{"id":16905,"date":"2026-08-04T11:04:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T15:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/reglements-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T11:08:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T15:08:39","slug":"rules-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/rules-2026\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"R\u00e8glements 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f6562eab wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--m);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--m)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>THE COOPERATHON JOURNEY<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The 2026 edition of the&nbsp;Cooperathon&nbsp;offers participants a pathway to develop their entrepreneurial project: aspiring entrepreneurs&nbsp;<\/strong>(individuals or teams) with or without&nbsp;an initial&nbsp;idea before registering, and at most a conceptual prototype (see Exception in the \u201cEligibility\u201d section).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DURATION OF THE COOPERATHON<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cooperathon (hereinafter the \u201cCooperathon\u201d or the \u201cProgram\u201d) is powered by the Desjardins Caisse Network (hereinafter \u201cDesjardins\u201d) and runs from February 9, 2026 at 12:01 AM (EDT) to July 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM (EDT) in Canada (hereinafter the \u201cCooperathon Period\u201d).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From February 9,\u00a02026\u00a0to April 26, 2026: Participant registration for the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0and team formation. During this period, the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0may hold optional information sessions, networking events, or team workshops in various locations. Participation in these activities is optional and does not affect participants\u2019 eligibility for the Program.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>April 26, 2026: Deadline for participant registration and team creation for the Program (registration is done on the Global platform).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From April 23, 2026 to May 21, 2026, 12:00 PM (EDT): 1st part of the training and prototyping program;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>April 23, 2026:\u00a0<strong>mandatory<\/strong>\u00a0meeting for project leaders\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>April 27, 2026: official launch conference\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>May 22, 2026 \u2013 12:00 PM. (EDT): Deadline to submit the application file to be selected for the second phase of the Program;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>May 29, 2026 \u2013 12:00 PM (EDT): Announcement of the teams selected for the second part of the Program.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From June 1 to June 30, 2026: 2nd part of the training journey with the selected teams.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>July 2 and 3, 2026: Pitch competition for the 3 challenges and separate competition for the \u201cUniversity Research Track,\u201d held virtually.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>July 7, 2026: Pitch competition for the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a02026 Grand Prize.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>July 9, 2026: Announcement of the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a02026 winners.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ELIGIBILITY<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooperathon&nbsp;\u00ab&nbsp;General Track&nbsp;\u00bb&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PRINCIPLE: The&nbsp;Cooperathon&nbsp;is open to all individuals who meet the following criteria:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Residents of Canada who are 18 years of age or older at the time of registration.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aspiring entrepreneurs with or without an idea, in the pre-startup phase, and without a functional prototype at the time of registration for the Cooperathon.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooperathon&nbsp;\u00ab&nbsp;University&nbsp;Research&nbsp;Track&nbsp;\u00bb&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EXCEPTION:&nbsp;<strong>A functional prototype&nbsp;<\/strong>may be accepted as part of the&nbsp;Cooperathon&nbsp;\u201cUniversity Research Track\u201d&nbsp;<em>if and only if<\/em>&nbsp;the prototype meets&nbsp;all of&nbsp;the following criteria:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Was developed as part of a university research program\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has never undergone market analysis and has not been commercialized\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does not have a solid or structured team ready to commit long-term to the project (it is not an \u201cemerging startup\u201d)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whose intellectual property is not personally owned or commercially exploited by a professor or any other member of the research team (for example, through a company they control). Intellectual property owned by a university or shared as part of academic research is, however, accepted\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2013&gt;&nbsp;<strong>These criteria are cumulative<\/strong>. The Cooperathon team reserves the right to refuse or remove a team that does not meet these criteria. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The&nbsp;following&nbsp;are not&nbsp;eligible&nbsp;to&nbsp;participate&nbsp;in the Program\u202f:&nbsp;<\/strong>Desjardins executives, jury&nbsp;members&nbsp;and the people with whom they&nbsp;reside, mentors and the people with whom they&nbsp;reside, as well as members of the Desjardins Startup and Innovation Ecosystem team and the people with whom they&nbsp;reside.