Tag Archive for: montreal

T Riman

YES ELLEvate: Free Pre-Accelerator for Women Entrepreneurs in Montreal (2026)

YES Ellevate — Montreal women entrepreneurs program feature

YES ELLEvate is a free pre-accelerator program for women entrepreneurs in Quebec, run by YES Employment + Entrepreneurship (formerly Youth Employment Services Montreal). The 12-week program offers intensive workshops, business coaching, peer networks, and expert sessions designed to help women take an early-stage business idea or pilot to a real launchable venture. This 2026 guide covers what’s included, who’s eligible, and how to apply.

About YES Employment + Entrepreneurship

YES is a Montreal-headquartered nonprofit founded in 1995 that provides English-language employment and entrepreneurship support across Quebec. The ELLEvate program is part of YES’s growing focus on under-served founders, with a partnership extension to York University’s ELLA program for women entrepreneurs nationwide.

What ELLEvate Includes

  • 12-week structured cohort with a small group of founders
  • Intensive workshops on business planning, market validation, financials, marketing, sales, and operations
  • One-on-one business coaching with experienced advisors
  • Networking events with the Montreal women-founder community
  • Expert chats with industry specialists in finance, legal, branding, and tech
  • Pitch development for raising funds or competing in startup competitions
  • Access to YES’s broader ecosystem including post-program support

Who Should Apply

  • Women in Quebec with an early-stage business idea or pilot
  • Solo founders or co-founder teams (at least one woman lead)
  • Both pre-revenue ideas and existing businesses scaling up
  • Any industry: tech, services, retail, food, creative, social enterprise
  • Bilingual environment but program delivered primarily in English

Why a Women-Focused Pre-Accelerator Matters

Women receive less than 3% of total venture capital funding in Canada, even though women-founded businesses statistically outperform on revenue per dollar invested. Programs like ELLEvate help close the gap by building practical skills, networks, and confidence in a peer environment that traditional male-dominated programs often don’t offer.

Cost

The ELLEvate Pre-Accelerator is free. There is no tuition or program fee. Participants commit their time.

How to Apply

Visit yesmontreal.ca and navigate to the ELLEvate program page. Applications typically open ahead of each cohort start date. You’ll fill out a brief application about your business, your goals, and what you want to get from the program. Cohorts are selective but accessible — YES wants a diverse group of founders.

What Past Participants Get Out of It

  • A validated business model or pilot they can pitch to investors
  • A peer network they continue using long after the program ends
  • Connections to lawyers, accountants, designers, and mentors in Montreal
  • Confidence to apply to next-stage accelerators (Centech, District 3, Real Ventures)

Other Programs for Quebec Women Entrepreneurs

  • Femmessor: Provincial financing and support
  • Réseau M (mentorship): Free mentor matching
  • ELLA at York University: Partnered with ELLEvate, national reach
  • SAJE: French-language equivalent of YES coaching

