FOCUS 2020: AN ACCELERATED VERSION OF GO TO MARKET DESPITE A PANDEMIC · News
Last night, with a glass in hand, we celebrated online the end of an epic and significant chapter for the 5 resilient enterprises that took part in our Focus Program. For 12 weeks, during the pandemic, E.D. Films, Gallea, Gridspace, Madefire and Shaftesbury benefited from 200 hours of customized consultation and 36 hours of workshops, conferences and trainings. More than 60 people, the start-ups, the experts, the guides, the CEOs in resident, the partners as well as the Zú team were able to pivot in a matter of weeks in order to offer this program virtually without expensing any elements. Impressive! Congratulations! Hats off to you all!
Yesterday, 100 people connected to view our closing event online to discover the projects that are currently redefining and rethinking the new normal of today’s entertainment. These teams have showed that they have what it takes to push and propel their creative forces to become a true entrepreneurial force. These last few weeks, the companies in these cohorts have passed through a crucial step where they graduated from ideation to strong growth and where a prototype has met its market and where brands have found their voice and their unique personalities. Mid pandemic, the start-ups in this cohort were able to go to market with their projects in an impressive accelerated matter and these amazing accomplishments are nothing short than incredible.
E.D. Films
“E.D. Films work with Zú’s Focus incubator program was one of the most valuable business moves we have ever made. The program has been essential in driving our strategic, financial, and leadership approach to our next exciting stage of growth from start-up to a solid, sustainable company.”
Archita Ghosh, Executive Producer, E.D. Films
E.D. Films is an award-winning animation studio and digital tools maker. From hybrid animation, XR and immersive content to technical creation tools and tutorials, our art + tech team treats both our own IP and our clients’ projects with creativity, expertise and thoughtfulness while we drive it to high-quality completion.
Gallea
“We were impressed by the complementarity of the mentors of the Focus program. They allowed us to ask the right questions in order to grow our solution internationally. In just a few months, we saw an increase of more than 400% in the sales of works of art on the platform as well as a significant increase in our artists with more than 350 new registrations.”
Guillaume Parent, CEO and Cofounder at Gallea.
Gallea is the largest online art gallery in Quebec in addition to being a network of establishments exhibiting the works of these artists. With the help of technology, we are democratizing the way of discovering and consuming art, both online and offline, while stimulating the local economy.
Gridspace
“The Focus program at Zú steered us towards a smaller more flexible iteration of our product making it more scalable and accessible. The quality of the guides and level of their input was world class.”
Hugues Léger, Partner at Gridspace
Gridspace has started a new phase of its development with two new partners: Hugues Letellier and Hugues Léger. This association will allow Gridspace to accelerate its growth in the entertainment, wellness and immersive experiences sectors.
Gridspace is a multimedia creation studio specializing in the design and production of creative environments in situ. We have created temporary installations or permanent infrastructures at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds using our inventive scenography, motion design and the latest technological innovations.
Madefire
“Working with Zú has been wonderful, we have launched Madefire Montreal! Being able to arrive into their ecosystem of alliances, work with their coaches and be a part of the artistry and engineering of Montreal is such a unique opportunity, thank you.”
Ben Wolstenholme, CEO, Madefire
Madefire is a content technology company that provides creators and publishers with a state-of-the-art publishing platform called “Motion Book Tool” which makes a digital approach to multi-platform publishing in a variety of formats, from phones and tablets to TV and XR, possible.
Shaftesbury
“Zú Focus program is the ultimate connector. We found the experience of the Zú accelerator to be incredibly helpful at a critically important time in our development. The advisors experience and insight was tailored to our needs and they provided us the coaching necessary to move this to the next level of success.”
Ted Biggs, VP Technology at Shaftesbury.
Shaftesbury is a leader in the creation, production and distribution of high value scripted, branded, mixed reality and digital programming for international audiences, with reach in over 120 countries. Continuing in this tradition, Shaftesbury Technology is reimagining pediatric healthcare through next-generation patient engagement and positive distraction therapy.
Zú team joins its initiator, Guy Laliberté, to thank all the partners, experts, guides and CEOs in residence who have contributed to the success of the program.
