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Aqua

Entrepreneur

Program

 

Propelling water businesses to strengthen economic and national resilience

 

 

The AquaEntrepreneur program is a 6 to 10-month support program


Designed for water tech companies ready to innovate, pivot, and accelerate their growth. Entrepreneurs benefit from personalized coaching, with a solid network of expert coaches. To accelerate their commercialization and generate impact, they have access to exclusive business opportunities and trade missions abroad. 

Together, we're building a secure and prosperous future for water.

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Picture 2, Section 3

AquaEntrepreneur's impact 

Since 2022, AquaEntrepreneur has been helping water tech businesses grow, scale, and make a lasting impact.

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Companies that completed the program
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Pilot projects and contracts signed
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Olympic swimming pools of water saved*
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Value of public and private contracts

* According to positive water impact reports based on ISO standards
Analyses conducted by our partner, Oxia Initiative. For more information, contact us at info@aquaaction.org

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How it works

 
noun-drop-1067524-FFFFFF Accelerate your company's growth and market impact through targeted business support. 
noun-drop-1067524-FFFFFF Receive an initial assessment to identify your company's specific needs.
noun-drop-1067524-FFFFFF Gain access to personalized coaching with leading experts.
noun-drop-1067524-FFFFFF Connect with potential customers, technology adopters, partners, and the alumni community.
noun-drop-1067524-FFFFFF Participate in strategic events and networking opportunities.
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Meeting with the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
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Roundtable session at AquaCamp 2024 focused on best practices for writing successful grant proposals. 
Trade Mission Arizona
Business delegation to Arizona, highlighting cross-border collaboration and business opportunities. 
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Panel discussion bringing together AquaEntrepreneurs alumni at AquaCamp 2023 to share their experiences and perspectives.
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Behind the scenes of a  pitch session titled “AquaHeroes: Entrepreneurs Changing the World, One Innovation at a Time” held during a high-visibility event.
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Interactive sales workshop led by André Lavigne during AquaCamp 2023, entitled “Demystifying Sales.”
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Coaching Director Patricia Dorne and Étienne Lemieux, AquaEntrepreneur, participating in a podcast about the program.
Shark Tank, Luc Sirois
Shark tank style pitching event animated by Luc Sirois, Quebec’s Chief Innovator

Who can join? 

The AquaEntrepreneur Program is currently open to:

 

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 Companies with a valid NEQ (Quebec Enterprise Number)  
noun-drop-1067524-244CAF Companies developing innovative water-related solutions 
noun-drop-1067524-244CAF Technologies ready for real-world deployment (TRL 6+ level) with strong growth 
noun-drop-1067524-244CAF Scale-ready businesses, either established companies seeking growth or promising startups with proven business models
noun-drop-1067524-244CAF Companies generating revenues below $5 million

Have questions?
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why join? 

 

If you're an entrepreneur with an innovative solution in the water sector, the AquaEntrepreneur program is your gateway to commercial success.

Ready to accelerate

your impact?


Fill in the application form to express your interest in the next edition of the program and to contribute to a safer, more sustainable future for water and the blue economy.

Receive Expert Coaching

Benefit from  30 hours of personalized coaching from experts

Secure Pilots and Contracts

Secure new pilot projects and contracts through AquaAction’s many networks of municipalities and companies

Show your impact

Obtain an ISO-compliant water and/or carbon impact report

Open new markets

Take part in trade missions abroad to open up new international markets

Gain strategic exposure

Participate in high-profile events to showcase your business and expand your professional network. 

Overview of the program

Phase 1

Access to personalized coaching and initial pairing with our partners  

 

Phase 2

Initial municipal and industrial pairing, and launch of pilot projects and sales contracts 

 

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Kickoff 

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Official program launch event  
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Public showcase of selected companies 
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Presentation of the program, its partners, and coaches
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Networking cocktail party 
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AquaCamp

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 Mid-program event
noun-drop-1067524-244CAF Opportunity to participate in workshops and practical sessions  led by experts
noun-drop-1067524-244CAF Showcase innovative water technologies to key private sector decision-makers, municipal leaders, and elected officials
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Trade Mission

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 Trade mission aimed at creating business opportunities and exploring cross-border collaborations
noun-drop-1067524-244CAF Strategic meetings with key industry players, institutions, and decision-makers
Throughout the program, take advantage of webinars, training, participation in high-visibility events, strategic networking, and personalized coaching

Testiomonials

Our coach has successfully identified the essential actions to take to achieve maximum impact. She particularly helped us enhance the value proposition and develop a new business model tailored to the municipal sector.

