District 3 Innovation

Sustainability isn’t just about being "green"—it’s about building a business that lasts. It’s about staying competitive, resilient, and future-ready. It’s not just good for the planet—it’s essential for success. The best part? It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Join us on March 20th for Sustainability 101, a free virtual workshop designed to help startups cut through the noise and turn sustainability into a strategic advantage. Discover how integrating sustainability can help your startup: ✅ Reduce cost ✅ Mitigate risks ✅ Attract investors ✅ Develop customers ✅ Build long-term resilience 🔎 Key Takeaways: ✔️ Practical ways to integrate sustainability into your business strategy ✔️ Key frameworks & policies: ESG, B Corp, SDGs, regulations ✔️ Real-world case studies of startups using sustainability to scale 💡 Space is limited—register now! 🔗 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eYJjb7Gg 📅 Date: Thursday, March 20 ⏰ Time: 12 - 1 PM EDT 📍 Location: Online #Sustainability #Startups #Entrepreneurship #ImpactDrivenBusiness #District3 Concordia University Sophie Legler Silvia Ramírez M. Koppel

🚀 Join Us for an Exclusive Conversation with Guy Cormier, President and CEO of Desjardins Group 🎓 On Tuesday, April 15, Concordia President Graham Carr will sit down with Guy Cormier, President and CEO of Desjardins Group, to discuss the transformative impact of Desjardins' major gift to the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen Now. This generous contribution will fuel innovation, entrepreneurship, and career development for Concordia students, empowering them to create lasting positive change. 🔹 Date: Tuesday, April 15 🔹 Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 🔹 Location: District 3, Concordia University 🔹 Moderator: Anne-Marie Croteau, Dean of the Concordia University - John Molson School of Business 🎤 Speakers Include: - Guy Cormier, President and CEO of Desjardins Group - Graham Carr, Concordia University President - Anne-Marie Croteau, PhD, CDir, Dean of John Molson School of Business - Paul Chesser, Vice President, Advancement at Concordia University This event will highlight how Desjardins’ support will help shape the next generation of leaders, with a focus on talent development, research, and innovation. 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eFMG43gH Let’s explore the future of education together! #ConcordiaUniversity #DesjardinsGroup #Innovation #NextGenNow #Philanthropy #HigherEducation #Entrepreneurship #FutureOfEducation #D3Entrepreneurs #CampusOfTomorrow

✨ Neurodiversity Week: The Power of Authenticity 🌻 At District 3, we want to create a workplace where it’s not only safe to be yourself, but celebrated. We envision a culture where individuals can unmask, feel supported, and thrive in a community rooted in empathy, honesty, and respect. Embracing each other’s unique needs creates a space where everyone benefits, learning to make room for others while also empowering ourselves to meet our own needs. Our founders are leading this change. Philipp Wolf, Co-Founder of swyvl, is making inclusivity the norm. By using immersive technology, AI, and human-computer interfaces, swyvl helps people understand neurodivergent perspectives. Tackling the $194 trillion cost of societal exclusion, swyvl is fostering inclusivity in schools, workplaces, and beyond through their extended reality (XR) platform. Saber Ghadakzadeh MD, MSc, PhD, Founder of mentAImage, is leveraging AI-driven art generation to provide accessible, affordable mental health support to individuals who don’t have access to adequate treatment. mentAImage offers consistent, timely support, helping individuals regain emotional balance and navigate mental health challenges. 💡 Empowering others to be their authentic selves creates the kind of future we want to live in. At District 3, we’re opening the conversation to our community: What changes would you like to see in neurodiversity and mental health support? #NeurodiversityWeek #InclusiveInnovation #MentalHealth #Neurodiversity #Entrepreneurship #Wellbeing #SustainableWorkplaces #CommunitySupport #ChangeMakers #District3 Concordia University

