Summit 2025: Changing perspective for better support

The challenges we face are complex. Innovation no longer follows a linear trajectory, and entrepreneurs navigate in an environment where uncertainty is the only certainty. In this ever-changing ecosystem, the ways in which we accompany, structure and support them must also evolve. But how?

This is precisely the intention of the Accelerators 2025 Summit: to open up the space needed to think collectively about the future of innovation and entrepreneurial support in Quebec.

Many things happen, in the political environment here as elsewhere; but the only thing we have control over is how we work together to get through the trials.

We sometimes tend to view issues through a limited prism, rooted in our habits and frames of reference. This year, we have chosen to take a step back, to broaden our field of vision, to better grasp the forces shaping the present and those determining the future.

For the sixth edition of the Summit, we propose three pillars of content

• Taking the high ground: strategic content to broaden our vision of the ecosystem and pave the way for greater resilience and collaboration
• Crossed perspectives: co-creation workshops to identify together concrete solutions to boost entrepreneurial intent, simplify entrepreneurial paths and reduce obstacles to innovation.
• Putting things into perspective: opportunities to collectively rethink the way we support entrepreneurs by putting their needs at the heart of our actions.

Support must be a point of support, a springboard aligned with the real needs of entrepreneurs. To achieve this, we need to rethink the way we listen to them, understand their needs and support them.
That's why we've revised our mission, to broaden our scope and reach as many entrepreneurs as possible, wherever they are in Quebec.

Your presence at the Summit should enable you to reflect on three aspects:

1. What it really means to support innovative entrepreneurs today.
2. Ways of (re)empowering entrepreneurs to take risks.
3. The mechanisms of our ecosystem to make it more agile, more human and more conducive to the emergence of innovation in all its forms.

Looking differently is good. Acting accordingly is essential. Entrepreneurial support cannot be static. It must adapt, improve and, above all, co-create with those it supports. That's why we've divided the program into five blocks that will enable you to explore different facets.

Entrepreneurial ecosystems don't build themselves.Ecosystem building as a strategic approach inspires us to collectively build sustainable innovation environments. We take you to the heart of best practice with builders who have come to share their local realities and global visions.

Three conferences will give us the opportunity to exchange ideas and gain the necessary perspective for this first day of the Summit:

• A high-altitude discussion with builders: Philippe Telio (Startupfest), Jean-François Harvey (Canadian Innovators Council), Marie Chevrier Schwartz (TechTO) and ilias Benjelloun (ÉlanTech).
• A transatlantic conversation between professionals from Quebec and France between Anne Lemieux (accelerator nordique), Éric Darveau (OSEntreprendre), Arnaud Archimede (Whistle), Léa Jouffroy (Pépite Lille Hauts-de-France), and Stéphane Carrier (LOJIQ).
• A panel on the importance of studying your ecosystem with data, thanks to our PERSÉIS project, featuring Naomie Allard (UQO), Sophie Veilleux (Université Laval), Marie-Michèle Lord (UQTR), Octave Niamié (Polytechnique Montréal) and Charles Beaudry.

And we'll also have the first perspective with Louis-Félix Binette to awaken theecosystem-builder in you.

Entrepreneurs, who are at the heart of our services, don't care much about the complex mechanisms that surround them. Putting their voice back at the center of authentic conversations and dynamic workshops will enable us to co-create solutions adapted to their real needs. Understanding the entrepreneurial perspective means building an aligned ecosystem.

The afternoon of Wednesday February 12 will be dedicated to presenting different perspectives on entrepreneurial support, and to hearing entrepreneurs tell us the truth.

• The voice of entrepreneurs: Clément Bouland (co-founder Bello), Elisabeth Gosselin (co-founder Paralog), Sarah DeGrâce (co-founder INSPPI), and Phil Rivard
• Inclusive support for our entrepreneurs with Tina Pranjic from Élance
• Adapting support to the diversity of entrepreneurial forms: Chantal Thieblin Goffoz (evol), Diana Horqque (V1 Studio), Isabelle Thibault (Esplanade Québec), Sarah Girouard (Quartier artisan)
• Entrepreneurial resilience, the regenerative economy and global prosperity: John Stokes (Real Ventures) and Katy Yam (FounderFuel).

