Grant
Municipal
Between Intakes
Défi-Québec, ville entrepreneuriale
Ville de Québec (DEGP)
Maximum Funding
Up to $50,000
Last posted call closed April 8, 2026; no newer call posted
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Varies
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
Défi-Québec, ville entrepreneuriale provides Up to $50,000 per project; capped at 50% of eligible expenses (80% for non-profit social-economy enterprises). Call-based non-repayable contribution of up to $50,000 covering up to 50% of eligible expenses (80% for non-profit social-economy enterprises) for innovative start-up, growth or succession projects in the Québec City agglomeration or Wendake. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Last posted call closed April 8, 2026; no newer call posted.
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Eligibility & Details
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Program Description
Call-based non-repayable contribution of up to $50,000 covering up to 50% of eligible expenses (80% for non-profit social-economy enterprises) for innovative start-up, growth or succession projects in the Québec City agglomeration or Wendake.
Eligibility Requirements
- Private incorporated businesses, or social-economy enterprises (NPOs and co-ops) carrying on mainly commercial activities
- Individual businesses and general partnerships majority-owned by Indigenous people and located in Wendake are eligible
- Innovative start-up, growth or business-succession project
- Project must fall within 12 months before to 60 months after first significant sale, or within 12 months after acquiring at least 25% of voting shares for succession
- Project and head office must be in the Québec City agglomeration or Wendake
- Maximum of two contributions per business under this program
- Active funding across all City economic-development programs capped at $500,000 per two-year period
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $50,000 per project; capped at 50% of eligible expenses (80% for non-profit social-economy enterprises).
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Last posted call closed April 8, 2026; no newer call posted
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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How to Win
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Insider TipTwo details decide most files here.
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Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Sector is not on the eligible list, including digital services and consulting, which are named as excluded
+6 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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What's in this Playbook
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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5 steps
Application Steps
1
Check that your sector is on the list The program is limited to agri-food, food processing and health foods; digital arts and interactive entertainment, fintech, AI, smart city and other digital products and technologies, excluding services and consulting; manufacturing, materials, industrial processing, robotics and industry 4.0; optics-photonics, measurement and control technologies and advanced electronics; life sciences, biotechnology and health technologies; and clean technologies. Social economy enterprises in any sector except retail and food service qualify if they are mainly commercial with more than 40% self-generated revenue.
Eligible Expenses 7
Ineligible Expenses 7
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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Combined Funding Potential
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Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How Défi-Québec, ville entrepreneuriale Compares
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Défi-Québec, ville entrepreneuriale
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How much can I get, and how much do I have to put in?
A non-repayable contribution of up to $50,000 per project, covering at most 50% of eligible expenses. Social economy enterprises can be covered up to 80%, but only if the enterprise is non-profit.
Which businesses can apply?
Private incorporated businesses, and social economy enterprises (NPOs and co-ops) carrying on mainly commercial activities. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships that are majority Indigenous-owned and located in Wendake are also eligible.
Is my sector eligible?
The eligible sectors are agri-food, food processing and health foods; digital arts and interactive entertainment, financial technologies, artificial intelligence, smart city and other digital products and technologies, excluding services and consulting; manufacturing, materials, industrial processing, robotics and industry 4.0; optics-photonics, measurement and control technologies and advanced electronics; life sciences, biotechnology and health technologies; and clean technologies. Social economy enterprises in any sector other than retail and food service also qualify if more than 40% of their revenue is self-generated.
When can I apply?
This is a call for projects. The filing deadline shown on the page is April 8, 2026 at 4 p.m., which has passed. Call dates are announced at least 60 days in advance on the City of Québec website.
Is there a minimum project size?
No. The page states there is no minimum project cost threshold.
Can I get this more than once?
A business is eligible for a maximum of two contributions under this program, and total active funding across all City of Québec economic development programs is capped at $500,000 per two-year period.
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Full Playbook: Défi-Québec, ville entrepreneuriale
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