What is the TAP?
The International Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) is designed for startups and SMEs in Québec. It will help you develop your international strategy in just a few weeks!
Each cohort is made up of about 15 companies with which you can share your issues, challenges and experiences.
In these sessions, a team of seasoned advisers with expertise in marketing, finance, logistics, border regulations and intellectual property will help you think things through and set up an international business plan.
The TAP also helps you:
- Create your internal roadmap
- Anticipate risks (customs, financial...)
- Structure your commercial strategy
- Apply for financing
Find out more about the TAP by watching this short video.
Enjoy access to training to equip your company, support in developing your international strategy, and expert mentoring to test your strategy.
Find out more about the TAP by watching this short video.
Enjoy access to training to equip your company, support in developing your international strategy, and expert mentoring to test your strategy.
Discover the next cohorts Register
Why should I participate in the TAP?
Convincing results*
- Average growth of 23% in total sales one year after the program (19% average growth in export sales)
- 84% of companies hat participated in the TAP export; 16% started exporting or expanded their global footprint after the TAP and more than 33% broke into new markets
- Close to 98% of participants have increased confidence because they were better prepared
* Data collected from 63 TAP participating companies across Quebec in 2019-2021.
Testimonials from participating companies
Take your cue from them, accelerate your international growth
Dodji Koffi, VP, MTL B-Board
Gilles Hafiz, Business Development, RAMO
Kim B. Deland, Co-founder and designer, Lithologie Inc.
Benoit Martin, VP, Business Development, Ver-Mac
Alexandre Bérard, President, UGroupMedia
Nicolas Roy, President and Creative Director, DPT
“ The TAP played an essential role when our company, Gestion Son Image Iinc. started building a strategy for its international expansion. Thanks to this program, our team has been able to better define its objectives and implement a realistic and coherent long-term development plan.
Expert advice, particularly on public funding, tax and legal issues, as well as one-to-one support, helped us resolve crucial questions before going any further in our internationalization process.
We also appreciated participating in a cohort specifically focused on the cultural and creative industries, which matched our particular needs and reality.”
“ The TAP consolidated what we had already established and met our essential needs before we started exporting. The training was very useful and practical. The speakers were experienced and relevant.”
“ Thanks to the TAP, we’ve become aware of the opportunities, but above all, of the concrete challenges that we’re going to face in our international roll-out.
Given the inherent risks associated with our export project, the structured training and competent, experienced speakers helped us to be better prepared.”
“Although exports already represent the majority of our revenue, we needed to gain a better understanding of all facets of successful exporting. The Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) helped us structure our approach by anticipating the efforts and difficulties entailed in the regulatory, tax-related, legal, logistical and commercial aspects of exporting. Throughout the program, highly skilled and accessible TAP experts answered our questions and helped us assess the challenges ahead and clarify our international products and services!”
“I don’t believe in the self-made man: it is through validation and co-development that we succeed in excelling and creating synergy to surpass ourselves. TAP is a success because of its practical resources and experienced speakers, provided you take the time to invest in the learning process.”
“According to Ms. Andraos, everyone would benefit from participating in this type of program: “The right time to do it is right away, as soon as you have an export project, even if you don’t have a contract yet. The program provides access to a lot of resources from varying backgrounds, and it’s nice to know about them early on.”
“The TAP gave us an overview of best practices for exporting and an in-depth understanding of the tools and resources available to incorporate them into our business strategy.
All of the expertise shared during the program has made us more aware of the impact that exporting will have on our business model and has better prepared us to anticipate it in our sales process.”
“The TAP was a valuable source of support in our strategic analysis for LatenceTech’s international expansion, particularly in Europe and Asia. Over the course of the program, we assessed the current situation, set clear objectives and drew up a short- and medium-term action plan to achieve them. We’re already seeing positive results, with the first orders coming in from Europe, in particular from Orange and Capgemini.”
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How to take part in the TAP?
Eligibility criteria*
- Generate a minimum of $500K
- Be incorporated in Québec and in business for two years
- Designate one or two senior representatives to participate in the program
* The WTCM reserves its right to accept or reject any company, whether it meets the above criteria or not.
Program created by the World Trade Centre Toronto and the Toronto Region Board of Trade.
The TAP Format
Note: Attendance at each training session is mandatory.
