CAE Haute-Montérégie

What CAE Haute-Montérégie does

CAE Haute-Montérégie (legally Centre d'aide aux entreprises Haute-Montérégie) is a federally-affiliated non-profit business support organization founded in 1984 and headquartered at 100 rue Richelieu, local 100, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada. It operates as a designated node within the Réseau des SADC et CAE, a pan-Canadian network funded through Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec (DEC). The organization serves local entrepreneurs and SMEs across three MRCs — Le Haut-Richelieu, Les Jardins-de-Napierville, and the western part of Brome-Missisquoi — covering more than 40 municipalities. Its core service is community-based entrepreneurship accompaniment: advisory services are provided free of charge across the business lifecycle (startup, growth, management, digital transition, green transition, and business transfer), supported by a mentorship program and a suite of loan products.

The company's product portfolio combines (1) non-fee advisory and accompaniment services, (2) a standard Fonds Régulier program offering loans of CAD 5,000–300,000 across startup, consolidation, expansion, and acquisition phases, (3) the locally-administered $1M Fonds Impact Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (loans of CAD 10,000–75,000) in partnership with the Ville de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and (4) strategic financing streams aligned with national SADC/CAE priorities — green transition (Stratégie Verte), digital transition (Stratégie Numérique), business succession (Stratégie Transfert), and youth entrepreneurship (Fonds Stratégie Jeunesse). No proprietary technology platform underpins the offering; the operating model is relationship-driven, delivered through in-person consultations, phone, email, and recurring community events such as the Défi OSEntreprendre Haut-Richelieu and the Soirée Lumière sur l'entrepreneuriat.

The revenue model is managed-services/grant-funded: the organization does not charge fees for advisory services and does not earn interest income disclosed in the input. Operating income is derived from federal government funding channeled through the SADC/CAE network, with municipal co-funding for specific regional programs. The governance structure is a volunteer board of directors (8 members) plus a 4-person operational team led by a Directeur général. The customer base is highly fragmented across local SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs, with no concentration in any single sector or named enterprise logos.

Name

CAE Haute-Montérégie

Legal name

Centre d'aide aux entreprises Haute-Montérégie

Website

https://caehm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CAE Haute-Montérégie is a federally-affiliated non-profit business support organization serving entrepreneurs across three MRCs in Quebec's Haute-Montérégie region since 1984, delivering free advisory accompaniment, mentorship, and loan programs (CAD 5K–300K) as part of the SADC/CAE network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ), SME Loan Servicing & Collections (FSAKAGAK)

Keywords

• Small business financing
• SME advisory services
• Business mentorship programs
• Regional economic development
• Non-profit business support

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government funding and financing programs: As part of the SADC/CAE network supported by the Government of Canada, the organization provides financing and support services to local entrepreneurs. Revenue is derived from government funding to operate the SADC/CAE network and manage various financing programs including the Regular Fund, strategic financing funds (green, digital, transfer), and the Fonds Impact Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CAE Haute-Montérégie is a non-profit regional business support organization that provides financing (loans ranging from $5,000 to $300,000), professional mentorship, training, and project consulting to small and medium-sized businesses in the Haute-Montérégie region of Quebec. It operates as part of the Canada-wide SADC/CAE network with the financial backing of the Government of Canada, focusing on local economic development and entrepreneurship support.

Product overview

CAE Haute-Montérégie is a business support organization (Centre d'aide aux entreprises) providing a comprehensive suite of services to entrepreneurs across Haute-Montérégie region in Quebec. The offering consists of core accompaniment services (startup, growth, management, business transfer) combined with targeted financing programs including the standard Fonds Régulier (loans of $5,000-$300,000), the local $1M Fonds Impact Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ($10,000-$75,000), and strategic financing streams for digital transition, green transition, youth entrepreneurship, and business succession. Additional services include mentorship programs, community economic development support, and local initiatives like the Défi OSEntreprendre and Soirée Lumière entrepreneurship celebration events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Loans (Financement aux entreprises)

Quantifiable outcome

• Created and maintained jobs through entrepreneurship support over 40 years

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ville de Saint-Jean-sur-RichelieucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Ville de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu to administer the Fonds Impact Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a $1 million financing fund supporting local entrepreneurs with loans of $10,000 to $75,000 for startup, transfer, and business productivity initiatives. The fund aims to support innovative projects and contribute to the economic vitality of the territory.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Réseau des SADC et CAE: The national SADC/CAE network of which CAE Haute-Montérégie is a member node, delivering identical business support, mentorship, and SME financing programs across Quebec and Canada. It is the most directly comparable peer given shared mandate, funding structure, and service offering.
• Community Futures Network of Canada: National federation of Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) — the English-Canadian equivalent of Quebec SADC/CAE offices. Both networks deliver federally-supported SME financing, business advisory, and community economic development in rural regions, making CFDCs a direct functional analog.
• Centre local de développement (CLD) du Haut-Richelieu: Local development center serving the same Haut-Richelieu MRC with overlapping mandates in SME accompaniment, financing (Fonds local d'investissement), and economic development. One of the closest geographic peers competing for the same entrepreneur base and municipal funding.
• SADC Rouville: Sibling SADC operating in an adjacent MRC (Rouville) under the same Réseau des SADC et CAE banner. Comparable in mission, financing products, and clientele, and competes for SME financing and accompaniment engagements in the broader Montérégie territory.

Broad incumbents

• Desjardins Group: Largest cooperative financial group in Quebec, operating local caisses that provide SME banking, financing, and advisory across the province. Overlaps with CAE Haute-Montérégie on small business financing in the same regional market, but with substantially broader product set and balance sheet capacity.
• PME MTL: Montreal Island-wide SME support organization offering accompaniment, financing, and real estate services to entrepreneurs. Comparable in providing SME advisory and capital, but operating in an urban context with broader mandates and a different funding base than CAE Haute-Montérégie.
• Investissement Québec: Quebec government agency providing SME financing, venture capital, and tax credits. Comparable on SME capital deployment in the same province, but operating at larger ticket sizes, broader sector coverage, and with provincial (not federal) mandate.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Federal Crown corporation providing SME financing, advisory, and growth capital across Canada. Overlaps with CAE Haute-Montérégie on SME lending and business advisory but operates at much larger ticket sizes and broader scope; serves as an upstream capital provider to growth-stage SMEs in the same territory.

Emerging players

• Futurpreneur Canada: National non-profit providing financing, mentorship, and resources specifically to young entrepreneurs (ages 18–39). Comparable to CAE's youth entrepreneurship offering and overlaps on startup-stage SME lending, though Futurpreneur operates nationally while CAE is regional.
• Fondaction: Quebec labour-sponsored fund investing in SMEs, social economy, and green economy. Overlaps with CAE's SME financing and green transition (Virage verte) offerings but operates as an institutional investor rather than a local business support organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-daide-aux-entreprises-haute-monteregie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 CAE Haute-Montérégie