Evol

What Evol does

Evol is a Quebec-based non-profit financing and accompaniment organization founded in 1995 (originally as Femmessor) and rebranded to its current identity in 2021 when it expanded its mandate beyond women entrepreneurs to all groups underrepresented in entrepreneurship (including racialized persons, immigrants, First Nations and Inuit, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, and persons with disabilities). Its core offering combines conventional business loans ranging from CAD $20,000 to $450,000 with structured post-disbursement accompaniment delivered through a network of 17 regional directors, an in-house Brigade-conseil of approximately 79 expert advisors, and digital tools including a client portal, learning management system, CRM, a Sustainable Development Dashboard, a 47-tool toolkit, a business-plan editor (Projet A), a financial-forecasting application (Previsio), and a conversational chatbot (Alix). Evol operates exclusively within the province of Quebec, covering all 17 administrative regions through a regional-director-led field-sales motion supported by online applications and partner referrals.

Evol generates revenue through interest income on its loan portfolio (interest rates consist of a base rate plus a risk premium, modulated annually by the borrower's sustainable development commitment) and through non-repayable contributions and impact-financing envelopes from government partners, most recently a near-$10M package from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) in March 2023. Capital is sourced from a consortium including the Government of Quebec (via Investissement Québec), Banque Nationale, BDC, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and Fondaction, supporting a near-$60M impact financing envelope. The customer base consists of small businesses and startups in startup, growth, acquisition, or succession phases, with the explicit eligibility requirement that at least 25% of shares and voting rights are held by a person from an underrepresented group occupying a strategic role.

The organization is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors (predominantly entrepreneurs) and led since June 2023 by CEO Géraldine Martin. Evol has financed 1,524 businesses over 30 years, disbursing $68.2M in cumulative financing and catalyzing $330.4M in investment spinoffs, while reporting the creation and maintenance of 10,196+ jobs. Its go-to-market blends direct field sales through regional directors with digital self-service (online loan application, client portal, chatbot, learning platform) and a layered partnership channel that includes national collaborators (CDPQ/La Caisse, CDRQ, OPHQ, OSEntreprendre) and diversity-focused organizations (Fondation Émergence, CGLCC, Entreprendre Ici).

Name

Evol

Legal name

Evol

Website

https://evol.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Evol is a Quebec-based non-profit financing organization providing conventional business loans ($20,000-$450,000 CAD) and structured accompaniment to small businesses owned by entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups, including women, immigrants, racialized persons, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and First Nations and Inuit, across all 17 regions of Quebec.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Impact Lending

NAICS

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

Asset-Based Lending (ABL) (FSANADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Venture Debt Providers (FSANAAAL)

Keywords

• Small business lending
• Impact financing
• Entrepreneur accompaniment
• Sustainable development advisory
• Inclusive entrepreneurship

Headquarters

HQ city

Quebec

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: Evol generates revenue through interest income on conventional loans ranging from $20,000 to $450,000. The interest rate consists of a base rate plus a risk premium that varies based on the entrepreneur's sustainable development commitment. Interest rates are reviewed annually at the loan anniversary date, creating an annual recurring revenue stream tied to the outstanding loan portfolio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Evol is a Quebec-based non-profit financing organization that provides conventional business loans ranging from $20,000 to $450,000 CAD to entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups (women, immigrants, racialized persons, First Nations and Inuit, LGBTQ2S+ community members, and persons with disabilities). Each loan is bundled with sustained personalized accompaniment, including free access to a network of approximately 79 expert advisors (Brigade-conseil), sustainable development guidance, and ongoing relationship management through regional directors stationed across all 17 regions of Quebec. Interest rates are dynamically adjusted based on the borrower's commitment to sustainable development, reviewed annually at the loan anniversary.

Product overview

Evol is a Quebec-based financing and accompaniment organization offering a unified product-service platform for businesses with diversified and inclusive ownership. The core offering combines conventional business loans ($20,000-$450,000) with personalized accompaniment throughout the loan duration. Key modules include the Brigade-conseil (network of ~79 experts), sustainable development dashboard, toolkit (47 practical tools), learning platform with webinars and video capsules, business plan editor (Projet A), financial forecasting tool (Previsio), eco-responsible entrepreneur quiz, reflection guide, and client portal. Evol also organizes networking events (dîners d'affaires) and provides a chatbot (Alix) for initial inquiries. The organization operates across all 17 regions of Quebec with a headquarters in Quebec City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brigade-conseil: A network of approximately 79 expert professionals providing free consulting services to entrepreneurs financed by Evol in various domains including accounting, finance, marketing, legal, governance, innovation, HR, and business development.

