In 1995, on Quebec’s Côte Nord, a bold ambition was born: to transform entrepreneurship in order to build a more diversified, equitable, and sustainable economy. Thirty years later, Evol is active in all 17 regions of Quebec, remaining true to its belief that an economy can—and must—be inclusive, sustainable, and rooted in local communities.
From our earliest days, we have been trailblazers in impact finance: first by launching the country’s very first investment fund dedicated to women entrepreneurs, and later by expanding our mission to support entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups while placing sustainable development at the heart of every financing initiative.
Despite challenges, we have stayed the course—supporting thousands of entrepreneurs without compromising our values. Thanks to this commitment, we have provided over $68.5 million in financing to 1,524 businesses, leveraging $317.8 million in investments and contributing to the creation and retention of more than 12,653 jobs.
“For 30 years, every action taken and every business supported has helped build a human-centered economy, rooted in communities and guided by our values. To us, small businesses are great in their impact: they carry the richness of our regions, the diversity of entrepreneurial journeys, and the promise of a more equitable future. Together, we will continue to finance differently to build a sustainable and inclusive society.”
– Géraldine Martin, President and CEO of Evol
This year, we are celebrating a journey shaped by resilience, innovation, and commitment—and, above all, we are opening a new chapter. Our 30th anniversary is not only a retrospective; it is a starting point for the next 30 years, with you, to make equity the norm and impact our legacy.
Stay connected
To make sure you don’t miss a thing during this special year, follow us on social media. Throughout our 30th anniversary, we will be sharing a series of posts highlighting our evolution, our impact, and the values that have guided us for three decades.
About Evol
For the past 30 years, Evol has been supporting businesses across all 17 regions of Quebec. Through partnerships with the Government of Quebec (with Investissement Québec as its mandatary), the Government of Canada, National Bank, BDC, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and Fondaction, Evol has access to a substantial financing envelope to support diverse and inclusive business ownership models that generate positive impacts aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).