentorship does Cooperathon offer?
All participants receive access to expert coaching, training workshops, and networking opportunities with professionals from leading organizations. Selected teams benefit from personalized mentorship from sector experts. High-potential projects receive prizes, post-program support and guidance to continue scaling their startup beyond Cooperathon.
Does early-stage startups get support post-Cooperathon?
Cooperathon’s role doesn’t end at the final pitch. We connect early-stage startups with a broader ecosystem of partners, accelerators, and institutions to propel their venture to the next stage of growth.
General information and enquiries
Contact us ↓
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