CAE Haute-Yamaska and Region
Support for Entrepreneurs
CAEHYR offers you personalized support, free workshops, and practical resources to help you start, establish, or restart a business. Our advisors work with you and for you.
How are you doing?
I have an idea
Get my project approved before I get started
I'm getting started
1 to 2 years in business
I'm selling / buying
Selling or Acquiring an Existing Business
I'm looking for
A dedicated advisor for my project
Our Approach
Service Tailored to Every Step
No matter where you are in your journey, CAEHYR has a service tailored to your situation.
01
Validate the idea
Check to see if your idea meets a real market need before investing time and money.
Entrepreneurship workshops
02
Start a Business
Structure your business model, plan your finances, and get started with confidence.
Workshops + Support
03
Consolidate and Grow
Strategic guidance from a dedicated advisor, financing, and partner networks.
Individual support
04
Take Over a Business
Analysis, evaluation, financing, and transition: all the steps to a successful takeover.
Business succession workshops
Individual
coaching
Our advisors work with and for you. Tell us about your project, and our team will provide you with a personalized support plan tailored to your specific needs and your unique situation as an entrepreneur.
- Analysis of Your Situation and Business Goals
- Referral to appropriate resources and programs
- Assistance with putting together your funding application
- Access to a network of local and professional partners
- Long-Term, Personalized Support
Danie is an integral part of the Bromont Campervan team; I don't think we'd be able to do without her for the next few years.
Efficiency, speed, trust—to me, that's what CAEHYR stands for. And every time I meet an aspiring entrepreneur, I don't hesitate to refer them to CAEHYR.
Free
Entrepreneurship Workshops
Do you have a business idea but don't know how to get it off the ground? These workshops will help you validate your project and acquire the key skills you need to get started with confidence. Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and startups.
- 6 sessions of 2 hours each per week
- Online and in person
- Individual support included
- Haute-Yamaska, Brome-Missisquoi, and Rouville RCMs
Caroline’s extensive experience makes these training sessions true opportunities for exchange— —where participants from diverse backgrounds share their experiences and support one another. When I was first starting my business, the lessons and advice I received were invaluable in helping me move my project forward. The program is tailored to both startups and businesses looking to take a step back in order to get back on track!
When I first started my business, I needed practical advice and a personalized support. I particularly appreciated Caroline’s warm welcome, her willingness to listen, her passion, and the way she generously shared her experience. Her advice, based on real-life situations, gave me confidence and helped me bring my project to life. I recommend these workshops to all future entrepreneurs!
These workshops helped me better define my target audience, consider the best strategies for reaching them, and establish an appropriate pricing structure. In addition to helping me gain essential knowledge about the various steps involved in starting a business, I received a lot of practical, concrete advice.
Workshop content
With the financial participation of
16
September 2026
17
September 2026
5
Nov. 2026
20
Jan. 2027
21
Jan. 2027
11
March 2027
Free
Workshops on Business Succession
Are you interested in buying an existing business? These workshops guide you through the key steps of the process: analysis, valuation, financing, and transition. They include four group sessions and a personalized one-on-one meeting. Designed for both sellers and buyers.
- 4 group sessions, 2 hours each
- 1 one-on-one meeting
- Online and in person
- Haute-Yamaska, Brome-Missisquoi, and Rouville RCMs
Workshop content
6
Oct. 2026
17
September 2026
11
March 2027
your instructors
experienced advisors
Kathia Waite
Caroline Larocque
Danie Hallé
Simon Laplante
Kathia Waite
Business Consulting and Mentoring - Entrepreneurship Workshops
Kathia Waite helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses, and she also coordinates the mentoring program, where she pairs experienced businesspeople with emerging entrepreneurs.
A marketing and technology strategist, she has more than ten years of experience in management and business development, including general management, marketing leadership, sales team management, and guiding companies through their digital transformation. She has also served as a digital advisor for the Association québécoise des technologies and the École des entrepreneurs du Québec, and serves as an executive director at Caisse Desjardins.
Passionate about customer experience and understanding people, she enjoys breaking down complex concepts and creating spaces where entrepreneurs can move forward together. Her motto: “Alone, we go fast; together, we go far.”
Caroline Larocque
Entrepreneurship Advisor - Entrepreneurship Workshops
Caroline Larocque holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in finance and has more than 30 years of experience in entrepreneurial support and business development.
She began her career at the CLD de la Haute-Yamaska, where she worked for 20 years, from 1995 to 2015, as a business consultant. She then continued her career at Entrepreneuriat Haute-Yamaska from 2015 to 2018, again as a business consultant.
Since 2018, Caroline has been contributing her expertise to CAEHYR as an entrepreneurship advisor. Drawing on her knowledge of the business world and her expertise in finance, she supports entrepreneurs in developing and bringing their projects to fruition.
Danie Hallé
Business Consultant - Business Acquisition Workshops
A graduate in business administration from the University of Sherbrooke, she has been working for more than 16 years at the Haute-Yamaska and Region Business Assistance Center as a business advisor. Throughout her career, she has helped numerous entrepreneurs develop and structure their projects. For nearly ten years, she led pre-launch workshops on women’s entrepreneurship, helping to support and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Today, she focuses primarily on business financing and providing personalized guidance to entrepreneurs. She recently earned her degree from the graduate-level microprogram in the fundamentals of business transfer and entrepreneurial succession planning, offered by the University of Sherbrooke. She is known for her excellent listening skills, her analytical abilities, and her personable approach to clients.
Simon Laplante
Business Consultant - Business Acquisition Workshops
With nearly 30 years of experience in entrepreneurship and the financial sector, Simon Laplante holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UQTR and was an entrepreneur before pursuing a career in finance. He worked for 10 years at Desjardins in mortgage development and then for 10 years at CIBC.
He also completed a graduate-level microprogram in the fundamentals of business transfers and tools for managing entrepreneurial succession at the University of Sherbrooke. Today, Simon uses his expertise to assist entrepreneurs and business buyers, aiming to help them better understand the various stages of a business acquisition project.
Outside of work, Simon is a former alpine ski instructor, as well as a sailing enthusiast and, occasionally, a golfer. His greatest achievement and source of pride remain his roles as a father to two young men, ages 19 and 16.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions, Our Answers
Everything you need to know before signing up for a workshop.
Are the workshops really free?
Yes. The workshops are offered free of charge.
Is this just an idea, or is it also a project you're currently working on?
Both: You can participate with an idea you’d like to test, a project that’s already in its early stages, a business you’d like to sell, or a business you’d like to take over.
Are there a limited number of seats?
Yes: 8 seats.
Can I ask questions during the workshops?
Yes. There will be time for discussion at each workshop.
Are there any prerequisites?
There are no specific requirements. The workshops are designed for entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners looking to sell, or potential buyers.
How do you choose between in-person and video conferencing?
You select your preference when you register. We will confirm your choice based on your cohort.
What happens after registration?
We are contacting you to confirm your spot and the details.
Will I receive any resources afterward?
Yes. (Adjust as needed based on your specific situation: media, tools, documents, etc.)
Tell us about your project
Whether you're starting a business, in the process of selling or acquiring a business, or looking to consolidate your operations, our team offers a customized support plan tailored to your specific situation.
