MONTREAL, Nov. 6, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Ulule, Europe's leading crowdfunding platform that has been active in Canada since last April, is launching The Big Step project to recognize and nurture promising France/Canada initiatives. Anyone interested in submitting a project has until April 15 to meet the participation conditions.

Based on a jury selection, three initiatives—one from France focusing on Canada, one from Canada focusing on France and one joint France/Canada initiative—will each be awarded $10,000.

In spearheading this trans-Atlantic project, Ulule will be assisted by National Bank of Canada and BNP Paribas, two banking partners with an entrepreneurial spirit.

"National Bank is pleased to participate in The Big Step, which will help strengthen entrepreneurial ties between France and Canada, explained Yann Jodoin, Senior Vice-President – Client Strategy, Marketing and Branding at National Bank of Canada. National Bank was founded more than 150 years ago by entrepreneurs. Supporting the emergence of talented individuals and assisting them with their development are part of our founding mission."

BNP Paribas has been a partner of Ulule in France for a number of years and is proud to support The Big Step. "We are confident that this project will help promote innovative French and Canadian initiatives and that this award will give added momentum to the Ulule platform in Canada," added Sauveur Menella, Vice-President – Brand and Communication for Canada.

According to Alexandre Boucherot, Ulule Co-Founder and Chairman, who moved to Montreal in 2014: "By definition, taking the leap is a big step for any creator or entrepreneur. With this award, we hope to foster and promote French and Canadian initiatives that build bridges between our countries and our cultures."

Chaired by Giuseppe de Martino, Secretary General of Dailymotion, the jury will consist of Yann Jodoin, Senior Vice-President – Client Strategy, Marketing and Branding at National Bank of Canada; Sauveur Menella, Vice-President – Brand and Communication for Canada, BNP Paribas; Alexandre Taillefer, Managing Partner at XPND Capital; Caroline Ramade, ‎Deputy General Delegate at Paris Pionnières and two members of the Ulule community.

For more information about The Big Step and details on how to participate, go to legrandsaut.ulule.com.

About Ulule
Created in Paris in 2010, Ulule is a crowdfunding platform that seeks to give power back to creators, entrepreneurs and makers all over the world. The site has already helped several thousand creative, innovative and community-minded projects get off the ground in all four corners of the globe. Ulule is multilingual and multicultural, and has offices in France, Spain and Canada. www.ulule.com; real-time statistics at: www.ulule.com/stats

About National Bank of Canada
With $216 billion in assets as at July 31, 2015, National Bank of Canada (www.nbc.ca), together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. The Bank has more than 20,000 employees and is widely recognized as a top employer. Its securities 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 clearfacts.ca and commitment.nationalbank.ca.

About BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas has a presence in 75 countries with more than 185,000 employees, including 145,000 in Europe. It ranks highly in its two core activities: Retail Banking & Services (comprised of Domestic Markets and International Financial Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail banking model across Mediterranean basin countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas and solid and fast-growing businesses in Asia-Pacific. www.bnpparibas.com

SOURCE Ulule