Montreal, December 9, 2025
Entreprendre ici is releasing the results of its study today on the impact of the Honorific Grants on businesses owned by entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diverse backgrounds in Quebec since 2018. Conducted by the Research Institute on SMEs at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), the report highlights the obstacles these entrepreneurs face, their motivations, and key success factors.
Since their inception, the Honorific Grants have aimed to support entrepreneurs from ethnoculturally diverse backgrounds by providing financial assistance and strategic guidance. The report published by Entreprendre ici analyzes data collected from participants and reveals significant trends regarding their needs, challenges, and growth prospects.
Report highlights:
Access to resources and the difficulties encountered : Financing receives the lowest accessibility score (43.43%), ranking last behind training (64.14%), consulting (62.14%), and peer exchanges among entrepreneurs (60.86%)—resources considered more accessible by entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diverse backgrounds. Key challenges identified include finding clients (60.2%), joining networks (57.6%), and obtaining bank loans (54.2%).
The non-financial impact of the grants: beyond the funding—which motivates 40.4% of applicants—it is also other factors (accounting for nearly 60% of motivations) that draw entrepreneurs to these honorary grants: the pursuit of credibility (19.3%), recognition (18.4%), and networking opportunities (14.4%).
Economic integration is paramount: finalists for the Honorary Scholarships arrived in Canada an average of 3.5 years earlier than non-finalists, highlighting the pivotal role of understanding the local economic landscape, building networks, and undergoing entrepreneurial acculturation in the success of entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
A strong female presence, a mature entrepreneurial population, and high human capital: 55.4% of respondents are women, bucking traditional trends in entrepreneurship where men are often the most represented group. The majority (41.9%) fall within the 35–44 age bracket, reflecting an experienced entrepreneurial population. Furthermore, 47.5% of respondents hold a postgraduate degree (master’s or doctorate), demonstrating high human capital.
The businesses are predominantly in the start-up phase: 43.7% generate less than $50,000 in revenue, and 44.1% are not yet profitable. Conversely, only 4.9% of the businesses employ more than 10 people. These figures reflect the early stage of development of many of the supported businesses—typical of immigrant entrepreneurship, which often begins with limited resources.
The funding thus arrives at a critical juncture—a time when every investment counts. The funds are used for strategic expenditures: purchasing equipment (27%), product development (24%), marketing (18%), or hiring (9%).
Quotes :
"The data emerging from this report allow us to better understand the realities and challenges faced by diverse entrepreneurs in Quebec. We are very proud to see that the *Bourses d’Honneur* are having a positive impact on the performance and integration of diverse entrepreneurs, and that this effect extends beyond the funding itself. This confirms that our mission to support diverse entrepreneurship is an investment in an inclusive and innovative Quebec." — Ibrahim Kabore, Executive Director of Entreprendre ici.
"The results highlight the importance of viewing immigrant entrepreneurship as a multidimensional phenomenon, in which social capital and institutional recognition play a role just as essential as financing in the success of ventures." — Jean Pierre D. Menguele, postdoctoral researcher at UQTR.
The full report is available at this link: Honorary Scholarship Impact Study Report – November 2025.
Study methodology
The evaluation of the impact of *Bourses d’honneur* (Honor Awards) on entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds in Quebec is an initiative of Entreprendre ici. The study was conducted by a group of researchers from the Research Institute on SMEs at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, in partnership with Mitacs. Data collection took place in the summer of 2025. The analysis employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews conducted with a sample of 451 entrepreneurs (including 212 applicants for the award). The methodology integrates descriptive statistical analyses, chi-square tests, and t-tests.
About Honorific Grants
The Honorific Grants, launched by Entreprendre ici with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, aim to support entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diverse backgrounds across Quebec. Since 2018, Entreprendre ici has awarded 196 Honor Grants of up to $25,000, totaling $4,720,000. These are the largest grants of their kind offered in Quebec to date and represent a unique opportunity to celebrate the perseverance, innovation, and dynamism of entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diverse backgrounds who contribute to Quebec’s economic growth—both today and in the future.
About Entreprendre ici
Entreprendre ici is a national organization dedicated to fostering equal opportunity in business by supporting entrepreneurs from diverse ethnocultural backgrounds throughout their journey. By promoting inclusion and the growth of the Quebec economy, the organization assists entrepreneurs from Quebec’s ethnocultural communities who wish to develop and bring their business projects to fruition. Entreprendre ici supports businesses by guiding them toward specialized resources tailored to their specific needs. The organization’s clientele—hailing from 140 countries—benefits from personalized support and access to a network of partners to help them launch or grow their ventures.
For all interview requests, please contact:
Myriam Kamako
Chargée des communications et événements
Entreprendre ici
Téléphone : 514 907-9475, poste 106
Courriel : myriam.kamako@entreprendreici.org