Editorial portrait illustrating this conversation

THE CONVERSATIONS · 01

Becoming an entrepreneur.

A new idea. A business to take over. A mission worth building around. Explore the decisions and people behind the first step.

Different paths into entrepreneurship

There is no single starting point. A mission, a way of organizing and a route into ownership can overlap.

Starting a business

Turn an idea into an activity of your own. Explore the first decisions, experiments and relationships that shape a new business.

Buying or taking over a business

Continue an existing story. Hear about stepping into ownership, learning the business and making it your own.

Social entrepreneurship

Build around a social or environmental mission. Explore how purpose shapes the activity and the people behind it.

Nonprofits & cooperatives

Build for a mission or a collective. Discover the people choosing nonprofit and cooperative ways of organizing.

Independent & creative entrepreneurship

Create your own working life as a freelancer, maker, artist or independent professional.

BUILD TOGETHER

Find your people. Build what comes next.

A project needs skills. Skills need a project. Take the first step toward a collaboration.

Find a collaborator ↗Offer my skills ↗Explore opportunities →

THE STARTUPFEST CONVERSATIONS

The conversations

Different paths. Shared ambition.
Explore entrepreneur stories and meet the people behind the support.

9 conversations

ENTREPRENEUR STORIES

The people building their own path

From the first idea to the everyday realities of building a business. Meet the founders and discover the human journeys behind their companies.

THE ENTREPRENEUR’S JOURNEY

“I used to be scared of public speaking, but now I enjoy pitching so much”

Eugenia Dadzie

Co-founder & COO

MetaCycler BioInnovations

MetaCycler BioInnovations develops bioplastics made from dairy and other organic waste. Its aim is to turn discarded resources into useful materials and make sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics more affordable.

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THE ENTREPRENEUR’S JOURNEY

“T’as juste besoin de commencer”

Salim Kandedi

Founder & CEO

Corvita Biomedical

Corvita Biomedical develops technology to automate newborn monitoring in neonatal care. Its intelligent incubator combines computer vision and AI, with the aim of making comprehensive monitoring more accessible to hospitals and care teams.

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THE ENTREPRENEUR’S JOURNEY

“If you don’t ask, you won’t have a yes”

Jonathan Dubuc

Founder & CEO

dvrgntAI

dvrgntAI develops digital tools to help neurodivergent people better understand and track their everyday experiences. Its companion app combines interactive activities, journaling and AI-supported insights, with a focus on accessible mental health support and reducing stigma.

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THE ENTREPRENEUR’S JOURNEY

“I want to keep innovating, keep working with people and having this bigger impact”

Matthew Behr

Founder & CEO

AeroCardia

AeroCardia develops portable sensors that measure breathing and oxygen use during exercise. Its goal is to bring insights traditionally gathered in a laboratory into everyday endurance training, helping runners and cyclists better understand their effort.

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THE ENTREPRENEUR’S JOURNEY

“On a vraiment une équipe incroyable”

Philippe Benjamin-Duranceau

Co-founder & COO

BrainScores

BrainScores develops AI-powered tools for analysing brain MRI scans and detecting subtle abnormalities. It aims to give researchers and clinicians clearer, measurable insights to support the evaluation of complex neurological conditions, including epilepsy.

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THE ENTREPRENEUR’S JOURNEY

“Il y a toujours une porte ouverte”

Isaac Boulou

Entrepreneur

ORIS PARCOURS

ORIS PARCOURS was developed to help immigrant entrepreneurs in Québec navigate the journey from an idea to financing and growth. The project combines AI, human guidance and entrepreneurial resources to make that journey clearer and more accessible; it is currently listed as inactive on its official page.

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THE ENTREPRENEUR’S JOURNEY

Hydropower, technology & entrepreneurship

Emmanuel Ngue

Founder & CEO

EN Solutions Hydro

EN Solutions Hydro develops AI software and mobile tools for the operation, maintenance and monitoring of hydroelectric plants. Its purpose is to help operators improve reliability, anticipate failures and manage their assets more effectively in support of clean energy production.

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MEET THE ECOSYSTEM

The people behind the support

Meet the people helping entrepreneurs move forward — through community, guidance, funding and connections.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SUPPORT

“You have to be intensely curious”

Phil G. Joseph

Co-founder · Venture Capital Associate

Rep Matters · Real Ventures

Rep Matters supports Black entrepreneurs in technology and venture capital. Through events, content and community initiatives, it creates opportunities to learn, build meaningful connections and access capital—helping founders move their businesses forward.

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THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SUPPORT

“Ça me donne le goût de bâtir quelque chose de moi-même”

Omar Jamal

Venture Analyst

Creative Destruction Lab – Montréal

Creative Destruction Lab – Montréal, based at HEC Montréal, supports science- and technology-based startups through an objectives-based program and a network of experienced mentors. It helps founders develop and scale ventures in areas including artificial intelligence and supply chains.

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A PLACE TO START