Summary#
Montréal’s city council unanimously adopted an orientation asking the agglomeration council to grant La Base entrepreneuriale HEC Montréal up to $375,000 for “Momentum Montréal” and approve a contribution agreement. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. The project’s stated goal is to support women’s entrepreneurship and businesses in a growth phase.
- If approved, the contribution would cover activities from 2026 to 2029, with payments scheduled across those years.
- The project has two parts: “Fondatrices” for women entrepreneurs, and “Envergure” for businesses seeking to grow.
- The agreement would set the terms and conditions for payment. Its full text is not provided in the materials.
What it means for you#
- Women entrepreneurs and growing businesses: City staff describe planned support through coaching, mentoring, seminars and connections with investors and business leaders. Staff say “Fondatrices” aims to support 50 women entrepreneurs each year and help create or strengthen about 30 businesses. “Envergure” plans to support about 10 growth-stage businesses per annual group.
- Applicants: The decision does not itself give any person or business a right to receive services or funding. The materials do not set out application or selection rules.
- Taxpayers: The proposed contribution would be paid entirely by the agglomeration, according to city staff.
Money#
The proposed contribution is capped at $375,000; the city council’s orientation is not the agglomeration council’s final decision.
- Planned payments are $150,000 in 2026, $125,000 in 2027, $75,000 in 2028 and $25,000 in 2029.
- City staff say the money is budgeted through the Réflexe 2 and Réflexe 3 agreements with Québec’s Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy.
- No separate estimate of administrative or staffing costs is provided.
What is unclear#
- The full contribution agreement is not included. No publicly available information in the supplied materials explains its detailed payment conditions or what happens if targets are missed.
- The materials do not give application, eligibility or selection rules for participants.
- City staff say a final accountability report is due in October 2029, but the materials do not describe what consequences could follow from that report.
Case for#
- City staff say the two parts address different needs: support for women entrepreneurs and support for businesses in a growth phase.
- Staff also say the earlier EntrePrism project completed its planned activities and met most of its targets. That experience may support using the same organization for another project.
Case against#
- The contribution is a public commitment, but the supplied materials do not include the agreement’s detailed conditions or explain how results would affect payment.
- The participant targets are plans described by city staff, not guaranteed outcomes.