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HOW TO PARTICIPATE\u202f:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To&nbsp;participate, eligible participants must:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visit the Cooperathon website (<a href=\"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/<\/a>) and click on the \u201cRegister\u201d button;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create their user profile and join the competition section on the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0collaboration platform, called\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0Global\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/cooperathon.global\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/cooperathon.global<\/a>\/);\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirm that they have read and accepted the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a02026 rules.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;previous&nbsp;steps allow participation in the&nbsp;Cooperathon\u2019s&nbsp;training and mentorship Program. During this period, the teams will advance their business idea and their entrepreneurial project.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&nbsp;is&nbsp;not&nbsp;mandatory&nbsp;for participants to&nbsp;be&nbsp;part of a&nbsp;team&nbsp;at the time of registration.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;you&nbsp;will&nbsp;need&nbsp;to&nbsp;form&nbsp;or&nbsp;join&nbsp;a&nbsp;team&nbsp;to&nbsp;work&nbsp;on an&nbsp;idea&nbsp;or&nbsp;project&nbsp;throughout&nbsp;the training and&nbsp;mentorship&nbsp;program,&nbsp;<strong>no&nbsp;later&nbsp;than&nbsp;May 21, 2026<\/strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Participation in the&nbsp;Competition&nbsp;Phase of the Program<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To&nbsp;participate&nbsp;in the&nbsp;competition&nbsp;phase of the program:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The\u00a0team\u00a0must\u00a0submit\u00a0an application file\u00a0that\u00a0includes\u00a0a description of:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a\u00a0problem\u00a0statement,\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0proposed\u00a0solution,\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0team,\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0link\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Sustainable\u00a0Development\u00a0Goals\u00a0(hereinafter\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0ODD\u00a0\u00bb)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0expected\u00a0impact, and\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a\u00a0video\u00a0of a maximum of 3 minutes\u00a0presenting\u00a0the prototype (conceptual\u00a0or\u00a0functional)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0team\u00a0must\u00a0consist\u00a0of a minimum of\u00a0<strong>2\u00a0members\u00a0and a maximum of 7\u00a0members.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PROCESS<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Registration will open no later than<strong>\u00a0February 9,\u00a02026<\/strong>\u00a0on the website\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/?lang=en\">https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/<\/a>.\u00a0Each person registered for the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0must create their user profile on the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0collaboration platform, called \u201cGlobal.\u201d\u00a0The registration period will end on\u00a0<strong>April 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM (EDT)<\/strong>\u00a0for participants in the program track.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teams must work on a problem statement that addresses at least one of\u00a0<strong>the three sectoral challenges<\/strong>.\u00a0(A team may respond\u00a0to only one\u00a0challenge. Partners may be involved in these challenges to support teams during development. Their involvement and names will be revealed gradually as they commit, and no later than April 26, 2026.)\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>At the time of\u00a0submitting\u00a0the application file, the\u00a0team\u00a0must\u00a0choose\u00a0the\u00a0sectoral\u00a0challenge\u00a0that\u00a0their\u00a0project\u00a0addresses.\u00a0It\u00a0is\u00a0the\u00a0team\u2019s\u00a0responsibility\u00a0to\u00a0ensure\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0project\u00a0meets\u00a0all\u00a0eligibility\u00a0criteria\u00a0for\u00a0that\u00a0challenge.\u00a0The program\u00a0Program\u00a0team\u00a0reserves\u00a0the right to place the\u00a0project\u00a0in a\u00a0different\u00a0category\u00a0than\u00a0the one\u00a0chosen\u00a0by the\u00a0team.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Program\u2019s\u00a0selection\u00a0committee\u00a0will\u00a0select a\u00a0cohort\u00a0of\u00a0teams\u00a0to\u00a0participate\u00a0in the second phase of the Program,\u00a0within\u00a0one of the\u00a0three\u00a0challenges (People, Planet,\u00a0Prosperity) and\u00a0within\u00a0the\u00a0\u201cUniversity Research Track\u201d \u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0number\u00a0of\u00a0teams\u00a0selected\u00a0per challenge and per\u00a0track\u00a0will\u00a0depend\u00a0on the\u00a0quality, relevance, and\u00a0diversity\u00a0of the applications\u00a0received. The Program\u00a0aims\u00a0to select\u00a0approximately\u00a0fifty\u00a0(50)\u00a0teams\u00a0in total\u00a0across\u00a0all challenges and\u00a0tracks.\u00a0\u00a0<br>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>From\u00a0April 27, 2026 to May 26, 2026<\/strong>,\u00a0the first part of the Program track will take place. Individuals and teams\u2014with or without an idea and, at most, a conceptual prototype\u2014work on a problem statement and propose a solution in the form of a prototype\u00a0<em>(Exception :\u00a0see\u00a0the\u00a0\u201cELIGIBILITY\u00a0\u201d\u00a0section\u00a0above)<\/em>.