Campus*48: Nine students from the Central-West territory among the winners

On October 3 and 4, 2026, more than 50 college students gathered at Concordia University’s District 3 for the third edition of Campus*48, an event dedicated to impact entrepreneurship. Among the participating institutions, three CEGEPs from the PME MTL Central-West territory were represented: Vanier College, Cégep de Saint-Laurent, and Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne.

At the end of this weekend of creativity and collaboration, nine students from these three institutions were among the members of the winning teams, highlighting the commitment of our territory’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

48 hours to turn ideas into projects

Organized by the Conseil d'économie sociale de l'Île de Montréal (CESIM), in collaboration with PME MTL PME MTL Centre-Est, PME MTL Centre-Ouest, and PME MTL Centre-Ville, Campus*48 invites young people to come up with entrepreneurial solutions to social and environmental challenges.

Over the course of two days, participants worked in teams, received guidance from mentors, and developed projects centered on four major themes: health and well-being, culture and technology, education and inclusion, and living environments.

A total of 12 projects were presented, and six grants totaling $5,000 were awarded thanks to contributions from financial partners.

A New Generation of Committed Entrepreneurs in the Central-West Territory

Students from the three CEGEPs in our territory stood out as members of several award-winning teams.

These awards highlight the contributions of students from the Midwest to collaborative projects that propose new ways to address the challenges facing our society.

In addition to teamwork, Campus*48 also gave young people the opportunity to interact with entrepreneurs who are developing practical solutions.

Among the three guest panelists was Samy Benhamza of CAPSolar, a company supported by PME MTL Centre-Ouest. Alongside Jean-Julien Hazoumé (Applied Archive Atelier) and Geneviève Bergeron (Club Sexu), he shared his entrepreneurial experience and discussed with participants the realities of developing a business venture.

An opportunity for young people to learn about real-world entrepreneurial paths and receive advice from people active in the Montreal ecosystem.

Encouraging Entrepreneurship Starting in College

With more than 150 participants since its inception in 2024, Campus*48 helps introduce the next generation of Montrealers to collective entrepreneurship.

For PME MTL Centre-Ouest, this initiative is part of a commitment to support the emergence of entrepreneurial projects and strengthen ties between educational institutions, businesses, and local economic development stakeholders.

We thank the participating institutions, partners, and mentors who contributed to this third edition, and we congratulate all the young participants for their commitment.