More Entrepreneurship Resources

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T Riman

5 survival tips on how to cool off during Montreal’s heat waves

Montreal SKyline
  Like most of us, the heatwaves that Montreal can experience can sometimes feel like we are in the middle of a rain forest. It always feels as if Montreal either get the two extremes of weather from -40 weather to immense humidity and heat. To add on to an already overly eventful year, Montreal actually had a record-breaking stat for having the most 30 degrees+ weather in a row. The humidity in Montreal can reach some really high levels to the point of feeling like there is no air to breathe. Fortunately for some, air conditioning will do the trick but for the rest of us wondering if wed prefer the 30cm of snow over the heat have to resort to alternatives, and that’s where we come in to help you. We came up with 5 different ways for you to cool off during the heatwaves and that goes double for all you folks with no air conditioning!   1. The first and probably one of the most obvious tips on our list is to actively try and avoid the sun at its peak times (11 am-2 pm) if possible. Obviously this is not achievable at times but it still serves as a good reminder to just generally limit your exposure to the sun to help you cool down. If you’re planning on going out, stick to the shade, or another useful tip is to buy a UV protection umbrella if you’re anticipating that you will spend more time out in the sun. You can also dip in and out of stores to catch some of their A/C but remember to bring your mask! Small efforts like this can help you stay cool throughout the day!   Find an umbrella at: https://www.amazon.ca/UUmbrella-Unbreakable-Windproof-Ultraslim-Umbrellas/dp/B07YJD2QLW/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=uv+umbrella&qid=1595365696&sr=8-10   2. Another one where we have to be occasionally reminded is that hydration is key throughout the entire day. As a general rule of thumb, you should always drink a lot of water but that’s especially true while facing the heatwaves. The sweat alone will dehydrate you to the point of having no energy and drinking constantly throughout the day is a sure-fire way to help keep your body cool and hydrated. Make sure if you are going out to always have a water bottle handy. And if you’re at home, might as well add some lemon and ice to up your game a little and enjoy your cool down session! 3. Ever hear that eating spicy foods while it’s hot out that it actually helps you cool off? If you’re like me, I was skeptical at first until I actually tried it for myself, and to my amazement, it actually worked. It would seem that the old saying of “fighting fire with fire” is actually an effective method to help cool you down. Thee science behind goes as follows “Sweat is your body’s natural response to heat. Collectively, all those little droplets are just energy, or heat, leaving your body. In a nice, dry climate, that excess energy evaporates off your skin and leaves you a little bit cooler”. Luckily in Montreal, we have a plethora of restaurants that offer up some of the best spicy foods at the touch of our fingers so let’s take advantage of that and also support our local businesses at the same time! Source:https://www.wired.com/2016/10/can-spicy-foods-really-cool/    4. This tip is definitely the tastiest way to stay cool on our list. Another classic method to staying cool is to enjoy some frozen treats. This can range from popsicles, icecreams, frozen fruit smoothies, or finding your nearest Dairy Queen or Dipperie for example! Whatever your preferred method is, these treats will help tide you over to weather the storm and also making the inner kid in you extremely happy. 5. This last tip actually comes from my buddy who currently lives in Japan and his way of dealing with the extremely hot Japanese summers is to invest in cooling pillowcases and sheets. Sleeping in your sweat is something nobody wants to endure and to be completely honest, I was blown away by his favorite method of staying cool because I had no idea this existed but alas modern times calls for modern solutions. He also does not own air conditioning and the summers in Japan are notoriously brutal so I trust him as it has been a couple of years that he has sworn by it!   Find them at: https://www.amazon.ca/Japanese-Lightweight-Sleeping-Breathable-Comfortable/dp/B0835232YP/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1TY0KV774TJ2C&dchild=1&keywords=cooling+sheets&qid=1595364493&sprefix=cooling+sheet%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-5   https://www.amazon.ca/Zenssia-doreiller-Fermeture-glissi%C3%A8re-Standard/dp/B07NS66WZL/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=cooling+pillow+case&qid=1595369747&sr=8-8   There you have it, our top 5 favourite ways of staying cool during the Montreal heat! While there are of course multiple ways of fighting off the heat we thought wed add some small interesting alternatives that can be easily attainable and that can genuinely help you cool off and survive to tell the tale!
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Adriano Di Pancrazio
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Montreal Marketing Expert Publishes Leading Edge Second Edition of Marketing and Analytics Book

books by Canadian marketers

The Secret to Capitalizing on Analytics 2nd Edition is Out.

Montreal based Digital Marketer Publishes Leading Edge Second Edition of Marketing and Analytics Book

Montreal Tips is very excited to announce that Tarek Riman, founder of the digital marketing agency Cap.TaiM, has just released the second edition of his popular digital marketing guide for businesses, The Secret to Capitalizing on Analytics (2020 edition). If you’ve been following the trends, digital marketing and specifically analytics are emerging as essential cogs in the business machine especially in 2020. Businesses are realizing the importance of having a strong digital marketing and analytics team to greatly improve their online presence. But at the end of the day, data is power, and the book enables you to wield that power in order to make most of your newly acquired analytical skills.

A little about the author

As the founder of Cap.TaiM, a full-service digital marketing agency, as well as a renowned speaker and university professor, Tarek Riman has an extensive background in business and marketing and is dedicated to staying up to date on the latest trends, as well as educating others about how they can utilize the latest technology to grow their businesses and build strong brand identities. His aim is not just to teach, but to arm individuals and businesses of all sizes with the tools and know-how to “run their own show”, as he says, as well as the drive to continually learn, experiment, and grow their skills. A book on learning analytics

What is Analytics all about anyways?

