Accelerate Your Quantum Startup

ACET empowers quantum innovators with hands-on mentorship, strategic guidance, and industry connections to transform breakthrough technologies into scalable businesses.

6 Foundational Pillars

01
Intellectual property

Protect your innovations with expert tailored IP guidance, and connect to programs that reduce costs for patent protection.

02
Product roadmap

Develop a clear product roadmap to ensure alignment with market needs and an optimal path to commercialization.

03
Human Resources

Build a strong team, with a focus on talent acquisition, organizational structure, and leadership development tailored for quantum startups.

04
Finance & Fundraising

Build financial projections and develop your fundraising strategy to secure the necessary capital through our partners and ecosystem.

05
Market & Commercialization

Identify target markets, develop your go-to-market strategy, and successfully commercialize your quantum technology for sustainable growth.

06
Strategy & Execution

Craft and implement a winning strategy. Everyone has good ideas; it’s the execution of the strategy that sets winners apart.

The ACET Quantum Advantage

 

Expert-Led Coaching

One-on-one sessions with quantum industry veterans and successful entrepreneurs

Strategic Market Positioning

Develop strategies to effectively penetrate quantum and classical markets

Quantum-Specific Fundraising Guidance

Navigate the complexities of financing in the quantum sector

Quantum Business Execution

Turn quantum concepts into viable products and services

Meet Your Quantum Coaching Team

Our coaches bring a unique blend of quantum expertise and business acumen to guide your startup’s journey.

Michel Brouillette
Program Director

With a wealth of experience in financing and commercialization, Michel manages the quantum program at ACET.

Skills
  • Commercializing quantum and deep tech innovations
  • Helping entrepreneurs develop their businesses
  • Team management and coach recruitment
  • Business development in the quantum industry
Marilyn Perron
Business Development Coordinator

Marilyn helps companies in their early stage, startup and growth phases, while supporting the improvement of our incubated startups.

Skills
  • Advice to entrepreneurs
  • Development of tools and training
  • Project management and planning
  • Non dilutive financing support
Martin Laforest
Product roadmap coach

Martin plays a key role in the development of an investment fund investment fund dedicated to quantum technologies, involved in company verification, support for entrepreneurs and relations with ecosystem partners. Holder of a PhD in quantum computing from the University of Waterloo, he has spearheaded at IQC before working in business development and product management. business development and product management at ISARA Corporation, a post-quantum cybersecurity startup, before launching Quantacet.

Skills
  • Quantum strategy
  • Quantum investment fund
  • Support for quantum companies
Chloé Archambault
Intellectual property coach

Chloé has many years’ experience in intellectual property and technology transfer. Formerly Project Director for a university research valorization company, she managed a portfolio of over 60 IP assets and negotiated several licensing agreements as part of technology transfers between universities and startups. In the course of her career, she participated in all stages of the patent process, drafting a request to issue. She advises and supports entrepreneurs in their IP initiatives.

Skills
  • Technology transfer
  • Intellectual property
  • Partnerships
  • Analysis of technological and commercial opportunities
Nathalie Couët
Head coach

With over 15 years’ experience leading marketing and commercialization teams, Nathalie has solid expertise in product positioning, go-to-market strategies, as well as in creating and coaching multidisciplinary teams. Having worked for several years in technology fields, Nathalie helps entrepreneurs develop business strategies to translate complex technologies into commercial products.

Skills
  • Value proposition definition and product-market fit analysis
  • Go-to-market strategy
  • Marketing strategy and direction
Philippe Thompson
Head coach

Philippe has over 20 years of experience in strategic marketing and sales management in the medical device industry, along with entrepreneurial expertise from cofounding a FoodTech startup and collaborating with prominent Montreal-based technology startup incubators. He is passionate about business strategy and excels in creative problem solving to address complex business challenges, especially for tech startup founders working on market-driven product development and commercialization plans.

Skills
  • Business Strategy & Commercialization
  • Market-Driven Product Development
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Heath Technologies
Phil Rivard
Head coach

A Techstars alum and angel investor, Phil brings over a decade of founder experience to ACET Quantum. Having guided over 350 entrepreneurs at various stages, from initial ideas to Series A funding, he specializes in product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, sales, and fundraising. As an “expert generalist,” Phil tackles complex business challenges with a focus on empowering underrepresented founders. His unique perspective and hands-on approach make him an invaluable asset for startups navigating the quantum tech landscape.

