NEWS

Winners of the 2008 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Contest

Students and Alumni Heading Four Businesses

On November 26, the Centre d'entrepreneurship HEC-Poly-UdeM announced the names of the winning businesses in the 11th edition of its Entrepreneurship and Innovation contest. This year, the Centre and its partners awarded $98,500 to 13 very promising firms, including four directed by HEC Montréal alumni or students. The Centre, which marked its 10th anniversary in September, has helped 105 of the School’s students and alumni to achieve their entrepreneurial ambitions and create 74 firms still in operation.

The winning firms in the 2008 edition are:

Enseed inc.

This company designs and distributes high-definition mediatheques for broadcasting. It was founded in November 2007 by Gaspard Petit, who holds an MBA from the School (2008), a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering from Concordia University, and a Master’s in Computer Science from the Université de Montréal. The technology he developed makes it possible to quickly broadcast images and video clips from different media and formats, including USB keys, scanners and digital cameras. www.enseed.ca

Awards:

• BMO Financial Group: $5,000
• Jean-Pierre Chartrand/Novacap/Réseau capital: $5,000
• Univalor: $5,000
• Bell: $4,000
• HEC Montréal: $1,000
• Chapdelaine Consultants inc.: consulting services worth $1,000

Groupe Ricochet inc.

Alexandre Vincent, BBA 2008, combined Marketing and Management option, and Philippe Roy, BBA 2007, majoring in Marketing, Retail Management track, founded a company that operates mechanical vending machines. The company’s Website will be on line shortly (www.groupericochet.com).

Awards:

• Canada Economic Development: $2,000
• Jean-Pierre Chartrand/Novacap/Réseau capital: $2,000
• Centre d’entrepreneurship HEC-Poly-UdeM: $500

COVOQ.com inc.

Founded by Charles-Kevin Bergeron-Poulin, BBA 2008, majoring in Management, Entrepreneur track, COVOQ.com inc. offers on-line car-pooling services for businesses. www.covoq.com

Awards:

• Fondation du maire de Montréal pour la jeunesse: $2,500
• Jean-Pierre Chartrand/Novacap/Réseau capital: $2,000

Les Projets VF

Vincent Gendreau, BBA student, Professional Accounting major, and Francis Pelletier, BBA student, combined Marketing and Operations Management and Logistics option, created a company that specializes in wall and ceiling coverings, serving the residential and commercial sectors. www.lesprojetsvf.com

Award:

• Canada Economic Development: $3,000