| COMITÉ DE SÉLECTION / SELECTION COMMITTEE | ||
| ALEXANDRE AMANCIO | Reflector Entertainment
PDG CEO |
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| TONY BUU | TELUS
Directeur général, Stratégie technologique, Réseau mobilité |
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| JEAN-CLAUDE BUSTROS | Concordia
Associate Professor (Film Production), Cinema Chair |
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| DAVID DAVIDSON | TELUS Communications Consultant en gestion, stratégie technologique Management Consultant, Technology Strategy |
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| MARIE CÔTÉ | Côté Multimédia
Présidente |
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| JULIA CYBORAN | C2
VP Marketing & Audience |
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| JEANNE DORELLI | Zú
Directrice marketing et développement des affaires Director Marketing and business development |
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| CLAUDE GAGNON | Consultant
Conseiller et investisseur en technologie pour les médias et le divertissement |
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| DOMINIC GAGNON | Connect&GO
Cofondateur et CEO Co-Founder and CEO |
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| ROBERT HOFFMAN | Lenovo
Senior Worldwide Industry Manager, Media & Entertainment |
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| SHAUHAN KATAROYAN | Consultant Capital-risque et capital-investissement Private Equity & Venture Capital |
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| BRIGITTE LEBLANC | Banque Nationale – National Bank Vice-présidente associée Canada & International Associate Vice President Canada & International |
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| JENNY THIBAULT | XN Québec
Directrice générale General Manager |
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| CEO EN RÉSIDENCE | ||
| VICTOR DURO | Alice & Smith Studios Cofondateur Co-Founder |
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| DOMINIC GAGNON | Connect&GO
Cofondateur et CEO Co-Founder and CEO |
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| ASHKAN KARBASFROOSHAN | WatchMojo
PDG CEO |
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| ANTHONY PALERMO | Connect&GO CofondateurCo-Founder |
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| GUIDES | ||
| MÉLANIE BERNARD | Bikini Village Gestionnaire senior des opérationsSenior Operations Manager |
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| DAVID DAVIDSON | TELUS Communications Consultant en gestion, stratégie technologique Management Consultant, Technology Strategy |
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| MAZEN EL BAWAB | Ubisoft Programmeur en chef – Rainbow Six SiegeProject Lead Programmer – Rainbow Six Siege |
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| MARIE-NOËLLE GAGNON | Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group
Talents internationaux et récompenses mondiales International Talent Mobility & Global Rewards |
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| MATHIEU GATIEN | Lune Rouge Entertainment
Directeur exécutif de création Executive Creative Director |
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| SAMER GEISSAH | TELUS Gestionnaire senior des opérationsDirector, Technology Strategy |
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| BRENDAN HANDLER | Consultant Média et divertissementMedia & Entertainment |
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| JEAN-LUC HÉBERT | Saimen
Vice-Président, ventes internationales et marketing |
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| SHAUHAN KATAROYAN | Consultant Capital-risque et capital-investissement Private Equity & Venture Capital |
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| MARK KHOURY | Coach pour entreprises en démarrage
Startup Coach |
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| ELIZABETH LAETT | Holt Accelerator
Partenaire |
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| LUDOVIC LANGLOIS THERIEN | Media & Entertainment Strategist
Chef du développement des affaires – Division multimédia |
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| ANDRÉ LAVIGNE | KM&T
Fondateur et conseiller principal |
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| BRIGITTE LEBLANC | Banque Nationale – National Bank Vice-présidente associée Canada & International Associate Vice President Canada & International |
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| PAUL MACO | Moon Consultants
Président |
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| FLORIAN MESNY | Moonrakers PDG et Directeur généralCEO & Managing Director |
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| ALEXANDRE MIASNIKOF | Lune Rouge Entertainment
Directeur exécutif – Production |
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| PAUL ORTCHANIAN | Bain public
Fondateur et PDG |
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| RYAN PETERS | Quadbrige Partenaire mondialGlobal Managing Partner |
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| DELPHINE POUX | Consultante Consultant |
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| DANY RENAULD | Pilote groupe-conseil
Vice-Président, Chef des opérations |
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| MARTJIN STEINRUCKEN | AeonVirtual
Fondateur et Chef des technologies |
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| ARIANE-LI SIMARD-CÔTÉ | Sommet du design de Paris Directrice générale General Manager |
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| LAURENT VERNET | Spécialiste en Arts et Espaces Publiques
Chargé de projets, Collections d’oeuvres d’art |
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| CONFÉRENCIERS / SPEAKERS | ||
| NASSIM BENNACER | EY
Gestionnaire senior – Incitations fiscales |
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| RON CHERILUS | Centre I AM
Président et fondateur |
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| DAVID DUFRESNE | Panache Ventures
Partenaire |
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| SIGRID ELLEFSEN | TELUS Solutions d’affaires – TELUS Business Directrice générale, Ventes Executive Director, Business Solutions |
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| VALÉRIE FORGET | Bonjour Startup/OSMO
Directrice innovation |
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| GENEVIÈVE GUAY | Dentsu X
Présidente |
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| JEAN-LUC HÉBERT | Saimen
Vice-president, ventes internationales et marketing |
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| STEPHEN KIELY | DentsuBos
Président et PDG President & CEO |
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| BRIGITTE LEBLANC | Banque Nationale – National Bank
Vice-présidente associée Canada & International |
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| SIMON MCDOUGALL | Synopsis Marketing Associé Associate |
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| BIANCA PIETRACUPA | Norton Rose Fulbright Avocate Lawyer |
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| NIKITA STEPIN | Norton Rose Fulbright Avocat senior Senior Associate |
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| JULIEN THIRY | DentsuBos
Directeur créatif associé |
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| JOSÉE TURCOT | Banque Nationale – National Bank
Directrice de comptes |
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