\u202f<strong>Highly recommended\u00a0<\/strong>workshops\u00a0will be offered throughout the entire Cooperathon training program to support participants in developing their idea or project and preparing the prototype of their solution, which will be presented in the application file. These teams will have access to subject matter experts during this first part of the track. Even though participation in these workshops is not mandatory, at least one team member must attend the workshops of the first phase for the team to gain access to the second phase.<br>Participation in all workshops does not guarantee that a team will be selected, as projects will still be under evaluation.\u00a0The deadline to\u00a0submit\u00a0the application file\u00a0is\u00a0<strong>May 22, 2026 before 12\u202f:00 PM (EDT).<\/strong>\u00a0The program\u00a0team\u00a0will\u00a0review\u00a0the\u00a0submitted\u00a0applications and select a\u00a0cohort\u00a0of\u00a0teams\u00a0for the second phase of the\u00a0track\u00a0of the\u00a0three\u00a0challenges (People, Planet,\u00a0Prosperity), as\u00a0well\u00a0as the\u00a0\u201cUniversity Research Track.\u201d\u00a0Selection\u00a0will be based on the quality, relevance, feasibility, and impact of the proposed projects. The number of teams\u00a0selected per challenge and per track may vary.\u00a0<br>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0teams\u00a0selected\u00a0will:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be\u00a0invited\u00a0to continue to the second phase of the\u00a0track\u00a0(from\u00a0June 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0invited\u00a0to pitch in front of a jury\u00a0corresponding\u00a0to the challenge or\u00a0track\u00a0for\u00a0which\u00a0the\u00a0team\u00a0was\u00a0selected,\u00a0during\u00a0the\u00a0competition\u00a0that\u00a0will\u00a0take\u00a0place\u00a0on July 2 and 3, 2026.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be\u00a0notified\u00a0no\u00a0later\u00a0than\u00a0<strong>May 29, 2026 at 5\u202f:00 PM (EDT)<\/strong>\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0may\u00a0continue to the second part of the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0track.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For each challenge, the jury will\u00a0determine\u00a0the winning team (1st place).<br>Each winning team will be awarded a prize of\u00a0a minimum of $10,000.\u00a0At the discretion of certain partners, some of the cash prizes or complementary services may be increased depending on the challenge. This means that the monetary value of the prizes may vary from one challenge to\u00a0another, but\u00a0will always be at least $10,000. Applications must be\u00a0submitted\u00a0online using the designated form, which will be available on the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0collaborative platform.\u00a0 Submission of the application file for the first phase of the track will be done online and will be possible starting\u00a0<strong>May 21,\u00a02025\u00a0at 11:59 AM (EDT).<\/strong> The deadline to\u00a0submit\u00a0the application file is May 22,\u00a02026\u00a0at 12:00 PM (EDT). Each\u00a0application file must\u00a0include:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A\u00a0written\u00a0description of:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the\u00a0problem\u00a0statement,\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0solution (value proposition)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0team\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0impact\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0link\u00a0with\u00a0at least one of the\u00a0SDGs\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0prototype (conceptual\u00a0or\u00a0functional).\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A\u00a0video\u00a0showing\u00a0the\u00a0developed\u00a0prototype.\u00a0This\u00a0video\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0a maximum of 3 minutes.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After evaluating the submitted application files, the selected teams will be invited to continue to the second phase.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The second part of the track for the selected teams begins on June 1,\u00a02026\u00a0and ends on June 30, 2026.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>THE 3 COOPERATHON CHALLENGES\u202f: PITCH &amp; ANNOUNCEMENT&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The pitch competition for the 3 challenges will take place on\u00a0<strong>July 2 and 3, 2026<\/strong>.<br>All teams in the track are invited to pitch in front of a jury (composed of members from innovation ecosystems and experts in Canada, or executives from the various partners).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Program\u00a0organizing\u00a0team\u00a0reserves\u00a0the right to\u00a0add\u00a0additional\u00a0\u00ab\u202fpitch\u202f\u00bb\u00a0categories\u00a0based\u00a0on the nature,\u00a0quality, and\u00a0diversity\u00a0of the applications\u00a0received.\u00a0These\u00a0additional\u00a0categories\u00a0may\u00a0include, for\u00a0example,\u00a0prizes\u00a0such\u00a0as\u202f: Best Impact, Most\u00a0Promising\u00a0AI-Driven Solution, Best Low-Tech Innovation. The\u00a0creation\u00a0of\u00a0these\u00a0categories\u00a0is\u00a0at the sole\u00a0discretion\u00a0of the Program\u00a0organizing\u00a0team\u00a0and\u00a0does\u00a0not alter the\u00a0eligibility\u00a0criteria\u00a0of the challenges.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0selected\u00a0teams\u00a0will\u00a0present\u00a0their\u00a0project\u00a0(virtually) over a total duration of 12 minutes,\u00a0broken\u00a0down as\u00a0follows:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1 minute to connect to the videoconference link,\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>4 minutes\u00a0to pitch\u00a0their\u00a0project\u00a0live\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>7 minutes\u00a0for\u00a0judges\u2019 questions and the\u00a0team\u2019s\u00a0responses If a team is unable to present live for exceptional reasons, it may submit a prerecorded video of its pitch\u00a0<strong>BEFORE June 30, 2026, at 12:00 PM (EDT)<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0In such a case, and to ensure fairness among participants, prerecorded presentations will\u00a0<strong>not<\/strong>\u00a0be followed by a live Q&amp;A period.