Québec Tech: Official Partner of Startupfest 2025

In the media

Once again this year, Québec Tech had the honour of being the official partner of Startupfest, Canada’s largest startup festival, now in its 15th edition.

Our presence took shape through two key initiatives: a fully French-language conference series showcasing bold and inspiring voices from our ecosystem and the activation of the Québec Tech zone, featuring 15 partners at the heart of the Startupfest village.

Celebrating francophone entrepreneurship: 4 panels, 4 powerful visions

For the second year in a row, Québec Tech curated a dedicated half-day of French-language conferences, an initiative that continues to grow and reflects the momentum of our vibrant tech ecosystem.

These four panels offered more than insight: they delivered inspiration, perspective, and practical tools for today’s and tomorrow’s founders.

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Panel 1 — Québec Tech in numbers: a growing ecosystem

With Étienne Bernard (Head of Data & Analytics, Québec Tech) and Marc-André Campagna (Co-founder & CEO, Gaiia)

This opening session revealed key findings from the 2025 Québec tech Report, followed by a candid discussion with serial entrepreneur Marc-André Campagna.

Key takeaways:

A rising number of serial entrepreneurs is fuelling a virtuous cycle of mentorship, ambition, and access to capital.
Pre-seed and seed investments are declining, a sign of a more cautious risk culture in Québec compared to our U.S. counterparts.
In the U.S., early-stage investment comes with clear delivery expectations. In Québec, support tends to be more patient, sometimes too patient.
Flexible term sheets are essential to help startups pivot and thrive.
Marc-André’s message to investors: “Trust all the way through.”

Keyword of the session: Ambition — Dare to aim higher by learning from those who’ve already done it.

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Panel 2 — Where sport and entrepreneurship intersect: keys to healthy performance

With Étienne Crevier (Host, Les Dérangeants) and Joannie Rochette (Olympic Medalist, Anesthesiologist)

In this dynamic conversation, Olympian and doctor Joannie Rochette drew sharp parallels between high-performance sports and entrepreneurship.

Highlights:

Set realistic short-term goals as stepping stones to long-term vision
Success relies on the strength of your team and support network
Seeking sponsors is as demanding as fundraising
Position yourself like a product: control your image, hide your weaknesses, make strategic choices (choreography, outfit, branding)
Ongoing competition requires poise and professionalism

A powerful panel on resilience, authenticity, and mental discipline.

Panel 3 — Puzzle Medical Devices: From Student Idea to Artificial Heart

With Jade Doucet-Martineau (Co-founder & CEO, Puzzle Medical Devices) and Luc Giguère (Entrepreneurship Professor)

A heartfelt discussion about a truly unique journey from classroom project to operating room reality.

Standout moments:

The idea originated in an entrepreneurship course: creating a miniaturized artificial heart to reduce heart failure risks
The first 3D-printed prototype was funded out-of-pocket and helped convince a world-renowned heart surgeon
During the pandemic, the team raised $1 million mainly from doctors and mentors, as VCs were out of reach
Memorable anecdote: sleeping beside a sheep during the first animal trial
Canadian investors are patient and supportive; American investors are fast and demanding
Golden advice: “Find the solution yourself. That’s how you become an expert.”

An inspiring story of tenacity, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial courage.

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Panel 4 — Purpose-Driven Growth: A Candid Conversation with Christine Renaud

With Richard Chénier (Executive Director, Québec Tech) and Christine Renaud (Co-founder & CEO, Braindate)

In this final session, Christine Renaud offered a transparent account of her journey building Braindate, a business networking platform.

Three key messages:

Testing with partners like C2 Montréal or Startupfest can build massive credibility
The reason to build a business should be rooted in solving real problems
Venture capital isn’t mandatory. Growth aligned with your personal values isn’t just possible — it’s sustainable

A deeply human panel on impact, clarity of intention, and balancing ambition with well-being.

This 100% French-language sequence at Startupfest 2025 proved once again that innovation thrives in French — with ambition, depth, and courage. From data-driven insights to vulnerable founder stories, from Olympic discipline to medical precision, these panels revealed the full spectrum of Québec Tech in motion.

The Québec Tech Zone: showcasing Québec innovation

For three full days, Québec Tech and 15 partners brought the Québec Tech zone to life, a vibrant space for networking, discovery, and collective impact.

For our partners, it was a strategic opportunity to connect with the next wave of entrepreneurs, engage with key players in the ecosystem, and showcase their mission in action.

A huge thank you to our 15 partners for their trust, energy, and commitment to making this zone a true success: ACET, Catalyseur en technologie de la santé (CTS), Centech, Creative Destruction Lab, District 3, Investissement Québec, La base entrepreneuriale HEC Montréal, Le Camp, Next AI, MT Lab, Zú, Propolys – Polytechnique Montréal, Groupe 3737, Quantino, Technum Québec