Montreal, November 17, 2025
Entreprendre ici, in collaboration with Quebec’s Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE), is pleased to unveil the 24 winning companies of the 8th edition of the Ethnocultural Diversity Honorary Grants.
The 2025 Honorific Grants Gala was held in Laval on November 13, attended by Minister Christopher Skeete, Members of the National Assembly Geneviève Hébert and Natilien Joseph, Senators Amina Gerba and Julie Miville-Dechêne, and other local elected officials. The event celebrated entrepreneurial excellence by recognizing 24 businesses from 11 regions of Quebec, representing 15 countries of origin. This exceptional cohort embodies the diversity, creativity, and economic vitality that drive Quebec’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Among the winning companies, 13 are in the growth phase, while 11 are in the start-up phase. To support their development, 12 of them received a $10,000 grant, and 12 received a $25,000 grant. The sectors represented reflect the innovation and diversity of initiatives driven by entrepreneurs across Quebec: artificial intelligence, the energy transition, education, food, cosmetics, and many other emerging fields.
The gala evening was preceded by a major networking event that brought together around twenty exhibitors—including sponsors, partners, entrepreneurs, past award winners, and private-sector representatives. Attendees had the opportunity to discover the range of services, expertise, and tools available across Quebec to support and drive entrepreneurial success.
The event, which brought together nearly 300 people, was punctuated by artistic performances showcasing the richness of Quebec's cultural diversity, featuring Latin and Indian dance groups.
Here is the regional breakdown of the companies awarded grants in the 8th edition of the Honorific Grants:
Lower St. Lawrence
Nexintec inc., une jeune entreprise québécoise spécialisée dans le développement de technologies innovantes en conduite assistée et autonome, offrant des solutions uniques pour optimiser l’efficacité et la sécurité des véhicules de déneigement.244Nexintec Inc., a young Quebec-based company specializing in the development of innovative driver-assistance and autonomous driving technologies, offering unique solutions to optimize the efficiency and safety of snow-removal vehicles.
North Shore
Épicerie Tropicale Sept-Îles offers unique exotic and Afro-Caribbean products, fostering culinary discovery, cultural inclusion, and closer ties between communities on the North Shore.
Northern Quebec
Heritage Lab (Laboratoire du Patrimoine), an Indigenous non-profit organization developing linguistic technology tools to preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages, prioritizing data sovereignty and respect for regional dialects.
Chaudière-Appalaches
Créations l'art des points inc. has opened a shop in Lévis offering textile craft items (knitting, embroidery, and crochet). The business also welcomes customers for classes or to share creative moments.
Centre-du-Québec
Afrikomkom Inc. Platform, the first marketplace dedicated to commercial exchanges of African products and services between the African continent and the international market. Merchants can open their showcases or advertise on the platform.
Estrie
Bio-Bon Inc., a company from Coaticook active for 22 years, manufactures traditional and gluten-free veggie pâtés that are certified organic. A pioneer of organic products in Quebec, it continues its expansion by combining innovation, sustainability, and authenticity.
Lanaudière
Lexia Notaires & Legal Services offers accessible and innovative legal services in real estate, family, and estate law. Combining notarial expertise and digital tools, the firm simplifies processes for citizens and entrepreneurs.
Laval
Comulead, a growth partner for SMEs, transforms customer and operational data into strategic decisions. Its AI generates predictive analyses and concrete recommendations to democratize business intelligence.
Nada Conseils Inc. connects humans and nature to help society become more sustainable and more humane by pushing the boundaries of knowledge.
Capitale-Nationale
Les Beurrés Inc. reinvents butter with ready-to-use flavored capsules, combining simplicity, taste, and local ingredients to enhance every meal.
La Savoureuse Inc, a young agri-food company specializing in healthy, local, and additive-free vegetable spreads. It offers spreads made from nuts, grains, and legumes, which are protein-rich, fibrous, and low in sugar.
Montérégie
EN Solutions Hydro develops the TGM Expert software suite, the first AI platform dedicated to the management of hydroelectric dams, allowing for the prevention of failures, extending the life of equipment, and ensuring the stability of the grid.
ELW Conseils Inc: Polaris ETP helps companies transform their documents and internal processes into deployable artificial intelligence agents, with human validation, governance, and compliance integrated.
Montreal
Stingmaster Inc. develops and markets a patented, scientifically validated natural analgesic cream that quickly relieves pain from marine stings and insect bites. Based in Quebec, the company targets the North American market.
Marasa Inc. develops AI products that assist professionals in their operations. Our first platform provides support to real estate professionals in managing and interpreting their data.
NÜ Programmatique Inc, an independent Quebec company specializing in programmatic advertising. It combines artificial intelligence, transparency, and ethics to guide Canadian brands towards advertising 2.0.
Creativity Quebec, a social enterprise that deploys the first Creativity League to reveal, measure, and enhance the future skills of young people, bringing schools closer to the world of work and supporting educational environments.
Covaly Talent develops an intelligent co-pilot for SME leaders, combining AI, psychometrics, and visualization to improve onboarding and talent development without losing corporate culture.
DAFi is an AI platform that transforms courses into notes, quizzes, flashcards, and audiobooks. It detects student blockages, personalizes their revisions, and helps teachers and businesses better understand and improve learning.
Groupe ÉLY-SK inc. redefines well-being in Rivière-des-Prairies. By acquiring the franchise rights to operate the IDOLEM Hot Yoga studio for the Rivière-des-Prairies area, they create a space where body, mind, and community come together to inspire balance, inclusion, and a sustainable business model that fosters economic and social vitality.
Millie cosmetics, an inclusive Quebec brand offering vegan makeup products suitable for all skin tones, created by professional makeup artist Cindy Millien.
OrIA Group (OsmosAI inc.): helps care environments regain balance between efficiency, compliance, and well-being. An intelligent solution, rooted in their reality, that frees up time to focus on what really matters: the quality of care.
Solutions Flex Travel Inc., a SaaS platform that helps travel providers optimize and automate their B2B operations through predictive analytics, revenue management, and smart solutions.
Énergie Positive Inc: transforms electric vehicle batteries into innovative energy storage systems, promoting energy autonomy and the transition to a circular and decarbonized economy.
About the Honorary Scholarships
The Honorific Grants, initiated by Entreprendre ici with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, aim to support entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diversity across Quebec. Since 2018, 196 Honorary Scholarships of up to $25,000 have been awarded by Entreprendre ici, for a total amount of $4,720,000. These are the highest scholarships offered in Quebec to date and a unique opportunity to celebrate the perseverance, innovation, and dynamism of entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diversity, who contribute to the economic growth of Quebec today and tomorrow.
About Entreprendre ici
Entreprendre ici is a national organization that works for equal opportunities in business by supporting ethnocultural diversity entrepreneurs in their journey. By promoting inclusion and the growth of the Quebec economy, the organization supports entrepreneurs from ethnocultural communities in Quebec who wish to develop and realize their entrepreneurial projects. Entreprendre ici assists businesses by providing a referral service to specialized resources tailored to their needs. The organization's clientele, coming from 140 countries, can benefit from personalized support and access to a network of partners to help them realize or develop their projects.
For any interview requests, please contact :
Myriam Kamako
Communications and Events Officer
Entreprendre ici
Phone: 514 907-9475, extension 106