Groupe 3737: ACCESS TO FUNDING | RESOURCES | ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES

In the heart of the Saint-Michel neighborhood, a space once marked by hardship has today become a hub of innovation and economic dynamism. At the head of this unique entrepreneurial ecosystem, Louis Edgar Jean-François, President and CEO of Groupe 3737, embodies a vision where entrepreneurship serves as both an economic and social lever.

A CPA by training and a long-time entrepreneur, Louis Edgar Jean-François readily describes himself as a “baby 3737.” From the very beginning, he helped build what is now recognized as one of the most important business incubators for communities from diverse backgrounds in Canada.

But before becoming an institution, 3737 was first and foremost a human story. The building, a former textile factory, is intimately tied to the family history of its founder, Franz Saint-Hélmy. His mother, an immigrant, worked there at dawn as a seamstress to feed eight children. When the opportunity arose, Saint-Hélmy seized the chance to acquire a space in this building and give it a new mission: to give back to a community that had raised him.

What was once just an idea is today a national success. Groupe 3737 now has twelve offices across the country, has supported more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, and contributed to the creation of 1,200 jobs. The businesses supported collectively generated more than 200 million dollars in revenue.

Beyond the numbers, the project carries a clear ambition: to transform entrepreneurship into a tool for social development. In a neighborhood once considered one of the most disadvantaged in the country, 3737 has succeeded in creating a dynamic of pride, wealth creation, and jobs reinvested directly into local communities.

One of 3737’s cornerstones is its “entrepreneurial tunnel,” a support pathway that follows entrepreneurs from the initial idea to the maturity of their business. Nine programs structure this ecosystem, ranging from business start-up to the incubation of ambitious projects capable of generating several million dollars.

Special attention is given to women entrepreneurs, migrants, and young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods. With the “Youth” program, 3737 introduces young people to entrepreneurship from adolescence and helps them turn fictitious projects into real businesses. In three years, this program has already given rise to concrete projects and job creation praised by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation.

To this offer is added the Code 3737, a programming school aimed at training the digital talents of tomorrow. It guarantees its graduates a job or an internship, while integrating an entrepreneurial component to encourage the creation of web agencies.

Aware that access to financing remains one of the main obstacles for entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, the group participated in the creation of major funds. Among them, a 272-million-dollar program for Black entrepreneurs, of which 161 million directly serve to grant loans of up to 250,000 dollars.

Through the FACE coalition, chaired by Louis Edgar Jean-François, these funds are redistributed more equitably. The group also plays a central role in the Black Community Support Initiative, endowed with a 175-million-dollar fund, intended to strengthen non-profit organizations that serve these communities.

Although today 3737 is a success story, its journey has not been without difficulties. “What people see today are the good results. But behind every success, there are sacrifices,” confides Jean-François. He himself worked nearly a year on a volunteer basis, 70 hours a week, to keep the project afloat.

This perseverance has borne fruit. Not only is 3737 today a nationally recognized ecosystem, but it also stands as a model of economic inclusion and entrepreneurial resilience.

The group’s ambitions do not stop there. Faced with the existing “gap” between financing of $400,000 and that of $5 million offered by large institutions, 3737 is working to put in place new solutions to support high-growth companies. The objective is clear: to transform SMEs from diverse backgrounds into true institutions capable of employing hundreds of people and becoming Canadian “unicorns.”

To those still hesitating to get started, Louis Edgar Jean-François offers a double piece of advice: go beyond the limits we impose on ourselves and avoid the trap of victimization. “Yes, there are barriers. But our role is to break them, to show that talents from diverse cultural backgrounds are just as competent and innovative as others,” he affirms.

3737 does not just support entrepreneurs: it embodies a vision. That of inclusive entrepreneurship, driving social transformation, and demonstrating that even in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods, it is possible to build ecosystems capable of shining on a national scale.