The 2025 national winners of the Défi OSEntreprendre were announced at the Gala des Grands Prix Desjardins du Défi OSEntreprendre, which took place on June 11, 2025 at the Palais Montcalm in Québec City. This event, which marked the twelfth consecutive sponsorship for Videotron Business for two prestigious awards, allows us to support young entrepreneurs on their path to growth. Today, Marika Hamel and Jonathan Hamel, co-founders of Kampwise, winner of the National People's Choice Award, sit down with us to talk about a small revolution that is completely changing the camping industry.
Kampwise follows in the footsteps of Adajou (2024) and Alcyon sel de mer (2023) as the winner of the National People’s Choice Award. And, speaking of favourites, the idea behind Kampwise was born from the fusion of two worlds that Marika and Jonathan are particularly passionate about: hospitality and camping.
"We grew up in the family business—a hotel located in Québec City—which allowed us to immerse ourselves in the world of tourism and customer experience from an early age. At the same time, camping has always been an important part of our personal lives: it is a tradition that has forged our attachment to this form of tourism," explains Marika, a seasoned camper.
After the sale of the family business in 2023, the two chose to reinvest their profits to develop a project that would combine their respective expertise and their desire to do business differently. And a new interest would change the game: technological innovation. "Kampwise is the result of our journey, our roots, and our desire to modernize an industry that we love deeply," says Marika.
The growing gap between the technological tools available at campsites and those available in hotels is striking: aging interfaces, lack of connectivity, and a limited choice of modern solutions designed for local realities. And yet, campground managers must juggle several responsibilities: managing bookings and availability, communicating with campers, organizing daily operations, and optimizing revenue and prices. An integrated management solution for camping, such as the one offered by Kampwise, can therefore allow managers to focus on what really matters: offering an exceptional experience to campers!
Challenges and opportunities
Kampwise was officially founded in July 2024: everything was built from the ground up. "We had to lay every brick: validate our idea, build a team, raise funds, develop our technology, and make ourselves known in an industry where we were new players," says Jonathan. And each step obviously came with its share of challenges...
The software is now up and running, Québec campgrounds are already using it successfully and the funding needed to propel growth has been secured. So, what’s next? "The next big step in our business plan is expansion outside Québec. We’re now targeting the Ontario market and then Western Canada.
At the same time, we’re initiating exploratory steps in the United States, a very promising market for our solution. A new chapter is starting for Kampwise," says Marika.
Some statistics show just how big the camping market and, thus, the potential for projects like Kampwise is. "Every year, there are approximately 350 million overnight stays booked in the North American camping industry. Yet, nearly 45 per cent of those bookings are still done offline—that is, by phone, email, or in person—representing about 160 million overnight stays per year that are not booked through modern digital tools," adds Marika.
OSEntreprendre: an incubator of good ideas
This participation in the Défi OSEntreprendre was much more than just a showcase for Kampwise. "This journey has allowed us to take a step back, put our mission into words, and realize the impact we wanted to have." But what Marika and Jonathan remember above all are the human connections that were created throughout the event. "The kindness of the jury members, the exchanges with other enthusiasts, and the feeling of belonging to a community that believes in the boldness, creativity, and strength of Québec entrepreneurship is what impressed us the most," they conclude.
OSEntreprendre: it's your turn!
OSEntreprendre's mission is to inspire entrepreneurs and help build a proud, innovative, committed, and prosperous Québec. The company’s main activity, Défi OSEntreprendre, is a major Québec movement that promotes the entrepreneurial initiatives of thousands of people every year.
Several companies, including Juno Technologies and Amical, stood out at this year’s event. The 2025 winners are certainly happy with their journey. Maybe you'll be the next to take the leap and unleash your entrepreneurial ideas? Keep an eye out for registrations for the 28th edition of Défi OSEntreprendre!
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November 2025, By Videotron Business
