Startup Community Awards — Alejandro Martinez-Ramos
Highlighting the change-makers in our ecosystem by Yusun Ingoshi
ALEJANDRO MARTINEZ-RAMOS — SCA 2018 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Alejandro’s interest in startups and technology innovation began in 2010 when he had his first startup experience. Upon arriving in Montreal in 2016, he became heavily involved in the startup community, joining the Entrepreneurial Center of Polytechnique and UdeM as a marketing coordinator and managing MTL NewTech, the largest startup community in Quebec. In the latter, Alejandro co-led and implemented initiatives like Startup Community Awards, Startup Open House, Connecting Intelligence, and Creative Collisions to facilitate cohesion, a sense of community, and business opportunities in Quebec’s technological and entrepreneurial ecosystem, connecting the province with international communities.
Alejandro continues to be active in the Canadian innovation ecosystem. He is currently coordinating a Startup Community for AquaAction, a nonprofit that assists young entrepreneurs in solving freshwater issues across the country. He is on the organizing committee of FORPIQ, which promotes innovation through IP valorization. Alejandro also co-founded Bold New Edge in 2021 to help organizations and hubs adopt technology innovation and design collaborative environments and initiatives for innovation.
Alejandro values his impact and the power of mindset and community.
- Why do you think you were nominated? Someone might have been touched by my hustling.
2. What is a cause that you cherish?
Freshwater is critical for civilization and human life. We all should come together to find solutions related to water issues. Tech Entrepreneurship is an avenue to solve the problems. Building strong communities and collaboration are key.
3. What do you think is missing in our ecosystem to make us stand out in the world?
We need more ambitious and bold, innovative solutions and goals. We need to be less self-centric and look at what others are doing elsewhere, collaborate or lead with organizations and individuals in other ecosystems, build bridges with other communities, be more open to the world outside.
4. What/Who are you most grateful for in our ecosystem and why?
Its community. It feels like a big close family.
5. What is an important lesson you have learned from a setback you have faced in your journey?
There is life beyond a setback. A failure is the perfect occasion to think and do things differently. It is key to turn setbacks and failures into opportunities to grow, a pathway to success.
6. Is there anyone that has made great impact in our ecosystem that you would like us to highlight and possibly reach out to for an interview?
Genevieve Drolet (Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec), Daria Riabinina (Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec), Anne-Claude Devriese (OSMO & Maison Notman House), Florence Barbeau (Continuums)
