The Gala Entrepreneur·e, an event showcasing inspiring entrepreneurs who have taken the leap to bring their ideas to life, was held on April 2, 2025, at the Village Church in Mont-Tremblant. The Laurentides and Pays-d’en-Haut RCMs have every reason to be proud of their vibrant entrepreneurial spirit!
During the evening, five awards were presented as part of the 27th edition of the Défi OSEntreprendre for the Laurentides and Pays-d’en-Haut RCMs. The winning businesses—selected for their creativity, commitment, and growth potential—will go on to represent our territory at the regional gala in Mirabel on April 24.
In parallel, the 5th edition of the Pitch Contest featured six participants from the Labo·Entrepreneur·e “Fondement” cohort. After deliberation by the jury and votes from the audience, Renée-Pierre Gougeon, founder of Le Vert Forêt Café Boutique, which is set to open in Sainte-Adèle, took home the Desjardins Entreprises Grand Prize. Two other awards were also presented to entrepreneurs who stood out for the clarity of their vision and the strength of their business pitch.
Défi OSEntreprendre – Business Creation Awards
View all participants in the Défi OSEntreprendre
Category: Operations, Processing and Production
O Jardin HM, Laurentides RCM
Category: Technological and Technical Innovation
AIRMOOD inc., Pays-d’en-Haut RCM
Category: Business Services
Solutions Le Next Mile, Pays-d’en-Haut RCM
Category: Services to Individuals
Autant-Goûter inc., Pays-d’en-Haut RCM
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- O Jardin HM
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- AIRMOOD inc
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- Solutions Le Next Mile
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- Autant-Goûter inc
Category: Doing Business Together
Buvons les Laurentides, Laurentides RCM
Pitch Contest Winners
View all participants of the Pitch Contest
1st place – $1,000 award
Renée-Pierre Gougeon, Le Vert Forêt Café-Boutique (Pays-d’en-Haut RCM)
2nd place – $500 award
Renaud Paradis, Le Tapis Volant (Laurentides RCM)
3rd place – $250 award
Laura Mendoza, Clinique Chiropratique Morin-Heights (Laurentides RCM)
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- Renée-Pierre Gougeon
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- Renaud Paradis
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- Laura Mendoza
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- Alexandre Ethier from Desjardins Entreprises with the winners
About the Pitch Contest
The Pitch Contest gives new businesses a platform to introduce themselves to the local business community. It’s open to participants of the Labo·Entrepreneur·e – Fondement, a structured support program that blends training, coaching, and peer learning. Organized by the SADC des Laurentides, this initiative helps entrepreneurs solidify the foundations of their business.
About the Défi OSEntreprendre
The Défi OSEntreprendre is a Québec-wide movement celebrating entrepreneurial creativity and commitment. Structured across three levels—local, regional, and national—it brings together over 350 coordinators across the province’s 17 regions each year. The SADC des Laurentides has proudly served as the local coordinator for the past 26 years.
A heartfelt thank you to all partners of the Défi OSEntreprendre and Labo·Entrepreneur·e, whose support makes these events possible.
