Each project must be registered in one of the seven official categories. At the provincial level, there is a first and second prize in each of these categories:
Special prizes are chosen from among the provincial finalists in the seven official categories of the OSEntreprendre Challenge. No other projects are eligible for these prizes.
*Given the breadth of registered projects with a link to the bio-food industry, and in order to ensure the proper evaluation of projects, a business that fits the definition of the Bio-Food category as well as either the Social Economy category or the Technological and Technical Innovation category should register in one of two categories, and not the category Bio-Food.
A business with a physical and/or online point of sale whose revenues stem mostly from direct sales to customers and marketing products to wholesalers or retailers.
**Agricultural business that sell their products directly to consumers register in the Bio-food category.
Co-operative, mutual company or non-profit organization that conducts commercial activities for social purposes, i.e. sells or trades goods and services not to make a profit, but rather to meet the needs of its members or host community. The enterprise puts in place democratic rules of governance for and by members, is constituted so that decision-making power is not held by one or more private and/or public bodies, aspires to be economically viable, provides rules that prohibit or limit the distribution of surpluses generated by its activities, and, in the event of dissolution, transfers its remaining assets to an organization with similar objectives.
***A business that fits both this definition and the definition of one or more other categories (e.g. a co-operative microbrewery) should register in the Social Economy category.
A business that exploits natural resources, or that produces or processes semi-finished or finished products, with the exception of bio-food products intended for human consumption.
An innovative business that creates new products, processes or innovative applications. This business aims to improve, change, modify, transform or revolutionize an activity sector or social practice.
****The business’ offer must be coherent with the definition. The simple act of using technology or working in the technology sector is not sufficient, in and of itself, to register the application in this category. For example, a business that develops made-to-measure applications for clients should register in the Services to Companies category.
A business that provides services to organizations or other businesses.
A business that provides services to the public, including restaurants and hospitality enterprises.
The winners of the following special prizes will be chosen from among the regional finalists in the seven official categories of the OSEntreprendre Challenge. No other projects are eligible for these prizes.
Young Entrepreneur Honorary Prize, presented by Ministère de l'Économie et de l'innovation du Québec | $5 000
The Young Entrepreneur Honorary Prize was created at the regional level to showcase young business creators who are 35 years old or under.
Student Founder of a Business Prize, presented by The Fonds de recherche du Québec | $500
The Student Founder of a Business Prize was created at the regional level to showcase students who launched their business while pursuing a college or university education.
The winners of the following special prizes will be chosen from among the provincial finalists in the seven official categories of the OSEntreprendre Challenge. No other projects are eligible for these prizes.
Youth Entrepreneurship Grand Prizes | Two prizes of $10,000
The Youth Entrepreneurship Grand Prize, presented by the Secrétariat à la jeunesse, was created to showcase the most inspirational young business creators of 35 years old or under among the provincial finalists in the Business Creation section of the OSEntreprendre Challenge.
Provincial People’s Choice Prize powered by Videotron Business | $2 000
The People’s Choice Provincial Prize, powered by Vidéotron Business, was created to showcase inspirational entrepreneurs among the provincial finalists in the Business Creation section of the OSEntreprendre Challenge.
Chief Scientist Prize, presented by Québec Research Funds | $5 000
The Chief Scientist’s Favourite Prize, presented by Québec Research Funds, is intended to promote, at the provincial level, entrepreneurs who make use of science or their science knowledge and skills to develop businesses, products and services.
Ingenuity Prize, presented by Loto-Québec | $5 000
The Ingenuity Prize was created to showcase a company, selected from among the provincial finalists in the official categories of the OSEntreprendre Challenge, that demonstrates ingenuity, whether in the nature of the products offered or the way they are offered.
Entrepreneuriat féminin Prize, presented by the Secrétariat à la condition féminine | $3 000
The Female Entrepreneurship Prize was created to showcase a business selected from among all the provincial finalists in the official categories of the OSEntreprendre Challenge, in which at least 50% of the entrepreneurial team is composed of women who have meaningful decision-making authority.