Skills
  • Fundraising Strategy
  • Product-Market Fit
  • Go-to-Market Strategy
Josée Paulin
Operations Coach

With more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing management and R&D in constantly improving companies, Josée supports entrepreneurs to increase the efficiency of product development, its transfer into production and operations management.

Skills
  • Product development
  • Product transfer from R&D to production
  • Operations management (supply chain, quality, production)
Marc-André Renaud
Strategy Coach

With over 30 years of experience as an executive and entrepreneur, Marc-André Renaud is recognized as a strategic advisor and a seasoned manager. He has solid expertise in the areas of business development, software development and in managing high-performance teams geared towards achieving ambitious goals.

Skills
  • Business strategy/execution and business development
  • Recurring business models (SaaS) and software product development
  • Management of efficient teams
Jean-François Côté
Finance Coach

Jean-François is a strategist who ensures that all risks, whether financial or business related, are assessed, lead to success in the long term and are profitable. At the place where business and finance, risk and optimization intersect, he helps the entrepreneur think outside the box.

Skills
  • Financial diagnostics
  • Restructuring and optimization of financial and administrative processes
  • Maximization of companies’ profitability
Patricia Houle
Finance Coach

With over 25 years of experience in financial management for SMEs, Patricia supports entrepreneurs in the development of their businesses and helps them find balance in their finances. She thrives on teamwork and believes that the helping relationship is crucial in every mandate she undertakes. More specifically, she assists her clients with strategic decisions, restructuring, accounting, and finance. Her greatest strength lies in preparing and guiding clients through various types of financing applications.

Skills
  • Financing and grant applications
  • Financial management
  • Strategic direction
Frédéric Lucas
Sales Coach

The founder of Prima Sales Growth, Frédéric is an expert who is devoted to optimizing the growth of medium-sized companies. With an approach geared toward the scientific causes of underperformance and outperformance, he has guided, using proven programs, more than 300 companies toward increased growth, profitability and efficiency in their sales operations.

Skills
  • Sales performance optimization
  • Building profitable sales cultures
  • Putting in place essential levers for commercialization
Michel Brouillette
Program Director

With a wealth of experience in financing and commercialization, Michel manages the quantum program at ACET.

Skills
  • Commercializing quantum and deep tech innovations
  • Helping entrepreneurs develop their businesses
  • Team management and coach recruitment
  • Business development in the quantum industry
Marilyn Perron
Business Development Coordinator

Marilyn helps companies in their early stage, startup and growth phases, while supporting the improvement of our incubated startups.

Skills
  • Advice to entrepreneurs
  • Development of tools and training
  • Project management and planning
  • Non dilutive financing support
Martin Laforest
Product roadmap coach

Martin plays a key role in the development of an investment fund investment fund dedicated to quantum technologies, involved in company verification, support for entrepreneurs and relations with ecosystem partners. Holder of a PhD in quantum computing from the University of Waterloo, he has spearheaded at IQC before working in business development and product management. business development and product management at ISARA Corporation, a post-quantum cybersecurity startup, before launching Quantacet.

Skills
  • Quantum strategy
  • Quantum investment fund
  • Support for quantum companies
Chloé Archambault
Intellectual property coach

Chloé has many years’ experience in intellectual property and technology transfer. Formerly Project Director for a university research valorization company, she managed a portfolio of over 60 IP assets and negotiated several licensing agreements as part of technology transfers between universities and startups. In the course of her career, she participated in all stages of the patent process, drafting a request to issue. She advises and supports entrepreneurs in their IP initiatives.

Skills
  • Technology transfer
  • Intellectual property
  • Partnerships
  • Analysis of technological and commercial opportunities
Nathalie Couët
Head coach

With over 15 years’ experience leading marketing and commercialization teams, Nathalie has solid expertise in product positioning, go-to-market strategies, as well as in creating and coaching multidisciplinary teams. Having worked for several years in technology fields, Nathalie helps entrepreneurs develop business strategies to translate complex technologies into commercial products.

Skills
  • Value proposition definition and product-market fit analysis
  • Go-to-market strategy
  • Marketing strategy and direction
Philippe Thompson
Head coach

Philippe has over 20 years of experience in strategic marketing and sales management in the medical device industry, along with entrepreneurial expertise from cofounding a FoodTech startup and collaborating with prominent Montreal-based technology startup incubators. He is passionate about business strategy and excels in creative problem solving to address complex business challenges, especially for tech startup founders working on market-driven product development and commercialization plans.

