Our mission: Support seeding and start-ups of innovative businesses for international markets to shape the future of Quebec.
The management team comprises professionals with expertise in different sectors of business financing, assessment and start-up. With the members of the G25, management provides added value during the screening process by sharing their observations with entrepreneurs. If the enterprise is funded, team members continue to actively track enterprise expansion, with G25 members opening up their networks and holding meetings with business leaders to share experience in overcoming challenges that new entrepreneurs face.
The Group of 25, or the G25, consists of twenty-five experienced entrepreneurs who joined forces to actively contribute to the seeding and start-ups of innovative businesses whose goals are attaining international markets. They participate in screening companies to be financed and contribute to their success by granting them access to networks and helping them overcome the challenges of implementing business plans. Their common objective: to ensure the success of companies financed Fonds Innovexport.
Selection Process
After receiving all financing requests for the period, an initial selection of projects is completed by the management team according to pre-established criteria.
Entrepreneurs then meet the management team to assess their profiles, as well as certain aspects of the project. One or several members of the G25 may be present at these meetings. A letter of intent is sent to the company after this meeting if interest in investing in the company is confirmed. This letter of intent describes the general terms associated with the potential investment by the Fund. Once this letter is also signed by a company representative, the Innovexport team analyzes the project with the assistance of experts and some of the G25, as needed. The enterprise is then asked to provide additional information.
Following the evaluation of the investment opportunity, the Investment Committee, consisting of three members of the G25, receives the investment projects prepared by the Fund team. Entrepreneurs are then invited to present their enterprise and answer questions from the Investment Committee, which recommends to the Board of Directors whether or not to invest in a given business with or without additional conditions. The Board of Directors meets during the week following the Investment Committee meeting and the investment is formalized the following week.
Meetings with the G25
Meetings with the G25 members are held by the Fund so that entrepreneurs can share the challenges they confront. G25 members can provide advice and share contacts to help entrepreneurs overcome challenges
Close Follow-Up of Financed Companies
Companies exhibiting strong potential for success or that appeal to one or several members of the G25 may be subject to thorough follow-up to ensure success. An Investments Vice-President from Fonds Innovexport also tracks company progress.
This follow-up by the Fund team or by G25 members does not replace the need to be supported by an incubator, an accelerator or a committee consisting of qualified individuals.