\u00a0This measure has been implemented to mitigate potential performance advantages associated with prerecording and to preserve fairness in the evaluation process.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each\u00a0jury for the 3 challenges\u00a0will\u00a0determine\u00a0the top 2\u00a0teams\u202f: the\u00a0team\u00a0that\u00a0won the challenge, and the\u00a0team\u00a0that\u00a0finished\u00a0in\u00a0second place.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The top 2\u00a0teams\u00a0from\u00a0each\u00a0challenge\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0invited\u00a0to pitch for the 2026\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0Grand\u00a0Prize.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since a prize is awarded for the \u00ab\u00a0University Research Track\u00a0\u00bb, a dedicated jury will determine the two best teams for this track, including the winning team and second-place team.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The winning team for each challenge will be announced during a special event in the week of July 6, 2026.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The evaluation grid that will be used to assess the projects during the competition phase will be published on\u00a0the \u201cGlobal\u201d platform\u00a0starting\u202fJune 4,\u00a02026.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For the\u00a0winning\u00a0teams\u00a0of\u00a0each\u00a0challenge, the cash\u00a0prize\u00a0(which\u00a0may\u00a0include\u00a0additional\u00a0services)\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0directly\u00a0to the\u00a0winning\u00a0team\u00a0by Desjardins or\u00a0its\u00a0partners.\u00a0Payment\u00a0of the\u00a0prize\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0made\u00a0within\u00a030 business\u00a0days\u00a0after\u00a0receiving\u00a0the\u00a0banking\u00a0information of all\u00a0members\u00a0of the\u00a0winning\u00a0team.\u00a0The\u00a0amount\u00a0of\u00a0each\u00a0prize\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0distributed\u00a0equally\u00a0among\u00a0the\u00a0members\u00a0of the\u00a0winning\u00a0team, as\u00a0listed\u00a0in the\u00a0team\u00a0roster\u00a0submitted\u00a0with\u00a0the application file,\u00a0unless\u00a0all\u00a0team\u00a0members\u00a0provide\u00a0written\u00a0consent for the full\u00a0amount\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0paid\u00a0to a\u00a0legally\u00a0incorporated\u00a0entity\u00a0(.INC,\u00a0nonprofit, or\u00a0cooperative).\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each member of the teams winning theCooperathon\u00a0Grand Prizes agrees to sign a declaration and liability waiver prior to receiving the prize.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>COOPERATHON GRAND PRIZES\u202f: PITCH &amp; ANNOUCEMENT&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On\u202f<strong>July 7, 2026<\/strong>,\u00a0in the morning, the top 2 teams selected in each challenge will be invited, virtually, to present their project over a total period of\u00a0<strong>12 minutes<\/strong>, consisting of:\u00a01 minute to\u00a0connect\u00a0to the\u00a0video\u00a0conference\u00a0link, 4 minutes to pitch\u00a0their\u00a0project\u00a0live, 7 minutes for\u00a0judges\u2019 questions and\u00a0answers.\u00a0If a team cannot pitch live for exceptional reasons, it may\u00a0submit\u00a0a prerecorded video of its pitch<strong>\u00a0BEFORE June 30, 2026, at 12:00 PM (EDT)<\/strong>.\u00a0In such cases, no live Q&amp;A will take place to ensure fairness among participating teams.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The jury members for the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0Grand Prizes are recognized experts from the Quebec and Canadian startup ecosystem and from the program\u2019s various partners.\u00a0Their\u00a0selection\u00a0is the responsibility of the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0organizing team.\u00a0All judges are bilingual, allowing participants to choose whether they present in French or English.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0selection\u00a0of the Grand\u00a0Prize\u00a0winners\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0based\u00a0on\u202f: the live\u00a0presentation, the Q&amp;A\u00a0period, and\u00a0the application file\u00a0submitted\u00a0for the\u00a0competition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A\u00a0common\u00a0evaluation\u00a0grid,\u00a0used\u00a0for all\u00a0projects,\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0applied\u00a0by the\u00a0juries\u00a0to score\u00a0each\u00a0team. It\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0available\u00a0no\u00a0later\u00a0than\u00a0<strong>June 4, 2026<\/strong>, on the website\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cooperathon.ca<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The winning team of the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0Grand Prize will be announced during a special event in the week of\u00a0<strong>July 6, 2026<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The cash\u00a0award\u00a0for the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0Grand\u00a0Prize\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0given\u00a0by Desjardins (or\u00a0designated\u00a0partner) to the\u00a0winning\u00a0team\u00a0within\u00a030 business\u00a0days\u00a0<strong>after\u00a0receiving\u00a0the\u00a0banking\u00a0information<\/strong>\u00a0of all\u00a0team\u00a0members. The\u00a0prize\u00a0amount\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0distributed\u00a0equally\u00a0among\u00a0the\u00a0team\u00a0members, as\u00a0listed\u00a0in the\u00a0team\u00a0roster,\u00a0unless\u00a0all\u00a0team\u00a0members\u00a0provide\u00a0written\u00a0consent for the\u00a0entire\u00a0amount\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0paid\u00a0to a\u00a0legally\u00a0incorporated\u00a0entity\u00a0(.INC,\u00a0nonprofit, or\u00a0cooperative)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each member of the teams winning the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0Grand Prizes agrees to sign a declaration and liability waiver form prior to receiving the prize.