Prizes

Special Prizes*

Winners of special prizes are selected in conjunction with the partners offering these prizes. The criteria listed below are used in an initial selection process. More detailed criteria determined by the partners are then used to select winning projects. All decisions made by the special juries are final and cannot be appealed.

*These prizes are subject to change at any time prior to the registration deadline. Others may be added during the year.

Special Prize for Business Creation Awarded to Regional Finalists

All projects or businesses that are entered in the Contest and become regional finalists are eligible for the following prize if they meet the criteria established by the sponsors, regardless of whether or not they are regional winners.

• Place aux jeunes en région and Canadian Youth Business Foundation Prize ($5 000)

Each region (with the exception of Montréal and Laval) recommends from among its regional finalists the candidate or candidates whose project shows the greatest potential for allowing young entrepreneurs to set up a business in a regional county municipality affected by the exodus of young people and where Place aux jeunes is present. Thus, the business plan should demonstrate that the promoter(s) are 18 to 35 years old and that the creation of a business will have impacted their decision to live in a region outside the main centres. The provincial winner will be selected by the partner organizations and will receive a prize of $5 000.

• Sustainable Development - Réseau des SADC et CAE / Entrepreneuriat Québec Prize

A prize will be awarded to a company that has demonstrated significant efforts and genuine concern in sustainable development.

Note: the prize is not directed to companies whose business is directly related to the environment or sustainable development (For example: recycling service, production of organic compost, etc.).

Special Prizes for Business Creation Awarded to Provincial Finalists

Winners of the special prizes listed below will be selected from among the provincial finalists of the Contest's seven official categories. No other candidates will be eligible for these prizes.

• Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Grand Prize ($20 000)

A prize of $20 000 offered by the Secrétariat à la jeunesse will be awarded to the project selected from among the provincial finalists in the six official categories that best reflects the Défi de l'entrepreneuriat jeunesse program's objectives and whose entrepreneur(s) are under 35 years of age.

• Population Prize - Gaz Métro, powered by ROGERS (NEW - details to come)

This year, the Québec Entrepreneurship Contest innovates by introducing a population prize with an electronic voting system on mobile devices and the Internet. Competing companies will be selected among the finalists in all categories at the provincial level and the winner will be announced at the Desjardins Provincial Grand Prize Gala on June 20, 2012.

• Association des centres locaux de développement du Québec Prize ($5 000)

A prize of $5 000 is awarded to a company whose project is an important leverage for economic and social development of its community.

• Women's Entrepreneurhsip Prize (total value of $6 500)

Awarded to a project whose principal entrepreneurs are women with real decision-making power who have set up an innovative business. One prize of $4 000 offered by the ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine. This prize is supplemented by a prize worth $2 500 offered by the Réseau des femmes d'affaires du Québec (RFAQ):

• a one-year membership in the RFAQ

• a networking training program offered by the RFAQ

• the possibility to access the RFAQ coaching service

• an advertisement on the RFAQ Web site

• Young Women's Entrepreneurship Prize (total value of $6 500)

Awarded to a project whose principal entrepreneurs are women, 18 to 35 years of age, with real decision-making power who have set up an innovative business. One prize of $4 000 offered by the ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine. This prize is supplemented by a prize worth $2 500 offered by the Réseau des femmes d'affaires du Québec (RFAQ):

• a one-year membership in the RFAQ

• a networking training program offered by the RFAQ

• the possibility to access the RFAQ coaching service

• an advertisement on the RFAQ Web site

• Research and Development Prize – INGENIO, subsidiary of Loto-Québec ($5 000)

A prize of $5 000 awarded to a company for its contribution to research and development in a particular sector. Without devoting itself entirely to research and development work, the company must support its main activities by innovative achievements or original research.

• International Prize – Les Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec ($5 000 value)

Les Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec (LOJIQ) is offering an international prize totalling $5000 to a company for a business trip to any one of its foreign destinations. The winning company must demonstrate its ability and desire to establish lasting business relationships abroad. This foreign visit, which will contribute to the development of the company, will take the form of a trade mission with the objective of sharing expertise; developing products, services or markets; or concluding trade, import and export agreements.

The winning company may designate up to three people to represent it abroad, provided they meet LOJIQ criteria. Candidates must be between 18 and 35 years old, possess Canadian citizenship and have been residing in Québec for a minimum of one year. Business leaders, employees or any other persons designated by the company may take part.

The prize includes the cost of air transportation, health insurance and a portion of participants’ living expenses (meals and accommodation), up to a maximum of $5000 for those travelling abroad. It also covers support for the professional organization before departure, depending on the needs of the candidate(s). This non-transferable grant must be used within twelve months from the date of attribution.

Prizes in cash or in free services could be awarded at the local level.