PME MTL - Fonds Jeunes Entreprises
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Supports viable young businesses by offering a non-repayable financial contribution to help with start-ups and growth on the island of Montréal.
Eligibility Requirements
- Legally constituted business headquartered on the island of Montréal
- Business must have been operating for less than five years
- Must simultaneously qualify for and receive a PME MTL loan (grant cannot be obtained standalone)
- Retail and restaurant businesses are excluded
- Entrepreneur must commit to working full-time in the business
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $15,000
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe $15,000 grant cannot be obtained without simultaneously qualifying for a Fonds PME MTL loan — this is a structural requirement, not optional. Contact your local PME MTL territorial hub before preparing any documents; each hub has its own CIC meeting schedule (typically monthly) and missing a cycle adds 3–5 weeks to your timeline. Retail and restaurant businesses are explicitly excluded — no exceptions.
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Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Business in excluded sectors (retail commerce or restaurants)
- Business older than five years
- Head office not on Montreal Island
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Success Profile
Montreal-based first-time entrepreneur running a service, tech, or light-manufacturing startup under five years old, working full-time in the business, with a credible business plan and sufficient creditworthiness to qualify for a PME MTL loan. Not in retail or restaurant sectors.
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Evaluation Criteria
CIC assesses entrepreneur qualification (full-time commitment, 35+ hrs/week), business plan viability and profitability, creditworthiness for the mandatory PME MTL loan co-requirement, and project alignment with fund objectives. Both the loan and grant are evaluated together.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 4
- Equipment purchases directly related to business operations
- Leasehold improvements (tenant fit-out of commercial space)
- Marketing and commercialization costs (website, branding, launch campaigns)
- Working capital (operating expenses for startup phase)
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Retail commerce projects (all retail formats)
- Restaurant and food service operations
- Real estate purchases or land acquisition
- Personal expenses or owner salary
- Expenses incurred before CIC approval
Intake Periods
Rolling — applications accepted year-round. CIC meets periodically (typically monthly) at each hub. Timing relative to next CIC meeting affects wait time.
Deadline Notes
Applications accepted on a continuous basis. Each hub's joint investment committee (CIC) meets periodically (typically monthly); submission timing affects wait time for review.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Retail commerce businesses (all formats)
- Restaurants and food service operators
- Businesses older than 5 years
- Businesses with head office outside Montreal Island
- Entrepreneurs working less than full-time (under 35 hrs/week) in the business
- Businesses not registered in Quebec's REQ
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium Riskmedium — PME MTL may require repayment if the entrepreneur ceases full-time involvement within a defined period, the business relocates outside Montreal, or the grant is used for non-eligible expenses. Exact clawback terms are negotiated in the funding agreement.
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How PME MTL - Fonds Jeunes Entr... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PME MTL - Fonds Jeunes Entreprises | Up to $15,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Futurpreneur Canada Startup Program | Up to $75,000 | Moderate | Loan | Ongoing |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Up to $1.15 million | Easy | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
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