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>COOPERATHON 2026&nbsp;PRIZES<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prizes&nbsp;Awarded&nbsp;by Challenge<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The amount of the prize awarded to the winning team for each challenge is a minimum of $10,000. A challenge partner may increase this amount with additional cash or in kind contributions (e.g., free workspace, expert time, etc.).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cooperathon \u00ab\u202fKudos\u202f\u00bb Prize <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;Cooperathon&nbsp;team selects the team that stood out the most during the program through its commitment, motivation, and adherence to the process.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The amount of the prize is $5,000.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Additional&nbsp;Cooperathon&nbsp;Prizes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Program team may award&nbsp;additional&nbsp;prizes based on the quantity, quality, and type of applications received during the project submission period, which ends on&nbsp;<strong>May 22, 2026<\/strong><strong>.&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These&nbsp;additional&nbsp;prizes will be&nbsp;determined&nbsp;between May 22,&nbsp;2026&nbsp;and May 29, 2026.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On May 29, 2026, the Program&nbsp;team&nbsp;will&nbsp;announce\u202f: the&nbsp;categories&nbsp;of&nbsp;additional&nbsp;prizes, the&nbsp;selected&nbsp;teams, and the&nbsp;prize&nbsp;amounts&nbsp;associated&nbsp;with&nbsp;each&nbsp;category.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The creation of&nbsp;additional&nbsp;prizes&nbsp;<strong>does not replace or reduce<\/strong>&nbsp;the prizes awarded for the main challenges.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cooperathon&nbsp;Grand&nbsp;Prize<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;Cooperathon&nbsp;Grand Prize is valued at $40,000&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A team may win more than one of these prizes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All&nbsp;prizes&nbsp;are&nbsp;listed&nbsp;on the&nbsp;Cooperathon&nbsp;website\u202f:&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/cooperathon.ca<\/a>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The&nbsp;Cooperathon&nbsp;team reserves the right, in exceptional circumstances, to&nbsp;modify, combine, or not award a challenge or prize, depending on the quality or number of eligible applications received.<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EVALUATION&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;evaluation&nbsp;criteria&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;communivated&nbsp;to participants&nbsp;after&nbsp;they&nbsp;register&nbsp;for the&nbsp;competition. The&nbsp;project&nbsp;evaluation&nbsp;criteria&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;available&nbsp;on&nbsp;<strong>June 4, 2026<\/strong>, at the start of the second part of the training&nbsp;track.&nbsp;These&nbsp;criteria&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;used&nbsp;by the&nbsp;judges&nbsp;to&nbsp;evaluate:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The\u00a0competition\u00a0for the 3 challenges\u00a0<\/strong>(on July 2 and 3, 2026)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The\u00a0competition\u00a0for the \u00ab\u202fUniversity\u00a0Research\u00a0Track\u202f\u00bb\u00a0<\/strong>(on July 3, 2026)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The\u00a0competition\u00a0for the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0Grand\u00a0Prize\u00a0<\/strong>(on July 7, 2026)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Special prizes that are awarded may use&nbsp;additional&nbsp;criteria to select the winning team. These&nbsp;additional&nbsp;criteria will be communicated publicly to eligible participants.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>GENERAL&nbsp;CONDITIONS<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Conditions\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0declared\u00a0the\u00a0winning\u00a0team\u00a0of the\u00a0Cooperathon<\/strong><br><strong>To\u00a0be\u00a0declared\u00a0the winner of the challenge<\/strong>,\u00a0the selected winning team must meet the following conditions:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Confirm that it meets the eligibility requirements and the other conditions of the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0rules;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>On July 2 and\/or 3, 2026<\/strong>:\u00a0pitch\u00a0virtually in\u00a0front of the jury or, in exceptional circumstances, have sent the video of your pitch to the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0team\u00a0<strong>BEFORE June 30, 2026, at 12\u202f:00 PM (EDT). <\/strong>This video will be broadcast during the pitch session. There will be no Q&amp;A period for teams that\u00a0submitted\u00a0a prerecorded video.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be selected by the jury as the winning team;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be present at the award ceremony. If attendance is not possible, the winning team must\u00a0comply with\u00a0certain conditions that will be communicated by the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0team.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If any of the above conditions or any other condition mentioned in these rules is not met, the selected team will be disqualified and, at the discretion of the organizers, the prize will be cancelled or awarded to another team\u00a0in accordance with\u00a0these participation rules. The same conditions will then apply with the necessary adjustments, if applicable.