Products and services

• Business Loans (Prêts d'entreprise)
• Personalized Accompaniment (Accompagnement personnalisé)
• Brigade-conseil (Advisory Brigade)

Quantifiable outcome

• 68.2M$ in financing to 1,524 businesses, creating and maintaining 10,196+ jobs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Coopérative de développement régional du Québec (CDRQ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Strategic partnership to better support collective businesses (cooperatives and NPOs) by combining CDRQ's expertise in business accompaniment and development with Evol's financing expertise. The partnership streamlines the journey for collective businesses seeking accompaniment and financing adapted to their reality, supporting projects that wish to increase their positive impact, integrate sustainable development practices, or consolidate inclusive and diversified governance.
• La Caisse (CDPQ - Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational collaboration partner with whom Evol organizes regular business dinners ('dîners d'affaires') across Quebec regions. These events bring together entrepreneurs and ecosystem actors for dialogue, networking, and knowledge sharing. La Caisse invests with a dual mandate of generating optimal long-term returns and contributing to Quebec's economic development.
• EntreChefs PMEsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership collaboration for codevelopment cells ('cellules de codéveloppement'), a new formula powered by EntreChefs PME's expertise to support Evol-financed entrepreneurs.
• OPHQ (Office des personnes handicapées du Québec)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting the 'Capable, entreprendre sans limites' initiative, which inspires persons with disabilities to pursue entrepreneurship and supports their integration into the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Fondation ÉmergencesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew collaboration between Evol, Fondation Émergence, and the 2ELGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) to support LGBTQ2S+ entrepreneurs and promote diversity in entrepreneurship.
• Chambre de commerce 2ELGBTQI+ (CGLCC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership collaboration with Evol and Fondation Émergence to support LGBTQ2S+ entrepreneurs through the second season of the 'Capable, entreprendre sans limites' initiative.
• Entreprendre Ici (Montréal)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership to successfully integrate ethnocultural communities in Montréal, supporting immigrant entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
• FAQDD (Financement Altiso Quest)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational collaborator providing financing solutions and supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Quebec.
• OSEntreprendreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec-wide entrepreneurship support organization, national collaborator in Evol's ecosystem.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Futurpreneur Canada: Canadian non-profit providing financing combined with mentorship to young entrepreneurs (18-39). Closest direct analog to Evol's loan-plus-accompaniment model, though Futurpreneur targets age rather than identity-based underrepresentation and operates nationally.
• Réseau M: Quebec-based non-profit network coordinating volunteer mentors and business advisors for entrepreneurs across the province. Highly comparable accompaniment-side model to Evol's Brigade-conseil, though Réseau M focuses on mentoring rather than capital deployment.
• Fondation de l'entrepreneurship: Quebec non-profit dedicated to promoting entrepreneurial culture, transferring businesses, and supporting entrepreneurs across the province. Comparable mission-driven Quebec ecosystem actor focused on entrepreneur development rather than direct lending.
• ACCESS Community Capital Fund: Canadian non-profit CDFI providing loans and business advisory to entrepreneurs facing barriers to traditional financing, including newcomers and women. Highly comparable mission and product to Evol, though operating in Ontario rather than Quebec.
• Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC): National non-profit network coordinating women's enterprise centres across Canada, providing financing, advisory, and training to women entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to Evol's pre-2021 Femmessor-era mandate and current women-focused segment, at a national rather than provincial scale.

Broad incumbents

• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Crown corporation providing business loans, investments, and advisory services to Canadian SMEs. Functions as one of Evol's core capital partners but also operates as a broader incumbent serving similar SME and entrepreneur financing needs with a much larger balance sheet.

Regional players

• SOCODEVI: Quebec-headquartered cooperative development organization supporting cooperatives and collective enterprises internationally. Highly comparable Quebec-rooted non-profit supporting alternative business models, including the cooperative segment Evol now serves through its CDRQ partnership.
• PME MTL: Montreal's six-agency ecosystem supporting SME creation, growth, and transfer with accompaniment and financing referrals. Comparable Quebec SME-support infrastructure serving a similar entrepreneur population, though Montreal-focused rather than province-wide.

Emerging players

• La Ruche (Quebec): Quebec-based crowdfunding and impact financing platform connecting entrepreneurs with community backers. Comparable impact-oriented alternative financing vehicle operating in Quebec, with overlapping entrepreneur audiences though a different funding mechanism.
• Youth Business International (YBI): Global network of non-profits providing financing and mentorship to young and underserved entrepreneurs. Evol is a member of this broader ecosystem; YBI represents the international franchise model that could eventually enable Evol's outbound expansion or partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtul9JAsLW-vB_KrlGSxHOw
• Facebookfacebook.com/EvolQC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/evolfinancement
• Xx.com/evolfinancement

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Evol