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A journey toward impact
We support individuals and startups dedicated to addressing social issues in education, health, environment, culture, and beyond. Our focus is on helping them create a positive impact on both the community and the world. With expertise in social innovation, we guide every new venture at District 3, integrating various models and ESG principles to drive meaningful change.
applyA decade of commitment to change
Become part of a dynamic, impact-driven community of 1000+ startups
Our personalized services grow with you, providing hands-on support from seasoned industry coaches and an extensive global network. Our programs are free and open to all.
We take no equity, and your IP stays yours.
Develop skills around creative thinking to generate innovative solutions for complex challenges.
Learn the essential skills to become a successful founder. Master new frameworks for strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving to navigate challenges and drive your business forward with confidence.
Craft compelling pitches and improve your ability to communicate your mission and value proposition in a clear and concise way.
Build valuable connections and establish strong relationships with potential partners, stakeholders, and customers, laying the foundation for collaboration and growth.
Integrate ESG principles into your business practices to drive sustainability and create lasting change.
Conduct in-depth market research to uncover growth opportunities, drive innovation, and identify areas for impact. Develop the skills to expand your customer base and boost revenue.
We’re committed to fostering an accessible and welcoming coworking space where entrepreneurs of all abilities feel supported. Our sensory-friendly spaces and tailored workshops are designed to help everyone thrive and contribute their unique strengths to the entrepreneurial community.
Change isn’t about one person changing the world; it’s a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary effort rooted in human and cultural growth.
We’re surrounded by inspiring people, all driven by a passion to make a difference. Meet the founders, from local to global, whose projects are creating meaningful change.
all stories
- Training to become a mountain guide
- Is a Pie master
- Totem animal is a mountain goat
- Has 4 siblings (basically built for operations)
- Currently in a basement band
- Sub-par pottery thrower, professional dog mom
- I am a cat person
- I am the only faculty member in Psychology without a degree in Psychology.
- Holds a diploma in singing from the Royal Academy of Music.
- Can write with both hands
- Loves to bake – Sweet tooth
- Enjoys forest walks
- Can draw upside down
- Crafter of superb and unrivaled pranks
- Has a wardrobe that is made up of 88% green clothes
- Loves Scientific Research
- Enjoys exploring new lab techniques and methodologies in her spare time
- Believes in the power of collaboration to drive scientific breakthroughs
- Indoor garden is bigger than her outdoor garden
- Dressed up every day in high school. It was a public school
- Worked a Furry convention
- Walked 100 km of the Camino de Compostela—one step at a time, with good friends, wide-open skies…and the occasional downpour, just to keep us humble!
- Former women’s magazine journalist; listening to women’s untold stories taught me the true meaning of sorority
- I bring friends together around a meal, mastering cooking... gradually!
- Jigsaw puzzle fanatic
- Soccer enthusiast
- A university case competition got her to the WEF in Davos
- Serial smile maker
- Has a baking passion
- More artsy than you think
- Foraging enthusiast
- Part of a community with dreams to build an off-grid net-zero commune
- Backpacked over 14 countries
- Scientist by training, businesswoman by practice
- Should have been an artist in her previous life
- Likes to live in the moment, this moment and this moment and this moment…
- Got her scuba diving license before driving license
- Was on a National Dragon Boat Team for Canada
- Melodic death metal enthusiast
- Loves pizza topped with quail eggs
- On-call farmer in the summer
- Has an wooden sword in her house
- Interested in finance, sustainability and entrepreneurship
- Golfer, scuba diver, horseback rider and chess player
- Has traveled to 28 countries
- Veteran of the global biotech industry
- Sang in folk clubs in the '70s
- Loves to coach entrepreneurs
- Trained (Indian) classical dancer
- Her home and its layout follows Vastu, and Indian tradition that aligns spaces to promote positive enery and aura
- Self proclaimed master chef
- Trained (read: failed) actor
- Has a Kandinsky-esqe tattoo of a neuronal synapse on his arm
- Whole identity is having a dog
- Not big on inspirational quotes, but definitely big on getting things done
- Loves a good challenge and thrives in fast-paced environments
- A firm believer that humor is the best icebreaker
- I’m energized by the challenge of navigating diverse perspectives and transforming conflict into collaborative solutions
- Loves archery
- Huskies are my passion and my curse :)
- The problem is 18 inches from the screen
- Ask me anything about curling
- Likes fast cars
- Can talk your ear off about climate policy
- Songs get stuck in her head... for days
- Enjoys discovering new thrift stores
- Home brewing beer since 1998
- Started running at 43 and now run 5-8k three times a week
- Biked over 1100km a year just in regular commuting around Montreal
- Has seen more teams and pitches than he can count
- Into winter skiing, summer cycling, and year-round walking
- He’s a natural in the kitchen, crafting delicious dishes without recipes
- Favorite country is Mexico 🇲🇽
- Speaks 4 languages
- Co-produced a film and won a Fantasia Film Fest prize
- Were skating before he could walk
- Hiked several mountains across Canada
- Culinary enthusiast, always creating new dishes
It takes a village to raise a child, and an ecosystem to turn an idea into lasting impact.
You’re in good company.
Don’t just take our word for it—let the founders do the talking.
Questions? We may have the answer!
International teams can apply only if they are planning to operate their startup out of Montreal. For teams located elsewhere in Canada, applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Our focus is on supporting entrepreneurs in Canada who are building and operating their startups in Montreal. While our programs are offered in person in Montreal and online, our global network can still provide valuable resources and connections to help advance your social innovations.
A social entrepreneur is someone who focuses on addressing societal challenges or problems through innovative business models, products or services that aim to generate both financial returns and measurable social or environmental impact.
Social impact refers to Impact relates to the positive influence that entrepreneurs have on society, the environment and economy. Impact can include job creation, steps towards carbon footstep reduction, social change and economic growth. Social Innovation is a collaborative approach in which groups of people or organizations collectively address complex systemic challenges in our society. Social innovation often requires transformational systems change to reduce systemic barriers and engage various stakeholders in collaborative solutions.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations in 2015, aimed at addressing a wide range of social, environmental, and economic challenges by 2030.
As the Social Innovation stream at District 3 we ask our entrepreneurs to align with the SDG’s because they provide a framework for tackling pressing global issues. By aligning with these goals we can ensure innovations that are being developed are done so in a meaningful way with measurable impact, contributing to positive social and environmental change.
The time commitment expected from you and your team will vary based on which program you are in within the Social Innovation stream. If you are in the Explore stage, you can expect a 7-10 hour weekly time commitment in the 6-week Systems Mapping program. If you are doing the 12-week Social Innovation Validation program in the Build stage you can expect at least a 20 hour weekly time commitment. If you are in the Launch & Grow program you will be meeting 1:1 with a dedicated coach to do an hourly coaching call on a bi-weekly to monthly basis depending on the development stage of your venture.
Participation in our programs is free, and we do not take equity in your venture. Our goal is to provide support and resources to help you succeed.
To apply, please visit our application page and complete the required information. We will contact you to discuss the next steps.
If you reside within the province of Quebec and are working on a business idea that has a strong focus on creating social or environmental impact you are eligible to apply. If you are in a team, at least one of your co-founders must be a resident of Quebec. International teams can apply only if they are planning to operate their startup out of Montreal. Our focus is on supporting Quebec based entrepreneurs who are building and operating their startups in Montreal. We do not require you to have a team in order to be eligible for our Social Innovation programs and you must be at least 18 years of age or older.
January 1, 1970
