Launch & Grow Program
Designed for startups that have initial traction through
customers, letters of intent, or initial investment. We help
you accelerate to ‘product market fit.’
What You Gain
District 3’s tailored services will help you build your product, acquire customers, increase early sales, find product market fit, and scale your startup to have a global impact.
Customized Workshops
One-on-One Coaching
Community
Peer Sessions & Networking Events
State-of-the-art Workspace & Labs
Eligibility for Seed and Non-dilutive funding
Global Expansion Support
We started off as two people who had a good idea. We had traction, we had clients,
but it was only with coaching that we could say we began to build a real business."
Erika Braithwaite, Ph.D. CEO, Precision Analytics
Our Program
Tailored Just-in-Time Learning
Startups get access to workshops and the best in class training to acquire the competencies necessary to succeed at all stages of their journey.
1:1 Coaching & Expert Support
Experienced coaches and experts guide you in the right direction to reach your milestones, whether it’s honing your pitch to secure funding, increasing sales, expanding to international markets, recruiting the right talent, and much more.
Community & Workspace Access
A large array of events and networking opportunities for you to grow your network and find the right people to build your business. You will also get access to our workspace and state-of-the art wetlab.
Access to Partner Programs
An international network of partner incubators and accelerators with exclusive referral programs and offerings.
Market Connect
Investor Connect
Built in partnership with leading innovation ecosystem players in the US, select D3 startups are eligible to embark on a customized journey for planning and integration in the US.
Build your integration strategy
Widen your network
Receive active support to start implementing your clinical, product
and business roadmaps and go-to-market strategy
Raising capital is a discipline that, when mastered, can fuel a startup’s potential, and fundraising involves more than a pitch deck. The Investor Connect program is designed to give select Canadian startups the opportunity to learn how to build long-lasting connections with US investors through mentorship and hands-on feedback sessions.
Establish relationships with leading US Fintech investors
Build the social capital needed to accelerate your growth
Get support from best-in-class experts at no cost to improve your pitch
and your business model story
We got the opportunity to network and learn more about Boston, as well as the pros and cons of having a U.S. subsidiary and insights into intellectual property strategies.”
Marina Massingham, CEO of Aifred Health
D3 Bio
Founders leveraging biomanufacturing and bioengineering looking to accelerate their commercialization potential and contribute to building Canada’s bioeconomy in sectors such as biopharma, agri-food, clean technologies and biomaterials.
D3 Healthcare
Early stage medtech and healthtech startups looking to gain market insights, validate clinical and market needs, accelerate product development, find funding and access international networks.
D3 High Tech
Early stage startups focusing on emerging technologies looking to accelerate their path towards commercialization through coaching, lean entrepreneurship skill development, targeted ecosystem connections and global market expansion support.
D3 Social
Early stage startups focused on education, health, environment, culture or other social issues with positive impact on the community and the world looking for support in roadmap development, funding strategy and global market expansion.
New York District
Startups can access our District in New York City, one of the most critical U.S. markets and the second most important startup ecosystem in the world.
Our team is on the ground in NYC to help you with:
Office Space
Partner Incubator
International Expert Network
Our Footprint
Global Mindset
Coaches and Mentors
Co-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.
Senior Coach, Healthcare Stream Lead
With a wealth of international experience in taking ideas to market—always at the dynamic intersection of where entrepreneurship and experiential learning meet—Edna Chosack, M.Sc., MBA, is the Healthcare Stream lead and Senior Coach at District 3.
As the co-founder and VP, Strategic Marketing at Simbionix Inc., Edna co-built the company into an international surgical-simulation leader, becoming internationally recognized as one of a few experts who leverage medical-simulation experiential learning into business success stories. 3D Systems acquired the company for $120M USD.
In Montreal, she established and served as Director of CAE’s surgical-simulation business line. She was a member of the advisory committee at McGill University’s Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning. She held her consultancy services for private internationals in the US, Europe & China, as well as for Canadian customers such as the Canadian National Research Council.
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.
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.
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.
President, BEEM & Validation Coach
Alexandre Lataille is driven by a true passion for automotive technologies that have always pushed him to innovate. As the CEO and co-founder of BEEM, an auto tech company, he is focusing on reinventing the way we interact within the automotive ecosystem, starting with the customer, the vehicle, the dealership and the manufacturer.
Prior to founding BEEM, Alexandre specialized in data-driven automotive product development, business processes and analytics. He managed projects to the highest industry standards, with a tenacity that saw him rise swiftly in the ranks of Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), a leading recreational products manufacturer. Alexandre started his career as a testing engineer for the Volvo Group, where he realized his passion for a data-driven approach to problem-solving and product development, which he applies to BEEM today.
Global Managing Partner, Quadbridge
Ryan Peters is an experienced founder and managing partner with a demonstrated track record of entrepreneurship and an ability to scale companies for over 10 years. His company, Quadbridge Inc. is a leading-edge, full-service IT Solution partner that specializes in hardware and software supply to medium and large enterprise clients in both the U.S. and Canada. Ryan has strategic advisory and general operational expertise, and strong business development experience with an understanding of International Socio-Economic Development, including NAFTA, E.U., Mid-East, and Asia. Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in political science.
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.
Co-Owner, DX Consultant
Daniel Stoll has always strived to design and develop products that bring delightful customer experiences, to have products sell themselves. He has a track record of galvanizing innovation and creating go-to-market strategies based on a product-led growth approach, providing value to customers by shortening time to value. His work has been recognized for shortening the sales cycle significantly in complex sales. Daniel holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the École d’ingénieurs du numérique.
FAQ
We look for an idea that leverages emerging technologies or an innovative business model; a minimum of two co-founders; and full-time commitment from at least one co-founder.
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.
The program lasts up to 24 months. Every three months, we will assess and evaluate whether you should continue or consider pivoting, so you don’t waste time on the wrong ideas. Upon completion of the program, our goal is that you have a viable business, and have acquired the necessary competencies to be a self-reliant entrepreneur.
Explore entrepreneurship before you take the leap into building a startup.