"Capital Innovation is an event that brings together investors and stakeholders mobilizing in support of the province's most innovative entrepreneurs," said Clément Gignac, Québec's Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade. "We are proud to be part of this initiative, which will help Québec meet the challenges facing the next generation of entrepreneurs, by increasing investments and stimulating job creation in the most promising industry sectors."

For his part, Capital Innovation President Martin Duchaîne said: "2011 is our fourth year and promises to be exceptional due to its very strong investor presence, from angel investors to venture capital funds, regional support funds and investors from outside of Québec, including New England and Atlantic Canada. This reflects both the dynamism of Québec's entrepreneurs and the improved access to venture capital funding in the province."

This year, Capital Innovation will support 50 entrepreneurs from across Québec, selected for the quality and potential of their projects. They will enjoy three months of enhanced support before presenting their projects to the province's largest network of angel investors and venture capital managers. Potential candidates can download the application form from www.capitalinnovation.ca.

Louise Hodder, Director of the CDEC Centre-Sud/Plateau Mont-Royal, said: "Being an entrepreneur is very demanding, and we are proud of the support provides by Montréal organizations. Mobilization of this kind will nurture the next wave of entrepreneurs and help them better adapt to the social and economic realities of 2011."   

Added Marc Picard, who heads the FDEM: "To support entrepreneurs in world markets driven by innovation, the Montréal partners have demonstrated their leadership by adopting shared tools like the FDEM and holding Capital Innovation events in the region."

Capital Innovation 2011 will also feature a strong showing from academia and research, particularly from Polytechnique Montréal. Gilles Savard, Director of Research and Innovation at Polytechnique, said: "The universities are key to the strong presence of innovative firms in Québec, whether through R&D or by producing world-class engineers and researchers. We're proud to support these entrepreneurs who are laying the groundwork for tomorrow's Québec."

Successful entrepreneur-turned-angel investor Michel Besner, a Polytechnique graduate and the founder of Kaydara Inc., noted: "In the investment community, Québec is positioning itself as a centre of excellence for business development and growth. As an entrepreneur and investor, it's very exciting to think that the next generation will benefit from this mobilization of resources and efforts made in recent years."

Gilles Savard, Director of Research and Innovation at Polytechnique

From left to right : Christian Perron (SDEVM), Raymond Luk (Year One Labs), Robert Dumontet (Centech), Louise Hodder (CDEC Centre-Sud/Plateau Mont-Royal), Marc Picard (FDEM), Martin Duchaîne (Capital innovation), Jean L. Choquette (CDEC Ahuntsic-Cartierville), Jean-Michel Marcotte (Sparko and Entrepreneurship Committee of JCCM), François Santerre (CRSNG), Daniel Gagné (MDEIE for Montréal) et Jean Therrien (CRÉ de Montréal).

For more information :
www.capitalinnovation.ca
www.fdem.qc.ca
www.mdeie.gouv.qc.ca/rss