According to Finance Montréal’s latest report on Quebec’s fintech industry, the province is home to 294 active fintech companies, most of which are concentrated in the Greater Montréal area, confirming Quebec’s position as one of Canada’s leading fintech hubs.

In 2025 alone, these companies raised $161.3 million in 14 funding rounds, underscoring both the Quebec market's appeal to investors and the relevance of locally developed solutions—particularly in RegTech, ESG, artificial intelligence, data, and operational efficiency.

Mr. Dandavino’s appointment further strengthens Finance Montréal’s role as a central orchestrator of the financial sector’s technological transformation, operating at the intersection of start-ups, major financial institutions, regulators, and public authorities.

A strategic role at the heart of modernizing the financial system

Since joining Finance Montréal in May 2025, Simon Dandavino has played an active role in implementing the organization’s fintech strategy, which is built around three key structural levers:

• The leadership of Canada’s largest physical fintech start-up hub, Station Fintech Montréal, a true innovation laboratory directly aligned with the needs of financial institutions and currently hosting 42 start-ups;
• The development of structured synergies among fintechs, banks, insurers, and asset managers, within an ecosystem where 57% of companies operate in a B2B model, confirms the growing integration of financial technologies into the core operations of large organizations;
• Quebec's strategic positioning, both nationally and internationally, as a leader in financial technology is notable, particularly through initiatives such as the Canada Fintech Forum, whose editions bring together 1,500 participants. The next edition will take place in September 2026, and the event remains the largest fintech gathering in the country.

“Since joining Finance Montréal, Mr. Dandavino has played a key role in developing our fintech strategy, which aims to support technological innovation and foster the growth of Quebec’s fintech ecosystem. His strategic mindset and strong interpersonal skills make him a key connector among start-ups, major institutions, and the ecosystem’s structuring stakeholders, driving the development of high-impact initiatives for the financial industry. His experience in innovation, project management, and business development has been a valuable asset to our organization since day one,” said Mr. Deforges, Finance Montréal's general manager.

Mr. Dandavino brings a strong academic background, combining technological expertise with advanced management skills. He holds a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from McGill University, a Master’s in Electronics from the Technical University of Denmark, and a PhD in Science (Space Propulsion) from EPFL in Switzerland. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from HEC.

This multidisciplinary academic background is a major asset in advancing Finance Montréal’s mission and in supporting the continued development of the fintech ecosystem, at the intersection of technology, innovation, and business. Montréal, further strengthening his understanding of the industry's strategic, organizational, and financial challenges.