The unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic forced Quebec’s creative industries to reinvent and adapt their strategies and approaches to the new realities. Often, this adaptation was found through technology, and its unique power to permit the creation, production and broadcasting of creative forces remotely. These new technological solutions come to complement more than half a century of very high-level digital creation in Quebec, for which unique tools, techniques and know-how have been developed.  

However, many of these technological solutions — which support production, creation and distribution — exist without being commercialized. Products with high commercialization potential exist in our creative and entertainment companies. Zú wants to help you give them definition, make them known and make them grow.  

In collaboration with SODEC and the National Bank, Zú has created a development program that will prepare the company and its management to commercialize this new technology.  

What’s in it for me?  

Prepare your company to bring a technology solution to market.  

Focus SODEC, focuses on honing key entrepreneurial skills needed for product commercialization, allowing you to set the stage from A to Z to bring to market a technological solution developed within your content or service company. Based on the concepts of Design Thinking and inspired by MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service program, the program equips you to transform this solution into a product by going through:  

• Three iterative sprints – product, market and business model  
• Competitive analysis 
• Intellectual property development  
• The search for financing  
• Sales and marketing strategies  
• Adapting the corporate culture to the commercialization of a product versus the production of content or the provision of services  

Program objectives:  

• Develop a plan to commercialize and register the intellectual property of a technology solution developed within your company.  
• Prepare the company and its management to commercialize this new technology.  
• Validate the feasibility of commercializing the product through a technology spin-off (creation of a new company) or the creation of a new business line  

Details:  

• Online program  
• Duration: 14 weeks  
• Expected participant commitment per week:   
• Week 1: 35 hours of Bootcamp  
• Weeks 2 to 4: 10 hours / week   
• Weeks 5 to 12: 2 hours / week   
• Individual work, preparation for meetings and optional activities: 7 h / week  
• A maximum of 10 projects selected per cohort.  

 

This program offers you services of a value of $35,000 :  

• Three weeks of iterative sprints based on Design Thinking methodologies  
• A team of three dedicated mentors to challenge, advise and guide you  
• Access to a network of experts for individual consultations, on demand and free of charge (National Bank, Norton Rose Fulbright, Sword Group, etc.)  
• Pitch clinics with specialists to maximize your impact  
• Collaborative sessions with your cohort peers to discuss shared learnings  
• Workshops with Zú’s business partners to tap into relevant knowledge   
• Priority access to the TELUS 5G Lab, in collaboration with Lenovo   
• Access to business development opportunities with members of the Innovation Circle (TELUS, Just for Laughs Group, C2 International, Théâtre Duceppe, Rodeo FX, etc.)  

  

You are eligible for the program if:  

• Your company is Quebec-based and eligible for SODEC programs (see applicable areas) 
• Your company has developed a leading-edge technological solution in-house that has strong commercialization potential  
• You own or are in the process of owning the rights to use the intellectual property of your solution;  
• Your managers are experienced in their field and would like support in commercializing a technology product  
• The founding team has the knowledge and experience to develop new business activities  
• You have at least one executive available to participate in all of the program’s activities  
• The solution you have developed uses advanced technologies such as, but not limited to:   Artificial Intelligence, 5G, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Automation/Robotics, Edge Computing, Game Engine, Connected Object (IoT), Brain Machine Interface, Smart Spaces, Blockchain, Smart Wearables, Touch Technology, etc. ;  

  

The Focus program uses the prestigious Team Mentoring methodology licensed from the MIT Venture Mentoring Service (MIT VMS).

Zú was trained in 2022 by the MIT Venture Mentoring Service (MIT VMS), in a methodology which establishes a rigorous support framework for Team Mentoring that is free of conflict of interest, impartial and confidential, within MIT, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world in terms of entrepreneurship and technological innovation.

As part of this methodology, each entrepreneur is connected with 3 to 5 mentors with complementary expertise and experience. The entrepreneur meets these mentors in a group setting, thus receiving several perspectives simultaneously to quickly make a strategic decision or put a plan of action in place in response to a specific business challenge they have encountered.

The MIT VMS Model aims to offer entrepreneurs support throughout the development cycle of their start-ups in the hope of building a lasting relationship.

Learn more

 

Important dates: 

Starting today : Submit your project 

May 19: Information session 

June 10: Deadline to submit applications   

End of August: Announcement of selected projects  

September 6: Start of the program (14 weeks)   

December 16: Closing event / DEMO DAY  

Please note that the program will be offered in French

 

Applications are currently closed. Discover the companies selected!