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conditions\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0declared\u00a0the\u00a0winning\u00a0team\u00a0of the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0Grand\u00a0Prize<\/strong><br><strong>To\u00a0be\u00a0declared\u00a0the winner of a\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0Grand\u00a0Prize\u00a0for the\u00a0General Track,\u00a0<\/strong>the\u00a0selected\u00a0winning\u00a0team\u00a0must\u00a0meet\u00a0the\u00a0following\u00a0conditions:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Confirm\u00a0that\u00a0it\u00a0meets\u00a0the\u00a0eligibility\u00a0requirements\u00a0and all\u00a0other\u00a0conditions set out in\u00a0these\u00a0rules; and\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>On July 7,\u00a02026<\/strong> (if your team is selected for the 2026 Cooperathon Grand Prize):\u00a0\u00a0pitch virtually in front of the jury\u00a0<strong>or<\/strong>\u00a0have sent the\u00a0video\u00a0of\u00a0your\u00a0pitch to the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0team\u00a0<strong>BEFORE June 30, 2026, at 12\u202f:00 PM (EDT). <\/strong>This\u00a0video\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0broadcast\u00a0during\u00a0the pitch session. The\u00a0team\u2019s\u00a0(virtual)\u00a0presence\u00a0is\u00a0mandatory\u00a0for the Q&amp;A\u00a0period.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be\u00a0selected\u00a0by the jury as the\u00a0winning\u00a0team;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be\u00a0present\u00a0at the\u00a0award\u00a0ceremony. If the\u00a0team\u00a0is\u00a0unable\u00a0to attend, the\u00a0winning\u00a0team\u00a0must\u00a0comply\u00a0with\u00a0certain conditions\u00a0that\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0communicated\u00a0to\u00a0them\u00a0by the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0team.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If any of the above conditions, or any other condition set out in these rules, is not met, the selected team will be disqualified and, at the discretion of the organizers, the prize will either be cancelled or awarded to another team in accordance with these participation rules. The same conditions will then apply with any necessary adjustments.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teams\u00a0participating\u00a0in the\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0<strong>University\u00a0Research\u00a0Track\u00a0<\/strong>\u00bb\u00a0challenge are\u00a0<strong>not\u00a0eligible<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0win\u00a0the Grand\u00a0Prize\u00a0for the\u00a0\u00abGeneral\u00a0Track\u00bb.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The winner of the Grand\u00a0Prize\u00a0for the\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0University\u00a0Research\u00a0Track\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0is\u00a0subject\u00a0to the\u00a0same\u00a0conditions,\u00a0except\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0apply\u00a0only\u00a0to\u00a0teams\u00a0in the\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0University\u00a0Research\u00a0Track\u00a0\u00bb.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Awarding\u00a0the\u00a0Prize<\/strong>.\u00a0If the selected participant refuses to accept their prize, Desjardins and its partners will be released from any obligation regarding the awarding of this prize and may, at their discretion, cancel the prize or re-award it in the manner described in paragraph (1) of the General Conditions. The prize will be awarded to the team according to a mechanism defined between the winners and the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0organization.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Verification<\/strong>.\u00a0All entries and all Declaration Forms may be subject to verification by Desjardins. Any that are incomplete, inaccurate, illegible, mechanically reproduced, damaged, fraudulent,\u00a0submitted\u00a0or transmitted late,\u00a0containing\u00a0an invalid telephone number, or otherwise non-compliant may be rejected and will not entitle the participant to the prize.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disqualification<\/strong>.\u00a0Any person\u00a0participating\u00a0in the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0or\u00a0attempting\u00a0to participate by any means contrary to these rules and unfair to other participants (for example: computer hacking, failure to\u00a0disclose\u00a0prior intellectual property) will be automatically disqualified and may be referred to the competent judicial authorities. Likewise, projects that have not\u00a0complied with\u00a0the pre-incubation (prototyping) status requirements for teams will be disqualified.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Intellectual\u00a0Property<\/strong>.\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Subject to what is provided in paragraph 6(c), participants agree that the intellectual property of the prototype and of the presentation of solutions during the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0belongs to the entire team. It is the responsibility of the teams to\u00a0determine\u00a0how this intellectual property will be shared and to ensure confidentiality when necessary. \u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the team uses preexisting and\/or\u00a0thirdparty\u00a0intellectual property elements, the team must ensure that it has obtained all necessary rights before using them within the\u00a0Cooperathon. Participants who are employees of an organization and wish to use intellectual property arising from their work must first ensure with their employer that their participation and the use of these elements are authorized.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teams participating in the \u201cUniversity Research Track\u201d acknowledge that their project may be governed by the intellectual property policies of their respective educational institution. It is the responsibility of each team to ensure that these policies are respected, where applicable. If participants within the same team are subject to different intellectual property policies due to the institution they belong to, it is entirely their responsibility to comply with each of them. It\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0the sole\u00a0responsibility\u00a0of participants to\u00a0ensure\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0authorized\u00a0to\u00a0disclose\u00a0the\u00a0information\u00a0they\u00a0present\u00a0during\u00a0the\u00a0competition,\u00a0including\u00a0during\u00a0the final pitch,\u00a0which\u00a0takes\u00a0place in front of an audience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure.