20 February 2019

PRESS RELEASE – Entrepreneurs looking for the best resource to propel their business endeavour in Sherbrooke now have a door to knock on for quick guidance: The Entrepreneur Hub. This hub stems from the innovative collaboration of eight organizations forming the first entrepreneurial line: Espace-inc, Sherbrooke Innopole, La Ruche Estrie, Fonds Émergence Estrie, Sherbrooke’s Corporation de développement économique communautaire (CDEC), Pro-Gestion Estrie, Commerce Sherbrooke, and Femmessor.

This pilot project once again demonstrates the willingness and proactiveness of Sherbrooke’s economic development organizations to work together to create a dynamic environment that is conducive to entrepreneurship.

The Entrepreneur Hub is intended for business endeavours that may fall under the expertise of several organizations. The purpose of the meetings, which take place every other Thursday at Capsule Bistro Cinéma, is to facilitate and accelerate entrepreneur efforts by guiding them towards the right tools and stakeholders for their needs.

The 30-minute meetings also enable entrepreneurs to get quick, in-depth, and tangible feedback on their business endeavours, to benefit from several complementary networks of contacts, and to leave with a clearer idea of the entrepreneurial process.

Launched by Espace-inc in fall 2017, this entrepreneurial first line has recruited new stakeholders over time, developing the current Entrepreneur Hub, which also boasts partners from the entrepreneurial ecosystem: The Université de Sherbrooke and Desjardins’ Accélérateur entrepreneurial (Entrepreneurial Accelerator), the Accélérateur de création d’entreprises technologiques (ACET – Accelerator for the Creation of Technological Businesses), Bishop’s University, Createk, C3 Estrie, and the Centre de formation professionnelle 24-Juin (vocational training centre).

Entrepreneurs interested in using this free service must fill out the online form at www.demarrersherbrooke.ca. This website and its Facebook page are replacing the EntreprendreSherbrooke.ca and Démarrer.EntreprendreSherbrooke.ca initiatives.

The Entrepreneur Hub’s next meeting will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 21, at Capsule Bistro Cinéma.

Quotes

“The entrepreneurial dynamism of our community is often cited as an example across Quebec. This collaborative accomplishment explains why. To work better together and to facilitate the journey of entrepreneurs, we have adapted our practices and access to resources. The Entrepreneur Hub brings together all of the field’s stakeholders with their respective expertise and provides entrepreneurs with a tangible feedback session about their project. A way for everyone to be aware of what is happening in the ecosystem is to better guide each entrepreneur based on their needs and progress.” »

– Cédric Laigniel, Coordinator of Admissions, Activities, and Gathering Places – Aubergiste, Espace-inc

“Unity creates strength… especially in entrepreneurship, and this is truly the case with Entrepreneur Hub: By collaborating to create a common sharing space between entrepreneurs and organizations, we are showing once more that Sherbrooke is a city with a human scale that innovates, which benefits everyone! Sherbrooke Innopole is proud to have contributed actively to its development.” »

– Michel Rousseau, Advisor, Business Services, Startup, Sherbrooke Innopole 

“La Ruche Estrie’s core mission is to support promoters who wish to have an impact in their community. It’s only fitting to join our efforts to those of current economic development players to generate an impact among entrepreneurial communities.”

– Steven Radenne, Director, La Ruche Estrie

“By bringing together the various organizations of Sherbrooke’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Entrepreneur Hub enables us to unite our strengths, our expertises, and our service offers to facilitate the emergence of ideas and the consolidation of local entrepreneur projects.”

– Isabelle Tardif, Executive Director, Fonds Émergence Estrie

“The Hub is a meeting point between Sherbrooke’s entrepreneurs and economic developers. It’s an opportunity to collaborate, join our forces, and share our expertise with future entrepreneurs. It’s a must for the CDEC to partner with this promising and inspiring initiative that enables the recognition of collective entrepreneurship as an economic development driver!”

– Claudine Samson, Social Economy Development Officer, Corporation de développement économique communautaire de Sherbrooke

“With the development of its entrepreneurs at heart, PGE is eagerly collaborating on this pilot project. The Hub Entrepreneur will enable us to refer certain entrepreneurs, whose projects overlap with more than one activity sector, to identify from the get-go the organization or progression that will propel them as fast as possible to project completion.”

“Since the relocation of Commerce Sherbrooke to the same premises as Pro-Gestion Estrie in 2017, we have noticed the benefits of increased synergy between two complementary organizations for our clients. This is why we commend the Hub’s initiative, which reflects this willingness to increase cooperation among Sherbrooke’s economic development stakeholders and maximize support offered to businesses.”

– Charles-Olivier Mercier, Executive Director, Pro-Gestion Estrie and Commerce Sherbrooke

“The Entrepreneur Hub, what a great idea with major potential for Sherbrooke entrepreneurs! Femmesor is proud to be a partner in this project which is uniting high-quality organizations. Coaching is at the core of our values and mission, and we want to join forces to help propel local entrepreneurs.”

– Marianne Auclair, Regional Director, Femmessor Estrie

Photo – Every two weeks, the Entrepreneur Hub brings together eight organizations from Sherbrooke’s economic development’s sector, as well as partners from the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Shown: Steven Radenne (La Ruche Estrie), Véronique Vigneault (Centre de formation professionnelle 24-Juin), Michel Rousseau (Sherbrooke Innopole), Charles Martel (Espace-inc), Isabelle Tardif (Fonds Émergence Estrie), Marianne Auclair (Femmessor Estrie), and Mélissa Ferland (Pro-Gestion Estrie). Absent: Claudine Samson (Sherbrooke CDEC)

Source: Hub Entrepreneur