Innovation and Economic Development Trois-Rivières (IDÉ), like other similar organizations in Quebec, supports dozens of companies in their innovation projects. Going from idea to realization is not always easy for a small business. There are rules. Here are five important points to keep in mind.
This may seem silly, but it is far from it. Before even talking about innovation, it is important to know your profile. What sector of activity do you work in? Where are you located? Who makes up your customer base? How many employees do you have? How are your business finances doing? “We cannot claim to know each company in depth and some will complete the online form without providing further details. In order to prepare well and waste as little time as possible, we must have in mind both the image of the entrepreneur [experiences, training, interests, etc.] and his company as well as the stakeholders,” maintains Mathieu Cossette , coordinator of business services and prospecting at IDE.
According to the professional, innovation is not limited to the creation of a new product. This can take several forms, whether in terms of business strategies, management practices, increased productivity, a new service offering… It is at this stage that Mathieu Cossette asks the entrepreneur why he wants to innovate.
During these meetings, the coordinator admits to flooding his interlocutor with “why”. A practice that irritates many, because it is the homework stage. “It’s our role to listen and ask questions in order to better guide. We come to guide the reflection and we ask to clarify certain questions. We are not mandated to do in place of… We are not “yes men” and we don’t pander in the right direction either. Sometimes we have to break bubbles because the product already exists, the markets are not ready or because we are too avant-garde. »
Most often, the professional notes that it is mainly financial assistance that entrepreneurs come to seek. At this stage, Mathieu Cossette is able to recommend the right people to entrepreneurs and suggest a partner, a grant or a program. “There are dozens of public and private organizations that offer financial assistance programs for innovation projects. It’s easy to get lost. We are support specialists. We can act as an intermediary and select those who are suitable for the project,” he explains. If the entrepreneur is looking for potential partners, training, technical resources or experts, Mathieu Cossette and his team are also able to provide guidance. “If the person in front of us needs to survey the market and seek out specific information, there are firms whose specialty is this and we are able to establish contacts. »
After all these steps, the IDÉ contacts the company again to monitor progress. “Sometimes the contractor gives up, but other times they still need our services. » Moreover, IDÉ Trois-Rivières can make the link between the different stakeholders involved and organize a meeting. At this time, the person assigned to the file ensures that they have properly prepared the entrepreneur so that they are able to answer the various questions. “I’m more in the animation role. I spark discussions and sometimes I rephrase comments in order to clarify everyone’s jargon. »
IDÉ Trois-Rivières, in partnership with Espace-inc, also offers a support cohort called Explo. This can give the entrepreneur a helping hand to enable him to meet his first potential clients, help him validate and work on his business model or establish his game and execution plan. .