U.S. investments: How Montréal remains a top destination
Even before taking office, Donald Trump signalled plans to impose tariffs aimed at sparking a “renaissance” of American manufacturing.
On February 1, 2025, the executive order was signed: all imports to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and China, are subject to a 25% tariff. Within a few days, this broad tariff is suspended. Then, in March, some tariffs on specific goods return, along with a load of confusion. The uncertainty is palpable, including for the Montréal International team responsible to attract foreign direct investments to the city.
A year of resilience
As 2025 draws to a close, the outlook is far brighter than expected. To date, the team has supported 11 FDI projects worth a total of $802M. In other words, the team is on track to meet last year’s results – a time when words like “tariffs” were not part of our everyday vocabulary.
Among some of the U.S. investors that have recently announced a project for Montréal, we have AI innovators like Ampliwork, Terzo, and Medeloop; we have two gaming studios – iWot (The Wheel of Time) and Wizards of the Coast (Dungeons & Dragons); we also supported projects in advanced manufacturing.
Such investments underscore the resilience of Montréal’s economy and highlight the importance of strong cross-border relationships.
And to foster those relationships, this fall, our team hosted events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York. Here’s a recap of our activities and the reception they got!
San Francisco: Busting myths about Montréal
Throughout the year, we’ve had countless conversations with U.S. investors, and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Some voiced concerns about political uncertainty, while others asked about safety, including LGBTQIA2+ inclusivity. These dialogues allowed us to provide clear, reassuring answers.
During San Francisco Tech Week, Alexandre Genest (director, Business development, Americas) and Stéphane Paquet (CEO) hosted a special event featuring Québec entrepreneurs, Francis Davidson and Carl Chouinard, who showcased Montréal’s leadership in AI and shared their vision for agentic AI with an engaged audience of around 60 persons. As one participant put it: “Montréal is one of the strongest tech ecosystems out there, and there are plenty of myths worth debunking.”
Los Angeles: Connecting two creative powerhouses
As the global hub for creative industries, Los Angeles is a natural partner for Montréal. In that spirit, Alexandre Genest hosted another exciting event during LA Tech Week, this time at Barnstorm VFX’s offices. Fun fact: Barnstorm VFX recently grew its Montréal team!
Bertrand Nepveu, Managing Partner at Triptyq Capital, and Julien Lassonde, Partner at BDO Canada, shared real-world examples of innovation and partnership opportunities in Montréal, giving California companies a clear view of what our city has to offer.
From left to right: Pauline Bachy (Investissement Québec), Laurence Desroches (Consulate General of Canada to the United States, in Los Angeles), Sameer Ahmed (Consulate General of Canada to the United States, in Los Angeles),, Julien Lassonde (BDO), Cory Jamieson (Barnstorm VFX), Bertrand Nepveu (Triptyq Capital), Jean-Pascal Saucier (Investissement Québec), Alexandre Genest (Montréal International)
Seattle: AI at the center of the conversation
Seattle, home to tech giants and bold startups, was the backdrop for our event during Seattle AI Week, drawing over 200 participants. It was a unique opportunity to share success stories and explore new possibilities.
One U.S. executive summed it up: “I wish Montréal stayed a well-kept secret… because it gives companies an unfair advantage.” (He was only half joking).
That advantage isn’t just about cost. It’s about talent. Montréal boasts an exceptional pool of IT professionals, backed by world-class training. Even junior hires enter the workforce ready to make an impact and speed up innovation.
Special thanks to our speakers:
- Carl Chouinard, President, Vooban Labs
- Rheia Khalaf, Director of Partnerships, Mila
- Josh Jensen, Co-Founder, Inspectify
- Rami Sayar, Senior Director of Engineering, Microsoft AI (and proud McGill alumni!)
This event was organized by Marie-Soleil Hince-Cloutier (project director, Americas) and moderated by François St-Hilaire (director, Business Development, Entrepreneurship).
From left to right: Marie-Soleil Hince-Cloutier (Montréal International), François St-Hilaire (Montréal International), Rami Sayar (Microsoft AI), Carl Chouinard (Vooban Labs), Josh Jensen (Inspectify), Rheia Khalaf (Mila), David Ruiz ( Québec’s delegate in Seattle/Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie), Craig Weichel (Consul General of Canada in Seattle/Global Affairs Canada)
Montréal and Toronto double-down on New York City
Our final event took place in New York thanks to Geoffrey Vande Weerdt (director, Business Development, Eastern America), in collaboration with Toronto Global. We gathered local executives for an insightful discussion on team developments for AI companies in a rapidly evolving market.
Thanks to Marc Pavlopoulos, CEO of Syndesus, for moderating, and to our panelists:
- Michelle King, COO, AlleyCorp Nord
- Charlie Newark-French, CEO, Cascade
- Dennis Mortenson, CEO, Launch Brightly
- David Humphrey, Senior Migration Lead, Consulate General of Canada
Montréal: Still on U.S. businesses’ radar
These events confirm what we’ve suspected all along: Montréal remains a strategic choice for U.S. investors. Political stability, safety, and world-class talent make our city an ideal environment for growth.
Our team is ready to help U.S. companies thrive in Montréal.