Carole Riopel

Co-founder | EXO Tactik inc.

As an innovative entrepreneur, AquaEntrepreneur enabled me to validate complex markets effectively. Their team of experts quickly gave me the answers I needed, and trade shows opened doors for us to prestigious customers as far south as Arizona. 

Étienne Lemieux

President & CEO | BioAlert Solutions

X-Telia covers more than 25 cities in Canada, with customers in the USA leveraging our innovations to read their water meters. This water market is poised to explode in the next 5 years. Today is the time to position ourselves to seize the opportunity. Water businesses will thrive, addressing a problem that poses a threat to humanity.

Éric Bourbeau

CEO | X-Telia

Carole Riopel
Étienne Lemieux
Éric Bourbeau

Organized by

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With the support of

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For more information

For entrepreneurs, contact Laila Benameur, Director of AquaEntrepreneur: laila@aquaaction.org
For coaches, contact Patricia Dorne, Director of Coaching, AquaEntrepreneur: patricia@aquaaction.org

FAQ

AquaEntrepreneur is open to companies incorporated in Quebec that are developing innovative solutions in the water sector. Applicants must: 

Icon Have a technology that is ready to be deployed in a real-world environment, and whose Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is ready to be commercialized. (TRL 7+) Click here to find out more about Technology maturity levels.
Icon Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of your target audience
Icon Be able to clearly explain the value proposition and how the solution addresses the needs of the target audience.
Icon Demonstrate strong growth potential with an established business model validated by potential customers (“customer discovery” method)
Icon Demonstrate reliable sales projections
Icon  Generate revenues of less than CAD 5 million annually.

We support companies for whom water is a strategic issue, whether at the heart of their processes, products, services, or solutions. If your business aims to reduce, reuse, recycle, or recover water, or to detect and/or eliminate pathogens (bacteria, viruses, toxic algae, etc.) or contaminants such as PFAS, you may be eligible for our support.

 

Some examples of areas of intervention include:

 

Icon Water treatment and management
Icon Monitoring technologies, smart sensors, and IoT
Icon Water infrastructure and climate adaptation
Icon Optimization of the water footprint in industrial processes
Icon Solutions for agriculture and agri-food
Icon Municipal management and technologies for smart cities
Icon Blue energy and hydroelectric innovations...

 

We target the following sectors and more:

 

Icon Municipal markets and regional partnerships
Icon Energy
Icon Manufacturing
Icon Mining
Icon Fashion and textiles
Icon Construction
Icon Healthcare
Icon Agriculture and AgTech
Icon Pulp and paper
Icon Food and beverages

 

If your company offers innovative water-related solutions for any of these sectors, your project may be eligible.

Icon Over 30 hours of personalized coaching with industry experts.
Icon Support in securing pilot projects and commercial contracts.
Icon Opportunity to participate in international trade missions.
Icon Preparation of an ISO-compliant water and/or carbon impact report.
Icon Increased visibility through strategic events and partnerships.

The program lasts 6 to 10 months and offers structured support:

Icon Initial assessment to identify the company's specific needs.
Icon Personalized coaching with experts in business, technology and financing.
Icon Connections with potential customers, investors and partners.
Icon Participation in strategic events and marketing opportunities.

The program is entirely free thanks to the support of MEIE and our partners, but a $250 registration fee is required if your application is selected. 

Fill out the online Intent form, and a member of our team will contact you!

When you complete the AquaEntrepreneur program, you become a member of the AquaNation. AquaNation is the exclusive network of AquaAction program alumni. This growing community brings together water technology leaders, innovators, and experts committed to developing solutions in North America and offers support and strategic opportunities to its members.

Visit the video section of this page to learn more about the program, its benefits, and the types of solutions supported by the program. You can also visit the Portfolio page on our website for all AquaNation solutions.