Two afternoon workshops will also be held:

1. Cultivating empathy to enhance the support experience with Catherine Gauthier of Interface & co, and Elisabeth Michel
2. Raising the voice of entrepreneurs with government authorities with Lanie Dufour of Catapulte Communication, and Guillaume Lajoie

Key moments of the evening

🔸 Fuckup Nights - Marco Bérubé gives us a candid version of his entrepreneurial journey, and the reasons that led him to create the Beloeil chapter of Fuckup Nights

🔸 HR improv show - An offbeat, hard-hitting look at the realities of recruitment in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

🔸 Networking cocktail - Because some of the best ideas are born in an informal exchange.

Innovation is an essential driver of entrepreneurship, and vice versa. Artificial intelligence, process automation, mass customization or corporate responsibility: the facets of innovation are multiplying and accelerating. How can we identify the specific innovative features of entrepreneurial projects, so as to better protect them, finance them, market them - in short, support them?

After all, we need to work together to improve our ability to provide better support. This means giving ourselves the tools to minimize our pain, for the benefit of entrepreneurs.

• The many facets of innovation - recognizing them to better support them with Thomas Baracos (Maison de l'innovation sociale) and Samuel L. Audet (Québec Tech)
• AI and technology with David Dufresne (CMD Capital) and Gabrielle Langlois (IVADO)
• Financing from idea to innovation with David Boisvert (Fondaction) and Hélène Olland (Desjardins Entreprises)

Two workshops will be held in the morning:

1. Espace CDPQ's Venture Capital Fundraising Master Class, with Emmanuelle Coppinger, Nicolas Rubbo M.Sc., ASC, C.Dir and Julien Roy
2. A workshop on the impact of IP on entrepreneurial success with Tiamy Treguer

Growth catalysts, trusted partners, ecosystem architects. Support organizations must rethink their role to remain relevant in the face of uncertainty and complexity. Resilience, adaptation, innovation: how can our structures, services and networks evolve to restore entrepreneurial momentum and build ecosystems conducive to innovation?

The afternoon of February 13 will be an important opportunity to reaffirm that support organizations are here to stay, and that we need to act in motion to generate more economic value for Quebec, for entrepreneurs and for the economy as a whole.

• Navigating uncertainty with Virgile Ollivier (TheConvenors) and Anick Patenaude
• Rethinking programs to include mental and global health with Farnel Fleurant (Working), Julien Vasseur (La base HEC Montréal) and Florence Guiliani (Université de Sherbrooke)
• On the move to better support entrepreneurs
  And a closing dialogue by Louis-Félix Binette, with Joyce McLean on the theme "Accompagner dans l'incertitude: devenir antifragile ou disparaître?"

A workshop on practical tools to minimize coaching pain and maximize entrepreneurial happiness with Pierre Rivoire and Jonathan Falardeau.

Key moments of the evening

🔸 Festive dinner
🔸 Musical entertainment with singing and percussion
🔸 Karaoke night - keeping the tradition going!

The traditional field trip that closes the Sommet des accélérateurs returns for a third consecutive year. During this final morning, explore Saint-Hyacinthe's local entrepreneurial ecosystem through a presentation on territorial collaborations, a discussion on a decentralized sector continuum and a visit to an agri-food mecca highlighting CCTTs in future technologies.

The Summit is not just a gathering. It's an anchor point for those who want to do things differently. For three days, we'll be exploring, confronting, testing and, above all, opening new doors.

Because sometimes a change of angle is all it takes to reveal opportunities we haven't yet seen.

So, are you ready to see innovation in a new light? Let's start the climb!