The main role of analytics is to provide data on how well a website is performing in terms of attracting visitors, engaging them and driving conversions, so that businesses can make knowledge-based decisions and design data-driven strategies to improve business results. “Analytics technology is this great equalizer for businesses. It’s so low cost and accessible, putting all this powerful data into the hands of anyone from an entrepreneur working a side gig, to a huge Fortune 100,” Riman says. “But, this opportunity is often missed because people believe it’s too complicated to set up and learn, or they figure it’s something they’ll do later when they’re bigger or when their numbers go down. Analytics shows you how to get bigger and helps you better anticipate when your numbers might go down and what to do about it. On top of that, it is not that difficult to learn and setting it can easily be done on your own, or with minimal help.” “The thing about analytics technology is that it is continually evolving,” says Riman. “As the technology evolves, it’s important to continually evolve our understanding so that we can stay cutting edge in our industries and take full advantage of the tools available to us. Releasing this second edition is in response to that evolution.”    

Who is this book for and why should you pick up your copy?

This latest version of Riman’s book is published with the intention to help all types of businesses and individuals – including entrepreneurs, small businesses, students, seasoned professionals and more – develop their understanding of analytics and data usage, as well as the confidence to dive in and start taking advantage of what is available to them. Touted as a complete web analytics book for beginners, as well as an ideal reference book for seasoned professionals, The Secret to Capitalizing on Analytics (2020 edition) takes the reader from the very basics of what analytics is and why it matters for businesses of all sizes and industries, to exactly how to set up, utilize and ultimately capitalize on this dynamic technology for business success. This second 2020 edition offers updates and additions to the previous version while also offering more insight into how analytics help businesses develop strong marketing strategies. After years of working with businesses of all sizes, Riman wrote this book to help make analytics technology even more accessible. In the book, readers learn set-up processes, common uses of analytics, marketing strategies, and data information and customization methods. Readers also learn how knowing the behavior and demographics of website visitors empowers businesses to design successful strategies, and how to extract and interpret that information using analytics.   Find The Secret to Capitalizing on Analytics (2020 edition) at: https://www.amazon.ca/Secret-Capitalizing-Analytics-Approach-Beginners/dp/1796616192/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=tarek+riman&qid=1588023125&sr=8-2   Looking for more? To view more of Tarek Riman’s work, check out The SEO Way: https://www.amazon.ca/SEO-Way-Beginners-Search-Optimization/dp/1073695166/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=tarek+riman&qid=1588026650&sr=8-1 The Camino Within: https://www.amazon.ca/Camino-Within-never-lost-familiar/dp/1987756525/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=tarek+riman&qid=1588026650&sr=8-3   How to contact? Tarek takes a very human approach with his work and welcomes anybody who is interested in learning more about analytics and the latest edition of The Secret to Capitalizing on Analytics (2020 edition) is encouraged to reach out to Tarek Riman directly via email or through the official website.
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Adriano Di Pancrazio

Top 5 best running shoes for men in Canada 2020

Man wearing running shoes standing in the middle of the road

Best outdoors and indoors running shoes for men

New and old runners alike,  its time to get out there! Running has so many great health benefits and can really be something of a personal challenge for some. With that in mind, finding a shoe that best fits and has what you want can definitely be a hassle, but don’t worry, we did our homework so you wouldn’t have to.

What are the top 5 running shoes for men in Canada?

Here are Montreal Tips top 5 favourite running shoes for men:

1.Adidas Ultraboost 20

One of and if not the best Adidas running shoes as of right now. They are a great all-around shoe for running short or long distances. They feature a snug fit with a comfortable interior padding that will keep your runs so smooth it’ll feel like running on clouds. The heel of the shoe is specifically designed to keep you running longer because of the energy absorbent material they use, which traps the impact energy of your steps and springs it back into your step for a stable and energized run. Adidas Ultraboost 20 Source:https://www.adidas.ca/en/ultraboost-20-shoes/EE4393.html  

2.Nike React Miler 

Part of Nike’s new releases, the React Miler was specifically designed with long-distance running in mind. They really put emphasis on making them stable, dependant, and comfortable to give their users a smooth ride that will keep you going for miles. The shoes are also especially durable because of their React foam they use which helps with the daily wear and tear. The shoes also take the runner’s foot shape quite easily adding another level of comfort while running. The shoes are also quite stylish and serve up a good look if you ever want to wear them out and about! Nike React Miler Source: https://www.nike.com/ca/t/react-miler-running-shoe-DnVKQm/CW1777-100  

