MONTREAL, December 5, 2019 – Today, Zú, a Montreal-based non-profit organization with a mission to develop innovative, avant-garde projects in the entertainment field and creative industries, unveiled its Genesis, Focus and Vector programs. Designed to support businesses at three different stages of development, these programs are all focused on the same objective: to boost entrepreneurs and artists in the entertainment field and creative industries so they can create, promote and commercialize innovative projects that generate new intellectual property with a high potential for international visibility.

GENESIS
This 8-week program selects a minimum of five projects and is intended for entrepreneurs, artists and creatives who want to test a high-potential idea in order to confirm its viability and define its production and distribution phases. Supported by experts, the “incubees” advance their idea through 33 hours of workshops, lectures and training sessions inspired by design thinking methods, culminating in a product development roadmap.

With a value of $6,000 per incubated project, the first program cohort will work with BRP-X, the recently launched commercial innovation incubator of BRP, a company representing entrepreneurial ingenuity and creativity in Quebec. The selected projects will have to propose new concepts or original ideas to amplify user experience and build personalized, innovative and creative stories.
Registration opens: Winter 2020

FOCUS
Up to 6 projects will be chosen to participate in this program for 25 hours per week over 12 weeks and take in the knowledge and resources that are essential for the solid market entry of a product or creation that is already well defined. Learning key entrepreneurship skills will be on the agenda — for example, analyzing the competition, securing investors, sales techniques and marketing strategies. A CEO-in-residence will also be present along with guides and experts to help, challenge and support projects until a solid growth strategy is defined.

With a value of $20,000 per incubated project, this program is part of the Digital Creativity Pole, an initiative of the Governing Council of the Société du 375th Anniversary of Montreal, and aims to accelerate the development of companies in the creative industry and increase Montreal’s influence as a hub of digital creativity and innovation. The selected projects will take advantage of the 2020 programming of the Pole’s two partners, C2 Montréal and Hub Montréal, to get inspired and bring visibility to their projects. They will also receive a grant worth between $2,500 and $5,000.
Registration period: December 5, 2019–February 2, 2020.

VECTOR
Through nearly 100 hours of consultation with experts and 70 hours of workshops, lectures and training sessions, the five selected projects will work on accelerating their knowledge to achieve a functional, profitable business model that is ready to meet new markets and investors.

With a value of $75,000 per incubated project, this program addresses financial, market entry and intellectual property strategies, negotiation techniques, supply chain, risk management and leadership.
Registration opens: Spring 2020

Call for projects 

Two calls for projects are currently open to partners. All startups interested in submitting a project can do so through the following links:

MUTEK AI Art Lab in Montreal
International multidisciplinary laboratory using artificial intelligence in the creation of audiovisual works. The United Curators collective is leading this third edition, organized in cooperation with MUTEK. The goal is to unpack concepts about artificial intelligence, explore connections with AI and break down stereotypes in the field.
Registration deadline: January 9. The program will take place at Zú from March 1–10, 2020.

MobiledgeX and TELUS
This call for projects is open to developers and teams who want to test out the immediacy and power of mobile edge computing in VR, XR, robotics and gaming. It is a six-month program.
Registration deadline: December 19 

About Zú
Zú is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring together, support and promote creative entrepreneurs in the entertainment field in order to generate innovative world-class projects. It supports them in the creative and growth processes by providing access to the resources needed to develop new intellectual property. In an eclectic environment providing state-of-the-art facilities, Zú is committed to bringing together a community that shares the desire to bring global visibility to our creativity. Zú is supported in part by the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec and the City of Montréal. Zumtl.com

The TELUS Lab 5G, in collaboration with Lenovo, is currently under construction at Zú. In early 2020, it will welcome its first cohorts, where participants will be able to test and optimize their products in a real-life environment that will accelerate their path toward commercialization.

Media relations
Anne Dongois, Zú
514-826-2050
adongois@lunerouge.com

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