Skills
  • Business Strategy & Commercialization
  • Market-Driven Product Development
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Heath Technologies
Phil Rivard
Head coach

A Techstars alum and angel investor, Phil brings over a decade of founder experience to ACET Quantum. Having guided over 350 entrepreneurs at various stages, from initial ideas to Series A funding, he specializes in product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, sales, and fundraising. As an “expert generalist,” Phil tackles complex business challenges with a focus on empowering underrepresented founders. His unique perspective and hands-on approach make him an invaluable asset for startups navigating the quantum tech landscape.

Skills
  • Fundraising Strategy
  • Product-Market Fit
  • Go-to-Market Strategy
Josée Paulin
Operations Coach

With more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing management and R&D in constantly improving companies, Josée supports entrepreneurs to increase the efficiency of product development, its transfer into production and operations management.

Skills
  • Product development
  • Product transfer from R&D to production
  • Operations management (supply chain, quality, production)
Marc-André Renaud
Strategy Coach

With over 30 years of experience as an executive and entrepreneur, Marc-André Renaud is recognized as a strategic advisor and a seasoned manager. He has solid expertise in the areas of business development, software development and in managing high-performance teams geared towards achieving ambitious goals.

Skills
  • Business strategy/execution and business development
  • Recurring business models (SaaS) and software product development
  • Management of efficient teams
Jean-François Côté
Finance Coach

Jean-François is a strategist who ensures that all risks, whether financial or business related, are assessed, lead to success in the long term and are profitable. At the place where business and finance, risk and optimization intersect, he helps the entrepreneur think outside the box.

Skills
  • Financial diagnostics
  • Restructuring and optimization of financial and administrative processes
  • Maximization of companies’ profitability
Patricia Houle
Finance Coach

With over 25 years of experience in financial management for SMEs, Patricia supports entrepreneurs in the development of their businesses and helps them find balance in their finances. She thrives on teamwork and believes that the helping relationship is crucial in every mandate she undertakes. More specifically, she assists her clients with strategic decisions, restructuring, accounting, and finance. Her greatest strength lies in preparing and guiding clients through various types of financing applications.

Skills
  • Financing and grant applications
  • Financial management
  • Strategic direction
Frédéric Lucas
Sales Coach

The founder of Prima Sales Growth, Frédéric is an expert who is devoted to optimizing the growth of medium-sized companies. With an approach geared toward the scientific causes of underperformance and outperformance, he has guided, using proven programs, more than 300 companies toward increased growth, profitability and efficiency in their sales operations.

Skills
  • Sales performance optimization
  • Building profitable sales cultures
  • Putting in place essential levers for commercialization

Frequently Asked Questions

Being part of ACET is totally free! To be selected in our program, startups must go through a rigorous evaluation process. This includes pitching to a selection committee that assesses the startup’s potential.

Additionally, applicants are required to pass a screening test and a psychometric assessment. These steps help us identify entrepreneurs with the highest potential to succeed and who can most benefit from our coaching.

No, ACET does not take any equity in the companies.

Our incubator operates under strict confidentiality rules, as mandated by our funding agreements with the governments of Quebec and Canada. All external coaches have signed NDAs with ACET, ensuring your sensitive information remains protected.

Additionally, we have in-house specialists dedicated to helping entrepreneurs safeguard their intellectual property. Importantly, ACET does not claim any rights over the technologies developed by our startups, allowing you full ownership and control over your innovations.

This commitment to confidentiality and IP protection is a cornerstone of our program, ensuring a secure environment for the development and commercialization of your technology.

Our program lasts for 18 months, offering intensive support to help startups grow and achieve key milestones. However, if we see continued potential in the startup and believe that we can add further value beyond this period, the program duration may be extended.

This flexible approach ensures that we provide the right level of support for startups at critical stages of their development, maximizing their chances of success and ensuring they are fully prepared to scale and thrive in the market.

To qualify for our coaching program, startups must meet the following criteria:

  • Full-Time Commitment: At least one team member must be fully dedicated to the business.
  • Quantum 2.0 Technology: The startup’s core technology must align with Quantum 2.0, focusing on advanced quantum systems, quantum computing, sensing, or communication.
  • Lucrative and Scalable Market: The product must target a lucrative market with clear potential for significant growth and scalability.

These criteria ensure that the startups we support have the dedication, technological foundation, and market opportunity needed to succeed and benefit from our coaching program.