Phase 1: Exploration
- Familiarizing participants with the export resources available
- Presentation by high-level experts in key positions in international trade
- Exchanging ideas and experiences to meet the challenges of international trade
Phase 2: Development
- Participants write the main sections of their export plan
- Personalized support
- Expert advice
Phase 3: Construction
- Participants create their plan
- Personalized support from export advisors (virtual)
- Our team of experts provides a written evaluation of the plan
Phase 4: Acceleration
- Assessment of the international strategy
- Individual meetings with international trade experts
- Individual mentorship
- Expert advice and solutions
Half-days of 3 or 4 hours & one-on-one meetings on week 8
via Zoom
8-week program
Weeks 1 to 5
Ongoing development of your strategy
- DAY 1
Government
- DAY 2
Strategy
- DAY 3
Legal & fiscal
- DAY 4
Supply chain
- DAY 5
Finance
- DAY 6
Marketing & sales
- DAY 7
E-commerce
Weeks 6 and 7
- Expert review of your strategy
Week 8
- Feedback on your strategy
8-hour days and individual appointments in week 6
6-week program
Weeks 1 to 4
Ongoing development of your strategy
- DAY 1
Government
Distribution
Supply chain
- DAY 2
Finance
Legal & fiscal
Digital marketing
International sales
- DAY 3
Work on your strategy
- DAY 4
Mentoring and experts meeting
Weeks 5 and 6
- Delivery of the plan and expert review of your strategy
Dates of the next cohorts and registration
Cohorts in Greater Montréal:
- Cohort 37 – Montérégie – Starting April 25 – Multisector – SOLD OUT
- Cohort 38 – Montréal – Starting November 1 – Manufacturing – SOLD OUT
- Cohort 40 – Laval – Starting October 18 – Multisector – SOLD OUT
- Cohort 43 – Montréal – Starting January 30 – Technologies – VIRTUALLY
- Cohort 44 – Montréal – Starting February 7, 2024 – Multisector – IN-PERSON
Cohorts outside Montréal:
- Cohort 35 – Lanaudière – Starting April 4 – Multisector – SOLD OUT
- Cohort 36 – Diversity – Starting May 10 – Multisector – SOLD OUT
- Cohort 39 - Starting October 3 – Creative and cultural industries – SOLD OUT
- Cohort 41 – Québec – Starting October 24 - Multisector – SOLD OUT
- Cohort 42 – Chaudière-Appalaches–Bas-Saint-Laurent – Starting January 16, 2024 - Multisector – VIRTUALLY
* The Acclr experts reserve the right to modify or cancel the dates above.
Register
- Cohort 5 – Montréal – Starting September 14 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 7 – Montréal West – Starting October 15 – Manufacturing SOLD OUT
- Cohort 8 – Laval – Starting October 13 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 9 – Montréal – Starting October 19 – Creative and cultural industries SOLD OUT
- Cohort 10 – Montréal – Starting October 26 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 13 – Montérégie – Starting February 9 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 14 – Eastern Montréal – Starting February 9 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 15 – Montréal – Starting January 19 – Technologies SOLD OUT
- Cohort 16 (in English)– Montréal West – Starting April 8 – Manufacturing SOLD OUT
- Cohort 17– Laval – Starting April 13 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 18– Montréal West – Starting September 16 – Manufacturing SOLD OUT
- Cohort 20– Montréal – Starting May 4 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 21– Montréal – Starting October 4 – Creative and cultural industries SOLD OUT
- Cohort 24 – Montréal – Starting January 17, 2022 – Technologies SOLD OUT
- Cohort 26 – Montérégie – Starting February 8, 2022 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 29 – Eastern Montréal – Starting September 14 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 30 – Montréal – Starting September 20 – Creative and cultural industries SOLD OUT
- Cohort 31 – Montréal West – Starting October 20 – Manufacturing SOLD OUT
- Cohort 34 – Starting February 1, 2023 – Technologies SOLD OUT
- Cohort 6 – Québec – Starting October 7 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 11 – Chaudière-Appalache – Starting January 27 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 12 – Lanaudière – Starting February 15 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 19– Québec – Starting October 6 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 22 – Lanaudière – Starting September 21 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 23 – Chaudière-Appalache – Bas-Saint-Laurent – Starting February 2, 2022 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 27 – Lanaudière – Starting April 5 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 28 – Starting May 4 – 100% female SOLD OUT
- Cohort 32 – Québec – Starting November 8 – Multisector SOLD OUT
- Cohort 33 – Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine – Starting January 17 – Multisector SOLD OUT
Apparel & Textiles
Construction & Infrastructure
Consumer Goods
Cosmetics
Creative industries
Food & Agriculture
Manufacturing
MedTech
Tech
Transportation