Validation Program
Validate your Idea & Business Model
Applications are now closed for Winter 2024
Next Cohort: Spring 2024
Did you know that the two of the biggest Startup failures is “No market need” and “Ran out of funds”.
Can you see the link between the two?
Building a Startup is inherently risky.
Startups fail because they build solutions looking for problems rather than properly assessing market need. The Validation program’s objective is to ensure that startups succeed or fail faster.
Completing District 3’s 10-week intensive Validation program dramatically increases your odds of success by de-risking your business model and validating the market need through hands-on, primary market research. This proven approach will help you validate your business model, while developing the competencies you need to build a scalable company with a global impact.
Our Program
A cohort-based, immersive program that pushes you to test your hypotheses in the market and build your business model while learning and sharing with your peers.
What You Gain
Learn a proven, hands-on experiential learning methodology for validating your business model through unbiased stakeholder discovery.
Learn the essential competencies and a framework for rigorous consumer interviewing necessary to validate the viability of your startup
Receive regular feedback from industry-specific coaches experienced in applying and coaching this methodology through weekly cohort-based feedback sessions taking place at District 3’s coworking space in the heart of Downtown Montreal.
Join a variety workshops throughout the program to develop your entrepreneurial skills.
Access regular 1:1 coaching to support group feedback sessions.
At the end of the program, teams that complete the Validation Program receive Fast-track consideration for participation in our Launch & Grow program.
What You Give
Commit 25 hours/per week per co-founder (includes: individual time, coaching sessions, workshops and more…)
In-person participation in every weekly sessions (3h every Wednesday)
Eligibility Criteria
Your startup should have at least 2 co-founders (exceptions may be granted for founders working full-time on their venture)
You have reached the proof of concept stage beyond your initial idea.
Your team should have the technical capacity to build the solution.
We are both scientists and we knew very little about building a business. Thanks to the Validation program, we were able to validate our business model and understand
the market and target customers.”
Stephanie Mouchbahani-Constance, Co-founder and CEO, PteroTech
Stream specific support
and programming
District 3 focuses on bio, healthcare and high tech streams— each harnessing emerging technologies for global impact. We offer industry-specific expertise, programs and global expansion support at each step of your startup journey. Learn more
FAQ
While District 3 offers the program free of charge, we ask the participants to purchase licences (85$) for the tools and software used in the program.
We will reach out to you the week after the application deadline.
If selected, you will be invited to pitch your project to our coaches.
Then we will communicate our final decision the following week.
Explore our entrepreneurship programs:
- Learn about scientific entrepreneurship with QcSE
- Map out and tackle your social or environmental issue with the Social Ideation Program
For teams that have demonstrated sufficient momentum in terms of product-market fit through a combination of revenue traction, product traction, and/or financing traction, you may be eligible to join our Launch and Grow Program directly. Submit your application directly to our team by filling out the form that serves both our Validation and Launch and Grow programs.