Jean-Samuel Chenard: “Once you reach a certain stage, you need peer assistance”
Jean-Samuel Chenard, developed an early fascination with natural sciences and electronics, leading him to work part-time at a local cable company. After earning a degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University and gaining experience in the telecom industry, he pursued a PhD and co-founded Tactile Labs, marking the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. He later founded Motsai Inc., specializing in advanced sensor technologies, and expanded his expertise into industrial applications with Soralink. Joining TEC Canada provided Jean-Samuel with strategic insights and peer support, significantly enhancing his business and leadership skills. Looking ahead, he is focused on growing Motsai through innovations in artificial intelligence and sensor solutions.
A Technology Prodigy
Born in the small northern Quebec town of Amos, Jean-Samuel (or J.S.) was fascinated by the natural sciences and electronics from the age of six. He started out learning about basic circuits but began asking questions that his parents couldn’t answer. They referred him to a mentor, the founder of a local cable distribution company. He started working there part-time at the age of 12 on analog radio and cable television systems, learning the foundations through hands-on experience.
Academic to Entrepreneur
Jean-Samuel’s academic journey took him to Montreal, where he continued to pursue natural sciences. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from McGill University during the telecom boom of the late 1990s. His early career saw him designing chips for optical networks at Marconi, a major player in the telecom industry. However, his entrepreneurial spirit soon led him back to McGill for a PhD in microelectronics and computer architecture, during which he co-founded Tactile Labs, a not-for-profit corporation.
Balancing studies and a new family with two young daughters, Jean-Samuel founded a distribution company for electronic boards, marking his first significant step into the entrepreneurial world. This venture eventually evolved into Motsai Inc., an electrical architecture firm specializing in router technologies for vehicles and miniaturizing sensors for motion analysis. Over the years, J.S. has tackled numerous projects with his team at Motsai, from sports motion capture to industrial and robotic sensors, while learning the ins and outs of business along the way.
Tech Geek to Business Buff
“I don’t have a business background. I definitely have a technical geek kind of profile, but I learned along the way. It’s a good way to create your own path and try out experiments that in another company would have not been possible because it’s someone else’s dreams that you’re realizing.”
Upon Motsai’s success, he started another company called Soralink.
“We became very good at taking in requirements from customers and creating solution and full products, which continues until this day. Three years ago, I cofounded another company that specializes in using sensors for industrial applications like machine monitoring.”
Despite his technical expertise, Jean-Samuel realized the importance of strategic business insights and peer support. About five years ago, he was introduced to TEC Canada. Initially skeptical, he was persuaded by TEC Chair Gilles Prepoint, who saw the potential for TEC to accelerate Jean-Samuel’s growth.
TEC Canada: Building the Future
Initially, J.S. was running his own advisory group, but the time and effort it took to organize such a group took away from time spent on his business. Joining TEC Canada marked a turning point for Jean-Samuel.
“At that time, I had a few issues that I was postponing. Just arriving in the group, they said, ‘Okay, well, just tackle those,’ and that initiated another kind of change in the enterprise. I had a lot of these decisions that were backlogged. So I went through and took the steps to improve the situation, which made a big difference.”
TEC Canada’s structured peer advisory groups and high-quality speakers provided Jean-Samuel with invaluable insights and practical advice. The collaborative environment at TEC Canada also exposed Jean-Samuel to diverse leadership styles and industry challenges, reinforcing the common themes of human resource management, time management, and business direction.
“The relationship with peers is different than with employees. Entrepreneurs have a special way of thinking that, within a few minutes, you get a clear understanding of your potential missing areas through their reflection.”
TEC Canada’s influence extended beyond business strategies to personal development. Gilles’ mentorship helped Jean-Samuel refine his leadership style, encouraging him to delegate tasks and empower his team.
TEC Canada’s influence extended beyond business strategies to personal development. Gilles’ mentorship helped Jean-Samuel refine his leadership style, encouraging him to delegate tasks and empower his team.
“This idea of constantly trying to delegate, get people empowered to provide their own solutions or paths rather than trying to do it for them… That’s a habit that took a while to break and get into a state where I can ask the persons to provide solutions.”
What’s next for Jean-Samuel?
Looking ahead, Jean-Samuel is excited about Motsai’s future. The company is set to move into a new lab with extra space to grow and continue its experimental and innovative mission.
“The plan currently is trying to focus on our key strengths and select opportunities that combine with artificial intelligence. Our sensor solutions can make the best impact.”
Jean-Samuel envisions Motsai playing a significant role in making industrial processes more efficient through intelligent data analysis.
Reflecting on his journey, Jean-Samuel offers advice to budding entrepreneurs:
“Once you reach a certain stage, you need peer assistance not to feel isolated in the process. It will help them make much better decisions and simplify the way to grow the company.”
If you’d like to participate in a peer group like Jean Samuel, fill in the form below to start your TEC journey.
