Creation of a business idea competition on Montreal university campuses, launched as part of "je vois mtl" (I see Montreal)
MONTREAL, Nov. 17, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Fondation Montréal inc. enthusiastically announces one of the largest donations in its history, a major gift of $1 million from the National Bank. This contribution will enable Fondation Montréal inc., to create a competition for business ideas on the campuses of Montreal universities.
Launched at "je vois mtl," the business ideas competition "Your ideas are good business presented by the National Bank" is designed to identify young students and graduates with good business ideas. They will be coached by the entrepreneurship centres and incubators of participating universities and the Fondation's 300 business volunteers in order to convert the ideas received into real business projects.
"The donation by the National Bank to Fondation Montréal inc. is directly connected to the founding mission of our institution, created over 150 years ago to support entrepreneurs and the business community. Over the years, we have also developed a number of partnerships in education in order to support new entrepreneurs," noted National Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Louis Vachon. We are very proud of this new commitment to the Fondation, which enables the Bank to extend its support to the Montreal university community."
Lucien Bouchard, Chairman of Fondation Montréal inc., welcomes this extraordinary support for the 2014-2018 major fund-raising campaign "Commitment to the Future," which has a target of $10 million. "The National Bank's involvement is a terrific example of the commitment of local businesses to the creation of new businesses. This is an investment in Montreal's economic prosperity," Mr. Bouchard added.
About Fondation Montréal inc.
The Fondation invests in the creation and expansion of promising companies and providing ongoing support so they can contribute to Montreal's prosperity. Since 1996, the Fondation has awarded more than $6 million in grants to help start 817 businesses in Montreal from all sectors, which have created more than 2,535 jobs. The Fondation has helped create investments of more than $53 million in Montreal.
About the "Your ideas are good business" contest
The ideas competition will be launched on university campuses in February 2015 and seeks to identify individuals among the student population and graduates aged between 18 and 35 who have good business ideas in order to invite them to express them in a short 3-minute videos. This initiative is based on a novel form of collaboration between Centech, the UQAM ESG Centre for Entrepreneurship, the Poly-UdeM Centre for Entrepreneurship, Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship - McGill University, District 3 - Concordia University, the National Bank | HEC Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Fondation Montréal inc. business network of 300 volunteers.
About the National Bank
With assets of $199 billion as at July 31, 2014, the National Bank of Canada (www.bnc.ca), together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. It has more than 20,000 employees and is widely recognized as a top employer. Its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA).Follow the Bank's activities via social media and learn more about its extensive community involvement at jecomprends.ca and engagement.banquenationale.ca .
SOURCE Fondation Montréal inc.
Image with caption: "Lise-Anne Amyot, Vice-President- Brand and Client Experience at National Bank, Liette Lamonde, Executive director at Fondation Montréal inc., Andrew T. Molson, Fundraising Campaign Cabinet Member "A Commitment to the Future’’. (CNW Group/Fondation Montréal inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141117_C2255_PHOTO_EN_8177.jpg
Image with caption: "Your ideas are good business presented by National Bank (CNW Group/Fondation Montréal inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141117_C2255_PHOTO_EN_8176.jpg
Fondation Montréal inc.: Andrée Lemay, MBA, Director of Communications and Partnerships, Telephone: 514 872-5768, Cell.: 514 449-2209, alemay@montrealinc.ca; National Bank: Jean-François Lauzon, Advisor, Public Affairs, National Bank, Tel.: 514-394-6097, Jeanfrancois.lauzon@bnc.caCopyright CNW Group 2014