On Tuesday night, we explored the power of conversations—how to ask the right questions, truly listen, and uncover meaningful insights. 💡 🚀 Key Takeaways: - Listening is the most important step. Ask fewer questions, but listen more. - From assumptions to facts: Conversations help move us from what we think to what we know. - "Ask them to tell you stories." Instead of yes/no questions, dig deeper and understand the context behind experiences. ✨ “It takes about 15-20 good conversations to get really good at listening and asking the right questions. Don’t give up. It’s a skill you learn, and you have to step out of your comfort zone." – Julie Hamel, Social Innovation Lead & Head Coach A huge thank you to everyone who showed up and participated! Your engagement made the workshop truly special. And of course, a special thanks to Julie Hamel for sharing her invaluable insights. #CustomerDiscovery #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #DesignThinking #D3Entrepreneurs Concordia University

Neurodiversity Week – Making Room for Different Ways of Thinking Not everyone thinks the same way—and that’s a good thing. The world needs diverse perspectives, creative problem-solvers, and unconventional thinkers to tackle complex challenges. But too often, traditional workplaces aren’t designed for these ways of thinking. Many neurodivergent individuals are expected to fit into rigid structures that don’t align with how they work best. Entrepreneurship offers an alternative—a space to grow, create, and contribute on their own terms. But inclusion shouldn’t be an afterthought; it should be at the core of how we build, collaborate, and innovate. 💡 Neurodiversity includes all of us. We all think differently, and when people are empowered to work in ways that align with their strengths, everyone benefits. "When you create a space that allows neurodivergent people to thrive, you create an environment where everyone can thrive." – Zachary Markofsky MS I-O, Organizational Psychology Practitioner & Data Scientist At District 3, we believe neurodivergent entrepreneurs should have a place to lead, innovate, and shape the future. That’s why we’re hosting two workshops this week—focused on communication and networking—designed to help neurodivergent entrepreneurs connect, share ideas, and navigate their paths with confidence. 🎤 March 18 | Mastering the Art of Conversation 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eE-Q_Xua 🤝 March 20 | Intentional Networking: Building a Supportive Community 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eprrijPF ✨ Let’s move beyond awareness and take action toward a more inclusive world—one where all minds are valued, and all contributions matter. 📖 Read our Whitepaper on Neurodiversity & Entrepreneurship: https://lnkd.in/e2ezsdsX #Neurodiversity #InclusiveInnovation #FutureOfWork #Entrepreneurship #DifferentMinds #InnovationForAll #D3Entrepreneurs #NeurodiversityWeek Concordia University

Montreal Organizations – We’re Looking for You! District 3’s Summer Residency Program is seeking Mandators to collaborate with top Concordia students and recent grads. Get fresh, actionable solutions to your organization’s challenges—at no cost. 📩 Interested? Let’s talk: residency@district3.co 💡 Know an organization that could benefit? Share this opportunity with them! #Innovation #ProblemSolving #MontrealBusiness #Collaboration #FutureLeaders #Sustainability #Entrepreneurship Concordia University

SÉANCE D’INFORMATION | 26 Mars – 12:00PM 💡 Vous avez démarré votre entreprise et vous vous questionnez sur la manière de la financer ? Participez à notre prochaine séance d'information pour savoir comment financer votre démarrage d'entreprise avec le programme #Creavenir de Desjardins Entreprises - Montréal en collaboration avec École des entrepreneurs du Québec Microcrédit Desjardins aux entreprises et La Ruche (financement participatif). 🎤 Nous aurons la chance de compter sur la présence d’experts en matière d’entrepreneuriat et particulièrement sur le financement d'entreprise en démarrage, et d’un.e jeune entrepreneur.e, qui vient de terminer le programme #Creavenir et qui viendra témoigner de son expérience. Soyez des nôtres! 📅 Date : mercredi 26 mars de 12h à 13h📍 Format : en virtuel 📝 Inscription : https://lnkd.in/ezDR2_ka #Entrepreneuriat #Demarrage #Financement #Accompagnement

