From conceptualization to product marketing, these teams of students must carry out all the stages of setting up a business.
Starting at 9 p.m. Sunday, after the two days of competition, the best team will get their ticket to the grand finale, which will crown the best company in the competition at the provincial level. Professional support will be offered to the winners so that they can make their young company last.
The initial goal was to develop entrepreneurial know-how. […] We have to deal with a lot of knowledge. Entrepreneurship has only been theoretical for a few decades. Now, we want to develop know-how based on these theories, in the field
underlines Éric Charlebois, co-founder and designer of Défi 48, headed by Apprends et Entreprends.
” These are young people who are brilliant, they are young people who are working to become experts in their field of study. Now, we must ensure that this field of study translates into know-how within a community! »
Sherbrooke is one of the eight cities that the Défi 48 team will visit, which is in its second year of activity. According to the organizers, the Sherbrooke students have encouraged local industry by developing their project.
The young entrepreneurs had to overcome major challenges in the development of their project.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Pierrick Pichette
We have companies that have already linked up with local entrepreneurs. It’s very rare that entrepreneurs, so quickly during Challenge 48, show up at the challenge with products and come and chat with our budding entrepreneurs.
adds Mr. Charlebois.
” Hats off to the business community of Sherbrooke and the surrounding area, it’s superb. »
With COVID-19, it is small businesses that have suffered the most, during confinements and other measures. Large multinationals have had an easier time absorbing the backlash. […] We want to see a Quebec of the future where local products are encouraged more and more
testified Matis Gauthier-Routhier, who worked with his team on the manufacture and sale of baskets of local products.
Grow as a human… in 48 hours
Ideas of all kinds, ranging from supporting influencers to IT assistance and offering maintenance services, are springing up at the Université de Sherbrooke’s creative studio.
The students were able to receive help from the organizers of the challenge to develop their project.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Pierrick Pichette
In the eyes of the participants, it is an enriching experience not only on the entrepreneurial level, but also on the human level.
It allows us to develop contacts with people we were already close to, but not close enough. The links are woven through the challenge. It also allows us to live an experience that it would not be possible to live in normal times without going into business.
said Maxence Mougin, a robotics engineering student who is taking part in the challenge.
His team’s project consists of marketing purely Estrie activity packages allowing tourists and newcomers to discover the region.
” I find that the Défi 48 is a springboard. This is the basis for going further. »
There are many participants who wish to continue their project, even beyond the competition. Others simply have the entrepreneurial bug, and plan to set up other such businesses in the near future.
When we met, we understood that it didn’t necessarily take an event to take action. We can do it overnight, without necessarily being in a context of competition. When we put our mind to it, we can make it
concluded participant Mariange Charbonneau.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca