Pôle de l'économie sociale de l'agglomération de Longueuil

What Pôle de l'économie sociale de l'agglomération de Longueuil does

Pôle de l'économie sociale de l'agglomération de Longueuil (also known as Pôle Agglo) is a non-profit social economy hub founded in 2008 and headquartered in Longueuil, Quebec. It serves collective enterprises — cooperatives, non-profits, and community organizations — in the Longueuil agglomeration through a coordinated portfolio of programs: Commercialisation (procurement and business development), Financement (Émergence scholarships, Fonds d'Excellence, and the BIEC investment vehicle), Émergence (Lab SISMIC innovation lab and Tournée des possibles), Référencement (pre-startup guides), Représentation (advocacy), and Espace Formation, a member-facing training platform. The organization is the recognized privileged interlocutor for social economy matters in the region and contributed to the drafting and adoption of Longueuil's first Social Economy Policy in July 2025, as well as to Bill 495 protecting community organization funding.

The organization operates a tiered membership model with annual fees ranging from $0–$175 for enterprise members, $100–$225 for support members, and a flat $500 for partner members, and aggregates a directory of 147+ collective enterprises across Cultural, Sports, Food, and Thrift Store circuits. It administers the provincial Défis Innovation Québec program in its territory — backed by $1.5M in Quebec government funding — connecting public organizations with social economy enterprises to deliver innovative solutions of up to $500,000 per project. The Pôle sits within a 22-Pôles provincial network alongside Le Chantier de l'économie sociale du Québec and is led by General Director David Miljour, with Chantal Pagé serving as President of the board. Key strategic partners include the Government of Quebec, Ville de Longueuil, Desjardins, and Fondation Chagnon.

The business model is hybrid and not driven by commercial revenue: enterprise-facing services are largely free or low-cost to members, and the bulk of identifiable funding flows from public-sector program administration rather than market-priced services. Distribution is event- and community-led, with annual general assemblies, networking cocktails, themed events (Résonance Collective, Lumière sur les entreprises collectives émergentes), and digital channels (newsletter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, YouTube). No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capability, or external equity ownership is indicated; the organization is member-governed and currently operates with a 1–10 person staff.

Name

Pôle de l'économie sociale de l'agglomération de Longueuil

Legal name

Pôle de l'économie sociale de l'agglomération de Longueuil

Website

https://poleagglo.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pôle de l'économie sociale de l'agglomération de Longueuil is a non-profit hub that supports cooperatives, non-profits, and collective enterprises in Longueuil, Quebec through membership programs, training, financing access, advocacy, and the provincial Défis Innovation Québec program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Economy Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices (551114)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO), Governance, Democracy & Rule of Law (BPAGABAI), Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

Keywords

• Social economy development
• Collective enterprise support
• Community economic development
• Nonprofit member services
• Business development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Longueuil

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from three categories: Enterprise members (collectives with headquarters in the Longueuil agglomeration) pay 0$ to 175$ based on revenue; Support members (organizations supporting collectives) pay 100$ to 225$; Partner members pay 500$.
2. Government funding - Défis Innovation Québec: The organization receives government funding to manage the Défis Innovation Québec program, with 1.5 million dollars allocated by the Quebec government. This funding is used to support innovation projects between public organizations and social economy enterprises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Pôle de l'économie sociale de l'agglomération de Longueuil is a non-profit social economy hub that supports collective enterprises (cooperatives and non-profits) in the Longueuil agglomeration through programs covering commercialization, financing, emergence, referral, and representation, alongside a training platform, collective-enterprise directories, and administration of the provincial Défis Innovation Québec innovation program. Membership services include networking events, coaching, business development support, access to financing, and policy advocacy.

Product overview

The Pôle de l'économie sociale de l'agglomération de Longueuil is a social economy development organization offering a coordinated portfolio of support programs and directory services for collective enterprises. Its core offerings include the Commercialisation Program (procurement and business development), Financement Program (scholarships and investment funds including BIEC), Émergence Program (innovation labs and emerging projects), Référencement Program (pre-startup guidance), Représentation Program (advocacy), and Formation Platform (training resources). The organization also maintains thematic Circuits Directories organizing 147+ collective enterprises across cultural, sports, food, and thrift store sectors, and administers the provincial Défis Innovation Québec program connecting public organizations with social economy enterprises for innovative procurement solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Défis Innovation Québec: Innovation challenges program connecting public organizations with social economy enterprises to solve procurement needs

Products and services

• Commercialisation Program A program supporting collective enterprises in commercial activities, including procurement guides, public and private sector development, and business development services. Targeted at cooperatives and non-profits in the Longueuil agglomeration.
• Financement Program A financing program offering emergence scholarships, the Fonds d'Excellence, and the BIEC (Business Investment Fund for Collective Enterprises) to support collective enterprises.
• Émergence Program A program supporting emerging social economy projects through the Lab SISMIC innovation lab and the Tournée des possibles event series.
• Référencement Program A referral program providing pre-startup guides and a referral tool to help entrepreneurs launch collective enterprises.
• Représentation Program A representation program advocating for collective enterprises with public institutions and municipal governments, including contribution to public policy development.
• Espace Formation A training platform offering workshops, educational resources, and professional development for collective enterprises and their members.
• Circuits Directory A curated directory organizing social economy enterprises into themed circuits (Cultural, Sports Activities, Food, Thrift Stores) to help citizens and partners discover local collective enterprises.
• Collective Enterprises Directory A comprehensive directory of collective enterprises operating within the Longueuil agglomeration, including member organizations with contact information and descriptions.
• Défis Innovation Québec en économie sociale A provincial innovation program administered locally by the Pôle that connects public organizations with social economy enterprises to solve procurement challenges through innovation, with funding up to $500,000 per project.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participation in adoption of first Social Economy Policy for Ville de Longueuil
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Députée Isabelle Poulet (circonscription de Laporte)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026The independent MNA for Laporte constituency championed Bill 495 to protect community organization funding for social economy projects. The Pole actively contributed to this legislative initiative, achieving its objective through a ministerial directive.
• Ville de LongueuilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Collaborated with the City of Longueuil in developing the city's first Social Economy Policy. The Pole contributed to the policy's drafting under the leadership of its general director. This partnership established formal ties between the city administration and the social economy ecosystem.
• Chantier de l'économie sociale du QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chantier is a key provincial partner for social economy development. Their logo appears on the Pole's website acknowledging their partnership. The Chantier serves as a provincial organization supporting social economy across Quebec.
• Gouvernement du QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Quebec government, through the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, provides funding and support for programs like Défis Innovation Québec. The government allocated 1.5M$ to the Pole for program deployment.
• DesjardinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesjardins Group, a major financial cooperative, is listed as a partner with their logo displayed on the website footer. Nature of partnership is not explicitly detailed.
• Fondation ChagnonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chagnon Foundation, focused on youth development and social innovation, is listed as a partner with their logo displayed on the website.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RISQ (Réseau d'investissement social du Québec): Quebec solidarity finance network providing loans and capital to social economy enterprises and cooperatives. Comparable because Pôle Agglo's Financement program (Bourses Émergence, Fonds d'Excellence, BIEC) overlaps directly with RISQ's capital-deployment role for collective enterprises in the same territory.
• TIESS (Territoire Innovant en Économie Sociale et Solidaire): Quebec-based organization supporting social innovation and the social economy through research, training, and network mobilization. Comparable to Pôle Agglo in mission (advancing the social economy) and activities (capacity building, training, ecosystem coordination), though oriented to research and cross-territorial projects.
• Réseau québécois de l'économie sociale: Quebec-wide directory and network portal for social economy enterprises. Comparable to Pôle Agglo because it offers enterprise directory, policy advocacy, and member support services; however, it operates as a provincial information/discovery layer rather than a territorial service organization.
• CDRQ (Conseil de la coopération et de la mutualité du Québec): Quebec council promoting cooperatives and mutuals, a closely related segment of the social economy. Comparable because both organizations support collective enterprises, provide training and representation, and engage in policy advocacy for cooperative and social economy models in Quebec.
• Pôle de l'économie sociale de Montréal: Direct regional counterpart to Pôle Agglo under the 22-Pôles network, serving the Greater Montreal territory. Identical model (membership-based, programs in commercialization/financing/emergence, directory, policy advocacy) makes it the most direct peer, with the two competing for visibility and member enterprises within the broader Greater Montreal area.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet): National network supporting community economic development across Canada. Comparable to Pôle Agglo as a membership-based intermediary that builds local capacity, advocates for supportive policies, and connects CED practitioners to financing and peers, but at pan-Canadian rather than agglomeration scale.
• Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC): National apex body for Canadian cooperatives and mutuals. Comparable to Pôle Agglo in supporting cooperative enterprises through advocacy, networking, and member services, but operating nationally with a broader cooperative rather than social-economy-only lens.
• Chantier de l'économie sociale: Provincial umbrella organization for the social economy in Quebec, of which Pôle Agglo is a regional member. Directly comparable as a social economy development body offering policy advocacy, network coordination, and program support, but operating at the provincial rather than agglomeration scale.

Others

• Desjardins Group: Major Canadian financial cooperative group listed as a partner of Pôle Agglo. Comparable as an enabling institution for social economy enterprises (cooperative financing, group purchasing, cooperative development) but operating as a financial institution rather than a social economy hub.
• Fondation Chagnon: Major Quebec philanthropic foundation focused on youth development and social innovation, listed as a partner of Pôle Agglo. Comparable as an adjacent funder/capacity-builder for the social economy ecosystem, but operating as a grantmaker rather than a service-providing intermediary.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pole_longueuil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9IFz1SuwKa6IB9oxtWtvZA
• Facebookfacebook.com/economiesocialelongueuil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/poleeconomiesocialelongueuil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Pôle de l'économie sociale de l'agglomération de Longueuil