On Thursday, November 21, the Hôtel-Musée des Premières Nations de Wendake welcomed a dozen Indigenous entrepreneurs from various sectors as part of the Perspectives Bootcamp, which was organized by the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) in collaboration with Espace-inc.
This event allowed participants to benefit from an extraordinary experience as part of a day filled with discussions, strategic reflections and practical workshops.
A fruitful collaboration for Indigenous entrepreneurship
To organize this event, the FNQLEDC partnered with Espace-inc, a business accelerator recognized for its innovative approach.
Their mission? To support entrepreneurs in building innovative and sustainable businesses. Created by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, Espace-inc emphasizes placing entrepreneurs at the heart of its strategic decisions.
Together, we gave about ten Indigenous entrepreneurs the opportunity to revisit their service offerings, explore issues they are experiencing within their respective businesses, and collaborate in the search for concrete solutions through co-development workshops.
What is co-development?
It’s all well and good to say that our ten entrepreneurs participated in co-development activities, but what does that actually mean?
Well, co-development can be described as a rigorous method of collective learning that brings together people who share the same field of expertise. Through structured exchanges, participants develop their skills, improve their professional practices and find innovative solutions to the challenges they face daily in the context of their businesses.
Therefore, each entrepreneur was able to spend half an hour working on a specific problem in their business, with the help of their peers and under the supervision of experienced coaches. This approach ensures that each participant leaves with a clear and achievable action plan.
Proceedings and themes of the day
The Perspectives Bootcamp was carefully structured to maximize opportunities for learning and exchanges.
Facilitated by Myriam Vallières of the FNQLEDC and Marc-André St-Yves of Espace-inc, under the supervision of coaches Guillaume Boulianne, Guillaume Nadeau and Marianne Roberge, the event began with a sharing circle to kick-off the day in a spirit of respect and collaboration.
Participants were then introduced to the concept of co-development and its benefits. Over the course of the morning, the entrepreneurs:
- Revisited the concepts of the Business Model Canvas, an essential tool for clarifying the company’s vision;
- Identified the concrete problems to be solved within their respective businesses;
- Created one or more detailed customer personas;
- Explored the differences between introducing a product and selling it;
- Defined a current value proposition for each business.
After a lunch break, the participants devoted the afternoon to practical co-development workshops, which offer key opportunities for exchanging ideas, comparing ideas and building solutions.
Take part in the next entrepreneurial adventure!
The FNQLEDC and Espace-inc are proud to call the Perspectives Bootcamp a resounding success!
Entrepreneurs were able to do the necessary exercise of taking a reflective break to assess their current situation and identify new opportunities. By emphasizing collaboration and mutual assistance, the Bootcamp created a safe space where everyone could share, learn and progress.
Would you like to participate in the next related initiative to propel your business to new heights? If so, then simply contact the FNQLEDC team to find out about upcoming events and support opportunities. Together, let’s bring your ideas to life and build a sustainable, innovative entrepreneurial future that reflects your image.
