Designed for individuals and teams at the beginning of their start-up journey, this 6-week phase—focused on social and environmental impact—helps you understand challenges, map the landscape, and build sustainable solutions.

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Who is it for?

Any individual or team ready to jump into entrepreneurship to solve complex social or environmental challenges.

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What do you gain?

Ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and master systems thinking. Conduct research to better understand your challenge using systems mapping and the Impact Gaps Canvas. By the end, you’ll:

• Enhance your problem-solving skills
• Confidently develop impactful solutions
• Visualize complex systems
• Apply a systems-thinking approach to business development

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Things to know

• District 3 offers a 6-week experience featuring weekly 2.5-hour workshops and office hours.
• Expect a commitment of up to 10 hours per week.
• Services are completely free, and no equity is taken.

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Specific Expertise

Support is aimed at entrepreneurs using new technologies to innovate. District 3 offers sector-specific expertise (e.g., biotech, healthcare, social innovation) with resources tailored to your needs.

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Dedicated programs

Are you a Concordia student ready to build lasting entrepreneurial skills, or a researcher wanting to bring your innovation to life? Explore tailored opportunities:

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Alan Shepherd Summer residency for recent Concordia grads & current students →

Refine your business model and sharpen your leadership skills in this 12-week intensive program. Engage with potential customers and stakeholders to validate your assumptions and create a clear action plan.

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Who is it for?

Early-stage startups with proof of concept, ready to bring their innovation to market. Teams should have the technical capacity to build the solution.
NB: High-tech startups don’t require proof of concept for this program.

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What do you gain?

Test your market hypotheses and develop your business model while working alongside peers. Use hands-on methods to validate your ideas through stakeholder discovery and customer interviews. Access 1:1 industry-specific coaching and attend workshops and training—all within District 3’s downtown Montreal coworking space.

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Things to know

• District 3 offers a 10- to 12-week program that includes individual work, coaching, and workshops.
• Commitment: ~25 hours per week per co-founder.
• Weekly in-person attendance is required for a 3-hour session.
• Our services are completely free, with no equity taken.
• Your intellectual property remains fully yours.

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Sector-specific Support

Gain access to industry-specific coaching and knowledge in health, bio, high tech, and social innovation.
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Sectors →

Accelerate your startup’s growth with hands-on coaching from experienced entrepreneurs. Secure both dilutive and non-dilutive funding, refine your pitch, and strengthen your IP strategy. Build your team, expand into global markets, and gain access to a powerful network of mentors, partners, and investors to maximize your impact.

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Who is it for?

Startups that have demonstrated customer or stakeholder traction and seek to accelerate toward closing a seed round or achieving product–market fit.

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What do you gain?

Access to tailored services to build your product, acquire customers, and achieve or boost early sales. Get biweekly 1:1 industry-specific coaching focused on 90-day sprints, plus customized workshops and peer-to-peer sessions. We’ll help you navigate non-dilutive funding and fundraising rounds while connecting you with a robust network of local and global partners and investors. Enjoy co-working space access and join a community of like-minded innovators.

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Things to know

• We’re looking for ideas leveraging emerging technologies or innovative business models.
• Team: at least two co-founders, with full-time commitment from at least one.
• Our services are free, we take no equity, and your IP remains fully yours.

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Sector-specific support

Gain access to industry-specific events, partners, networks, funding, coaching, and knowledge in health, bio, high tech, and social innovation.