3. Asics Gel-Nimbus 22

Asics are known as a top tier running shoe brand and their Gel Nimbus 22 shoe is no exception. We suggest these as a great first pair of running shoes or if you’re looking for an upgrade that will last you years. This model offers an amazing amount of cushioning which really reflects how smooth your runs will be. The shoe is also incredibly shock absorbant and also has a great shape to minimize foot swelling. The shoes are also very breathable and provide great support for any distance. Asics Gel-Nimbus 22Source:https://www.asics.com/us/en-us/gel-nimbus-22/p/ANA_1011A680-002.html?width=Standard  

4.Nobull Ripstop Runner

 While Nobull is maybe not the first brand you think of in the running world, trust us do not sleep on these. If you are looking for shoes that you can wear during any type of physical activity look no further. They are a cut above just regular running shoes. Made and designed by cross-fitters these shoes are, of course, primarily running shoes but are also really great for any type of training whether it’s outdoors or indoors. It offers good traction on a variety of different surfaces and is designed to be lightweight and versatile. Nobull Ripstop RunnerSource: https://www.roguecanada.ca/nobull-ripstop-runner  

 5. Brooks Ghost 12

A padded yet versatile shoe the Ghost 12 has an awesome cushioning design to them. They especially help people who have pains and swelling while running as they have smartly come up with a next-level amount of support. They come with special shock absorbers that help cushion you during your runs and are also surprisingly comfortable no matter what you use them for. The shoes don’t require much breaking in adding more to their comfort factor. The versatility of the shoe really comes in because of its ability to not only be able to dominate traditional runs but also has great traction for those of you who love trail running. Brooks Ghost 12 Source:https://www.amazon.ca/Brooks-Mens-Ghost-Running-Shoe/dp/B07L6K5HZG/ref=sr_1_2
Disclaimer: This post is based on personal research, personal trial, and online research. This post does have affiliate links to Amazo
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Adriano Di Pancrazio

10 Stay-at-home Activities During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Top 10 things to do indoors in Canada

Top 10 Home Activities During the Coronavirus Outbreak

  1. Read that book you’ve been putting off

    Most of us have that book or series that we’ve been wanting to read forever but haven’t gotten the chance to do it for a multitude of reasons. Why not decide to go for it while you have the time? We know we have a few from our list that we’re getting to (or trying to do so, at the very least)!

  2. Create a list of movies and tv-shows you’ve been wanting to watch

    In the same space as reading that book, take this opportunity to finally get around to those movies and tv-shows that your friends have been begging you to watch, but have always been putting off to watch something else.

  3. Video chat with friends

    Use your Skype, WhatsApp, Facetime, Zoom or whatever app you use to stay in touch with your friends. Having face to face contact is sometimes better than texts, besides, who doesn’t like seeing their friends?

  4. Have a board game night with some close friends

    Speaking of video chats, Is there anything that brings you back to childhood faster than a board game night with friends? Make the effort and ask your friends to have a couple of games through video chat. Our favorite is Dungeons & Dragons which can easily be played over video or voice chat!

  5. Workout at home with yoga and bodyweight exercises

    With gyms being closed, it could be a good opportunity to keep up or start with bodyweight exercises. Some great programs can be found with a simple google search. Motivate yourself to take the leap! We also encourage you to try yoga as it is a great workout and a fantastic stress reliever.

  6. Get ahead on some spring cleaning

    This could be an opportunity to get ahead on something that we know is coming up for most, the dreaded spring cleaning. We suggest listening to podcasts or audiobooks while doing the cleaning to keep you interested for longer!

  7. Work on a new hobby

    Being indoors is a great time to try out a new hobby! Whether it is trying new recipes you’ve been wanting to do or a learning language on Duolingo to picking up a new instrument. Learning new hobbies can really be a fulfilling and rewarding experience.

  8. Do some home projects

    If you’ve been planning on moving furniture or wanting to repaint a room, now would be a great time to take advantage!

  9. Take online classes

    If you’re like us and love to learn, consider taking online classes when and where they are available. Usually, you can use your local university site as a starting point in your search for a course. They’re very informative and can maybe spark an interest you didn’t think was there.

  10. Start a journal

    We find journaling to be a very relaxing way to spend the time. So why not give it a shot? If you’ve had stuff on your mind, want to write down an epic story or you just want to organize yourself better, start journaling, it could be a cathartic outlet for you to put your ideas and thoughts on paper at this particular point in time.
Bonus: Google chrome has released the Netflix Party extension so you can watch Netflix at the same time as your friends, another way to stay contacted and do things together at the same time.
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