💡 Is your organization facing a challenge that could benefit from fresh, transdisciplinary perspectives? District 3’s Alan Shepard Summer Residency pairs Montreal-based organizations with top-tier Concordia students and recent graduates to investigate, validate, and propose solutions —at no cost to you! ✅ Who we’re looking for: We’re seeking established organizations (businesses, nonprofits, late-stage startups) committed to social and environmental impact, with tangible challenges that could benefit from innovative, unexpected solutions. Examples of past mandators include Place des Arts, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, National Film Board, Share The Warmth, the UN Biodiversity Secretariat, SDC Montréal Centreville, and more. 📌 Past mandates have tackled: - Value Proposition Development - Customer & Stakeholder Engagement - Audience Acquisition & Growth - Communications & Public Perception - Framework & Process Optimization - Use of Space & Community Animation 🚀 What’s in it for you? ✔️ A dedicated team of 4 talented residents working on your challenge for 3 weeks ✔️ New insights & actionable recommendations tailored to your needs ✔️ The chance to engage with the D3 community and emerging professionals ✔️ No financial cost—just signing an in-kind contribution document at the end to keep the program running 📅 How it works: March–April: We work with you to refine your challenge into a compelling, high-value mandate May–July: Residency program runs, with a 3-week engagement for your team Montreal-based: We highly value at least two in-person moments in the process Interested? Let’s Talk! 📩 Contact us today: residency@district3.co 💡 Know an organization that could benefit? Tag them below or share this opportunity! #Management #Leadership #Collaboration #FutureLeaders #BusinessGrowth #Innovation #Creativity #ProblemSolving #DesignThinking #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Technology #DigitalTransformation #CorporateInnovation #FutureOfWork #Sustainability #SocialImpact #CSR #SocialGood #ImpactDriven #Nonprofit #Montreal #QuebecBusiness #CanadianInnovation #MontrealStartups #CommunityEngagement #TalentDevelopment #WorkforceInnovation #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerDevelopment Concordia University

🚀 The future of computational biology is here! Simmunome Inc. is launching a powerful SaaS platform for drug development, helping scientists uncover disease mechanisms, identify targets and biomarkers, and accelerate translation from bench to bedside—all with cutting-edge computational tools. Stay ahead of the launch: ✔️ Follow Simmunome Inc. for the latest updates 📩 Join their mailing list for exclusive early access & launch announcements: www.simmunome.com/contact At District 3, we’re proud to support startups like Simmunome as they transform drug discovery and development. Stay informed and be part of the future of biotech! #Biotech #ComputationalBiology #DrugDiscovery #LifeSciences #Innovation #D3Entrepreneurs #AIforHealth Concordia University Margaret Bywater-Ekegärd

💡 New! Microprogram in Innovation Mindset at Concordia University Innovation is at the heart of solving today’s complex challenges. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a creative thinker, or a problem-solver in any field, this 9-credit microprogram will equip you with the skills, confidence, and strategies to drive impact—locally and beyond. 🔍 What you’ll gain: ✨ Hands-on experiential learning with real-world projects ✨ A transdisciplinary approach open to students from all backgrounds (arts, sciences, engineering, business, and more!) ✨ A supportive community with access to mentors from the Concordia Innovation Lab and Québec’s innovation ecosystem ✨ Essential skills in design thinking, systemic design, qualitative research, and innovation strategy 🎯 Who is this for? ✔️ Mature students & mid-career professionals looking to upskill ✔️ Individuals from all industries eager to bring innovation into their work ✔️ No prior degree required—just curiosity and a drive to create impact! 📅 Deadline to apply for Fall 2025: June 1 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/e46Kame3 Ready to think differently and innovate for a better future? Apply today! #Innovation #DesignThinking #CreativeProblemSolving #Microprogram #LifelongLearning #FutureOfWork #Entrepreneurship #InnovationMindset Ann-Louise Davidson 🇨🇦