The 6^th edition of Startup Open House (SOH) takes place this Thursday, September 20, in Montreal. For those new to Montreal, or new to the city’s tech ecosystem, this is a terrific event that keeps growing in popularity each year. Startups have agreed to open their doors and welcome in all comers for a few hours (4 – 8PM). It’s a great opportunity to learn more about a business you’re interested in, look for work in the tech sector, or networks and develop new business for yourself. Simply check out the SOH website for a list of participating startups from more than 20 different industries, plus organizations such as incubators, accelerators and co-working spaces.

SOH was created by a group of Montreal entrepreneurs in 2013, and managed globally by Familia, Credo’s not for profit organization. Since then, the event has spread all across the country with cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo and even Calgary hosting their own editions this month. But beyond the growth, there’s a number of new things happening this year.

First, the geographic areas within greater Montreal covered by SOH have expanded as the innovation economy continues to grow. No longer confined to the Mile-End, Downtown and parts of the Sud-Ouest… SOH now has startups participating in Longueuil and Laval, as well as Montreal West, Cote-St-Luc and TMR just to name a few.

Second, the team organizing the event has also expanded. This year local community builders Montreal NewTech have brought additional hustle to the organization of this event. Officially a “co-lead” for SOH, Montreal NewTech has been contributing behind the scenes for months to mobilize the community and get startups to participate. It has worked. Of the 7 Canadian cities with a SOH event this year, Montreal is leading the way with nearly 250 startups ready to welcome you.

Lastly, a brand new website has been built for these events… if you’d like to register and build your itinerary for the event, simply follow this link. Nobody can be at 250 places at once, but this tool makes selecting the startup you want to visit quick and painless… there’s even a mobile app available for iPhone users.

SOH is free and accessible for everyone. Whether you’re looking for work in the tech sector, investors, or even just a space to work in, this event can get you closer to your goals.

If you’ve never attended SOH before and you’re still on the fence, there is a pre-event mixer on Wednesday night, September 19 that you can check out to see if you like the vibe. Tickets available here.

Of course, there is also the traditional after party taking place Thursday night at the brand new Centech, 1000 Saint-Jacques West. However, you need a ticket to get in.