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Aqua

Entrepreneur

Program

 

Propelling water tech businesses to grow their market impact  

 

Call for applications open until April 15, 2026

 

AquaEntrepreneur, Quebec's flagship water technology commercialization program

 

AquaEntrepreneur is Quebec's flagship water-tech commercialization program. It is designed for water innovation companies that are ready to pivot and propel their growth in their target market.

 

This 10-month support program aims to commercialize and strengthen the competitiveness of Quebec water technology companies. Through strategic mentoring, pilot projects, visibility opportunities, and structured technical guidance, businesses have the tools to accelerate their market expansion.

 

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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

How it works

 
noun-drop-1067524-FFFFFF Propel your company's growth and impact across your target markets with tailored commercialization 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, and AquaAction's ecosystem of partners and businesses.
noun-drop-1067524-FFFFFF Participate in strategic events and networking opportunities.
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Who can join? 

The AquaEntrepreneur Program is currently open to:

 

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 Companies that have a NEQ (Quebec Enterprise Number) or are in the process of obtaining one. 
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)

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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.
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Shark tank style pitching event animated by Luc Sirois, Quebec’s Chief Innovator

Register for our info sessions to learn more about the AquaEntrepreneur Program 

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Info session

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Ax.C, office 403.1
Register

Why join?

 

If you are an entrepreneur with an innovative solution that directly or indirectly addresses water-related issues, the AquaEntrepreneur program is your springboard to commercial success.  

Receive expert coaching

Secure pilots and/or contracts

Show your impact

Open new markets

Gain strategic exposure

Besides the $250 registration fee, if your application is accepted, this program is entirely free, thanks to the support of our sponsors.

 

Ready to propel your commercialization?


Fill out the application form by April 15, 2026, and contribute to a secure and lasting future for water and the blue economy.

Strategic Partners and Sponsors

 

In collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, AquaEntrepreneur's success is based on a solid ecosystem of strategic partners and sponsors who play a key role in the commercialization and deployment of Quebec water technologies.

Thanks to these partnerships, participating companies have access to pilot projects, allowing them to test, validate, and demonstrate the performance of their solutions in municipal, industrial, mining, agri-food, and infrastructure environments.

 

If you would like to explore partnership opportunities, please contact:
Jeanne Ménard, Partnership Manager  

Program partners

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 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 opportunities 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

Testimonials

Carole Riopel
 
 Carole Riopel
Co-founder | EXO Tactik Inc.
 
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. 

 

 

Étienne Lemieux
 
 Étienne Lemieux
President & CEO | BioAlert Solutions
 
 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.  

 

 

Alexy Lavigne-McPhnee (2)
 
 Alexy Lavigne-McPhnee
Co-founder | Flirt Drinks
 
My experience with AquaEntrepreneur has opened the door to meaningful connections with the right people. The network is the most important thing as an entrepreneur, and the people I met through the program allowed me to bring the company to another level.

 

For more information

 

For entrepreneurs, contact Juliette Dufresne, Coordinator AquaEntrepreneur: juliette@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 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 application form by April 15th, 2026, and a member of our team will contact you!

When you complete the AquaEntrepreneur program, you become a member of the AquaNation. 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.

1. Submission of applications via the form

2. Evaluation of applications

3. Presentation of eligible companies to the selection committee

4. Selection by our selection committee

5. Final decision by the committee and communication of results by email to all candidates

According to the agreement with the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy, as well as the Charter of the French Language (RLRQ, chapter C-11), most activities will be offered in French only.