22 June 2013

Sherbrook Innopole is proud to pay tribute to the success of two Sherbrooke businesses in the grand finale of the 2013 Québec Entrepreneurship Contest: Immune Biosolutions and LUMED.

Immune Biosolutions Inc. made off with the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Grand Prize, which comes with a $20,000 award. The company, which is led by Frédéric Leduc, Simon Gaudreau and Jean-François Larrivée, creates high-quality innovative antibody-based products.

The jury explained that “the Grand Prize was given to these young people for their tenacity, their flare for development, their communication skills and their sound business model. Their in-depth research into the target market, their clear, precise and quantifiable objectives, their enthusiasm, their ability to explain technical information to laypersons and their vision are remarkable. Through its creativity and the quality of its process, this team has a competitive edge, its innovative and unique process, which sets it apart from its international competitors.”

LUMED Inc. picked up the 2^nd national prize in the Technological and Technical Innovations category, which also comes with a $2,000 award. The company and its promoters, Vincent Nault, Mathieu Beaudoin and Louis Valiquette, develop and market computer solutions that improve the productivity of healthcare staff.

The jury noted that “the expertise of shareholders, the international potential of the project and the numerous proven benefits in its use are guarantees of this company’s success.”

Two other Sherbrooke companies, Clinique juridique Juripop de l’Estrie (Social Economy) and Cours prénataux inc. Marie Fortier (Service to Individuals), also made it to the grand finale of the contest.

In the Student Entrepreneurship category, Cégep de Sherbrooke and the Université de Sherbrooke were crowned in their respective College (individual and small group) and University (individual and small group) categories.

The 15^th Québec Entrepreneurship Contest enjoyed a record-breaking number of participants:  52,969 participants with 3,710 projects in both the Business Creation and Student Entrepreneurship categories.

This year’s Desjardins Grand Prize Gala, whose honorary co-presidents were Cora Tsouflidou, founder of the Cora Group of Companies, and Martin Thibault, President of Absolunet Inc., was held on June 19, 2013 at the Quebec City Convention Centre.