<\/strong>\u00a0By\u00a0participating\u00a0in the\u00a0Cooperathon, all participants agree to\u00a0maintain\u00a0the confidentiality of any\u00a0nonpublic\u00a0information, ideas, or material (\u201cConfidential Information\u201d) presented by other participants as part of the Program. Participants may not\u00a0disclose, use, or exploit this Confidential Information for any purpose\u00a0whether internal or external to the Program\u00a0without the prior approval of the participants who originally\u00a0disclosed\u00a0the information.\u00a0This obligation\u00a0remains\u00a0in effect even after the end of the Program. Respecting the intellectual property of other participants is mandatory. Any violation of this clause may result in disqualification by the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0organizing team. Any legal action or recourse resulting from such a violation will be entirely the responsibility and at the expense of the party that\u00a0disclosed\u00a0the information.\u00a0The\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0organizing team, the Program, as well as Desjardins and its partners cannot be held responsible, under any circumstances, for disputes or legal proceedings between participants. That said, the participants agree that all information disclosed during the final stage of the competition, namely during the final pitch, will no longer be considered confidential, given that the final pitch is presented in front of an audience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Program Conduct<\/strong>.\u00a0Any attempt to sabotage the legitimate operation of the program may\u00a0constitute\u00a0a violation of civil and criminal laws. If such attempts are made, Desjardins reserves the right to reject the participant\u2019s entries and to seek remedies as\u00a0permitted\u00a0by law.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Acceptance of\u00a0Prizes<\/strong>.\u00a0The prizes must be accepted as described on the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0website and may not, under any circumstances, be transferred in whole or in part to another team, replaced with another prize, or exchanged for cash, unless otherwise decided at the sole discretion of the organizers.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Survey<\/strong>.Finalist and\/or winning participants agree to take part in surveys and interviews\u00a0in order to\u00a0inform Desjardins about the progress and development of their project.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Being an Ambassador for the Cooperathon Program<\/strong>:\u00a0The\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0winners and alumni in general agree to:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Promote and convey a positive image of the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0and Desjardins,\u00a0in accordance with\u00a0all guidelines provided by the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0representative;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Obtain Desjardins\u2019 consent before making any announcement or statement\u00a0regarding\u00a0their participation in the\u00a0Cooperathon.;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Agree to obtain Desjardins\u2019 consent before making any announcement or statement regarding your participation in the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0(including on your website or in your marketing materials), and agree to delete or modify any such announcement or statement upon request, including any requests related to the use of Desjardins\u2019 trademarks on the Internet or in your marketing materials;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Display the Cooperathon logo on their website (with Desjardins\u2019 consent), with a hyperlink to cooperathon.ca, for at least 12 months from the date their prize is awarded.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Publish (with Desjardins\u2019 consent) at least one positive social media post about their experience and their prize (if applicable) within 6 months following the end of the\u00a0Cooperathon.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Communication\u00a0with\u00a0Participants<\/strong>.\u00a0No commercial or other communication unrelated to the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0will be sent to a participant unless they have explicitly consented to it. All communication or correspondence will be conducted solely within the scope of this program and\u00a0in accordance with\u00a0these rules,\u00a0initiated\u00a0by Desjardins or its partners, or for the purpose of obtaining the eligible participant\u2019s consent.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limitation of Liability<\/strong>:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Awarding\u00a0of the\u00a0Prize<\/strong>.\u00a0Desjardins reserves the right to\u00a0modify\u00a0the prize amounts or the prize distribution structure if unforeseen circumstances arise,\u00a0provided that\u00a0participants are informed in advance.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use of the\u00a0Prize<\/strong>.\u00a0The winner releases Desjardins from any liability for damages that may result from their participation in the competition, or from the acceptance and use of the prize. The winner acknowledges that from the moment they receive the prize or the letter confirming their prize, the fulfillment of the obligations related to the prize becomes the sole and exclusive responsibility of the various product and service providers. The winner agrees to sign a declaration and liability release form to this effect. The winner recognizes that the only applicable warranty for the prize is the standard warranty offered by the provider.