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.
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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
It takes a village to raise a child, and an ecosystem to turn an idea into lasting impact.
You’re in good company.
Funding Partners
Collaborators
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.
