Montreal, November 16, 2023,
The sixth edition of the Honorary Scholarships for ethnocultural diversity took place on Tuesday evening. In total, twenty-four (24) Honorary Scholarships, each worth $25,000, were awarded by Entreprendre ici and the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy. This evening also marks the five-year anniversary of the organization Entreprendre ici.
A competition rooted in the ecosystem:
"These Honorary Scholarships allow ethnocultural diversity entrepreneurs to access traditional funding and the necessary support to integrate into the business world. It is essential for our government to stimulate business creation and maximize the chances of success for all Quebec entrepreneurs."
Christopher Skeete, Minister Delegate for the Economy, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism, and Minister Responsible for the Laval region.
"We honor 24 new winners, who join the 124 already rewarded in previous years. These Honorary Scholarships, each worth $25,000, represent much more than just a check; they are an investment in the future of Quebec, a promise.
As we celebrate this 5th anniversary, I also want to highlight the remarkable progress made since 2018. Our network has not only expanded but has also strengthened, becoming a pillar of Quebec's entrepreneurial ecosystem, giving rise to programs and services that specifically address the challenges faced by entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diversity."
Souad Elmallem, Chair of the Board of Directors of Entreprendre ici
"Since the creation of Entreprendre ici in 2018 and thanks to the unwavering support of the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE), 124 scholarships worth $25,000 each have been awarded to entrepreneurs from all corners of the world.
I also want to express our gratitude to our sponsors. Their support has played a crucial role in the realization of this event and in the fulfillment of our mission."
Rouba Hamadi, Interim General Director of Entreprendre ici
Congratulations to the winners of this sixth edition:
Clotilde Martinez - The Insatiable
Jérôme Vignols - Association Vergers d'Afrique
Edward Ko - Mely.ai Solutions Inc.
Kanica Saphan - The Sexological Sofa
Thao Nguyen - Bonbon Collections Inc.
Alexandre Kénol - Rachel Walliser - Clinique AVA
Mathias Mangion - IVANO Bioscience
Eduardo Toker - Che Empanadas Boutique Inc.
Kamel Mouelhi - Business Soccer
Agathe Piroir - Atelier-Galerie A. Piroir
Alex Antoine Bussing Hudon - Nomie Cohésion Inc.
Salimata Sall - Implique OBNL
Léa Carrera - Le Café Boisé Inc.
Nathalie Khadija Pesin - The village of babies
Mohamed Derdour - EntomoNutris
Zi Wei (Zoey) Li - Yumi Bio Santé Inc.
Pierre Lifeng Li - Azimut Médical Inc.
Aminatou Ali Taiga - Djebess products
Nathalie Pen - Creation Biscuits
Martin Belporo - Phista Technologies Inc.
Marie-Christine Ekedi - GASC Services Inc (Àlagarderie.ca)
The three favorite awards:
Paola Ramirez Cabrera Zayra - Femade Boutique
Henriette Mvondo - Welcome to the Immigrant
Abderrahim Tayeb - Industry 4.0 Canada Inc.
The team at Entreprendre ici supports ethnocultural diversity entrepreneurs in realizing their business projects here in Quebec. The services of Entreprendre ici are offered throughout all regions of Quebec. These services are accessible in person, by phone, or via videoconference.
About Entreprendre ici
Entreprendre ici is an initiative of the Government of Quebec (Ministry of Economy and Innovation) that was created in the wake of the Government Action Plan on Entrepreneurship 2017-2022. The organization aims to enable project leaders from ethnocultural diversity to undertake here and to ensure the economic development of Quebec through concrete actions for the enhancement and integration of ethnocultural diversity, personalized guidance facilitating access to the resources of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, strategic alliances for the development of competitiveness, and business skills with a positive and proactive influence on decision-makers.