Build your High Tech Startup
District 3 High Tech Stream
We accelerate the path to commercialization for early-stage startups, harnessing emerging technology through 1:1 objectives-based coaching, lean entrepreneurship skill development and targeted, timely ecosystem connections and global market expansion support.
What You Gain
1:1 Objectives-Based Coaching
Experienced coaches and advisors with experience in emerging tech guide startups as they develop a roadmap to reach critical milestones around honing your pitch to secure funding, increase sales, expand to international markets, recruit the right talent, and much more.
Tailored Just-in-Time Learning
Participate in industry-specific workshops and best-in-class training to acquire the competencies necessary to succeed at all stages of your startup journey, including customer acquisition, startup funding, IP strategy management, legal strategy and more.
Community & Workspace Access
Build your network, collaborate and develop strategic partnerships with local and global advisors in academia, industry and the investor community.
Entrepreneurship was more challenging than we expected — through
D3 programs and coaching, we learned how to reach and engage our
target customers, tell our story, pitch our solution and more.”
Asad Lesani, Ph.D, CEO and Co-founder of Blue City
Our Programs
QCSE
Learn More
Validation
Market Discovery
Launch & Grow
Our Coaches & Advisors
Managing Director of District 3
JD Bégin is a venture capitalist turned entrepreneur and angel investor. As head coach at District 3, Bégin helps founders find product market-fit, grow their key metrics, and secure financing. Having previously worked as a growth advisor and mentor to firms such as VM6 Software Inc., Techstars and Traction Ventures, Bégin leverages more than 15 years experience to uniquely equip startups with the tools they need to grow into successful enterprises. Bégin holds an MBA from Concordia University, as well as a bachelors of Business Administration in accounting and finance from UQAM.
CEO, BEEM & Validation Coach
With over 15 years of racing experience, Kevin Ferah has developed an essential link between engineering theory and practice. Kevin cofounded BEEM, an automotive technology company, in 2014. He brings expertise in sales, commercialization, and product engineering. Along with his co-founder, they have successfully scaled their startup BEEM. BEEM is a data automation platform helping businesses unlock the power of their data. Their product Fleet is a leading loaner car management software helping car dealerships across Canada eliminate expenses and generate revenue with our proven process and technology. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the École de Technologie supérieure.
Director, AI Commons
Gilles Fayad spent his entire career launching new products. His track record has been to move up the food chain to successfully solve one problem after the other, and in doing so he acquired a broad technical expertise, managerial acumen, and international exposure. He is deeply fascinated with the impact of technology on society, complex mathematical problems, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and the relationship between form and function in design. If you cannot find him sailing or diving, you can lure him with a coffee into a game of chess, Go, or simply in a discussion on reinventing the world.
Innovation Enabler, Concordia for now
Xavier-Henri Hervé has a 25 years track record for transforming strategic plans for innovations into business on an international scale. An engineer, Hervé leverages 20 years of experience in several technologies and engineering intensive domains such as aviation, information systems, simulation, and green tech, at Mechtronix, Oracle Corporation, CAE Electronics and Bombardier. Hervé enjoys a worldwide network built in over fifty countries. In 2011, Hervé was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Concordia University’s Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science. He holds an MBA from INSEAD, as well as a bachelor of engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from Concordia University.
Co-director of District 3
Jane Somerville, MBA is the Director of Programs at Concordia University’s District 3. In this role, she is responsible for leading and developing the program offering targeted to entrepreneurs building startups. Jane is a passionate business professional with more than 25 years of experience working with Canadian entrepreneurs. Prior to joining D3, Jane worked at BDC where she helped small, medium and large companies across Canada, across all industry sectors, building and delivering innovative advisory services in strategic management, digital marketing and sales management. As an entrepreneur herself, Jane founded an online directory of furniture and furniture stores in major Canadian cities.
FAQ
Early-stage startups who are developing solutions harnessing emerging technologies.
Currently, programs are taking place virtually.
We accept startups on a rolling admissions basis throughout the year. Note that it may take up to 2 weeks after you submitted an application for us to respond. We will notify you whether your application has been accepted or rejected.
Programs vary from 3 months to 24 months.
Check out our latest events & workshops
Join our open events to learn more about emerging technologies, innovation best practices and insights from leaders around the globe.
Work with a Startup
Check out the latest job opportunities and internships offered by District 3 startups to get involved in the innovation ecosystem.