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Force\u00a0Majeure<\/strong>.\u00a0Desjardins assumes no liability of any kind in situations where its inability to act results from circumstances beyond its control, including strikes, lockouts, or any other labor dispute within the facilities of organizations or companies whose services are used for the administration of this program.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Participation\u00a0in the\u00a0Cooperathon<\/strong>. Desjardins\u00a0is not responsible for lost entries, any failure,\u00a0regardless of the cause,\u00a0of the website during the program period, or any damage caused to a participant\u2019s computer or mobile device. By\u00a0participating\u00a0or attempting to\u00a0participate\u00a0in the\u00a0Cooperathon, each person releases Desjardins from all liability and any damages they may suffer\u00a0as a result of\u00a0their participation or attempted participation in the program.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other\u00a0participants<\/strong>.\u202f\u202fDesjardins\u00a0assumes no liability of any kind\u00a0with regard to\u00a0the behavior of other\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0participants.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Program Modification<\/strong>. Desjardins reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend this program, in whole or in part, in the event that an incident or human intervention occurs that could alter or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the program as set out in these rules; no liability may be attributed to Desjardins in such circumstances.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a0<strong>End of the Participation in the Program<\/strong>. In the event that, for any reason whatsoever, participation in the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0must end, in whole or in part, before the end date provided in these rules, the prize awarding may be carried out, at Desjardins\u2019 discretion, among the entries duly registered and received up to the date of the event that ended participation in the competition. By registering, each participant authorizes Desjardins to use, if necessary, their name, photographs, images, voice, placeofresidence information, as well as statements regarding the prize, if part of a winning team, for advertising purposes, without any form of remuneration or compensation.<br>If any paragraph of these rules is declared or\u00a0deemed\u00a0illegal, unenforceable, or null by a competent court, that paragraph will be considered null; however, all other paragraphs not affected will continue to\u00a0apply to the fullest extent\u00a0permitted\u00a0by law.<br>These rules are available on the website\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/cooperathon.ca<\/a>\u00a0and on the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0collaboration platform called \u201cGlobal\u201d\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/cooperathon.global\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/cooperathon.global\/<\/a>);<br>In the event of\u00a0a discrepancy between the French and English versions of the rules, the French version shall prevail.<br>The\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0is\u00a0subject\u00a0to all applicable\u00a0laws.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Personal Information<\/strong>.\u00a0By\u00a0participating\u00a0in the\u00a0Cooperathon, you authorize Desjardins and its partners to collect, use, and\u00a0disclose\u00a0personal information about you for the purpose of administering the program and awarding prizes,\u00a0in accordance with\u00a0applicable regulations and its Privacy Policy available at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.desjardins.com\/ca\/privacy\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.desjardins.com\/privacy-policy<\/a>.\u00a0By accepting a prize, and subject to their consent, each winner authorizes Desjardins and its partners to collect, use, distribute, and share, as needed, their name, place of residence (city, province), statements regarding the prize, photograph, image, voice, or any other representations and recordings in which the participant appears as part of the program, for advertising or promotional purposes, on any medium or platform (e.g., Desjardins\u2019 website, Facebook pages, etc.), without any remuneration or compensation of any kind.\u00a0The winner assigns the rights to use and reproduce, in whole or in part, the visual content captured by Desjardins and its partners for the purposes of the program.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a0<strong>Decisions. <\/strong>Any person\u00a0participating\u00a0in the\u00a0Cooperathon\u00a0agrees to\u00a0comply with\u00a0these rules and with the final and binding decisions of the organizers who administer the\u00a0Cooperathon.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note\u202f: This document has been translated from French to English. The masculine gender is used without discrimination and solely for the purpose of making the text easier to read. Only the French version of this document has legal effect. The English version (this version) is a translation provided for informational purposes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE COOPERATHON JOURNEY&nbsp; The 2026 edition of the&nbsp;Cooperathon&nbsp;offers participants a pathway to develop their entrepreneurial project: aspiring entrepreneurs&nbsp;(individuals or teams) with or without&nbsp;an initial&nbsp;idea before registering, and at most a conceptual prototype&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"custom-no-intro","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-16905","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16905"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16909,"href":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16905\/revisions\/16909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cooperathon.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}