CEO and Co-Founder of nesto named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Eastern

EmitenTrust.com Malik Yacoubi recognized for reimagining Canada's mortgage ecosystem through technology, innovation and purpose-driven leadership

MONTRÉAL , Oct. 14, 2026 /CNW/ -- Traditional territories of the Kanien'kehà:ka, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Huron/Wendat, Abenaki and Anishinaabeg - Malik Yacoubi, CEO and Co-Founder of nesto, a leading Canadian mortgage technology and financing provider, has been named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Eastern Overall Award winner by an independent judging panel. He was honoured alongside six regional winners, one Special Citation recipient and the region's 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award of Excellence Award recipient at last night's celebration in Montréal.

"Malik saw an opportunity to rethink how the home financing industry operates and had the vision and determination to turn that opportunity into a reality," shares Walid Safi, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Eastern Program Co-Director. "By continually pushing conventional approaches and investing in innovation, he's helping reshape the lending experience for Canadians and inspiring the next generation of builders."

Driven by a vision to make mortgages simpler, faster and more transparent, Malik has transformed nesto from a digital-first mortgage brokerage into a leading Canadian provider of mortgage financing and digital lending solutions.

A serial entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience building and scaling companies, he has distinguished himself through bold leadership and a willingness to challenge the status quo. From launching nesto when digital lending was still gaining traction, to navigating industry skepticism and guiding the business through the uncertainty of the pandemic, Malik has consistently turned ambitious ideas into growth opportunities.

Today, his continued investment in automation and AI is helping create a more efficient and accessible lending experience and expand access to homeownership for Canadians.

Beyond business success, Malik is committed to creating positive impact. Under his leadership, nesto achieved B Corp certification and embedded diversity, equity and inclusion principles throughout its operations and value chain. He also champions community initiatives supporting organizations such as Kindred, 24H Tremblant and TechAide, while mentoring early-stage founders through FounderFuel. Through both corporate and personal contributions, he is helping foster a stronger and more inclusive generation of Canadian innovators.

"Building a successful company is never a straight line, and Malik's story is proof of that," says Audrey Gibeault, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Eastern Program Co-Director. "From challenging industry norms to navigating periods of uncertainty, he's shown what can happen when resilience, ambition and purpose come together. We're thrilled to recognize him and this year's remarkable group of winners."

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Eastern Category Award winners:

Abby Gnanendran | Earth Rated (Business-to-Consumer Products and Services)

Jean-Sébastien Vachon | Ideal Can (Industrial and Manufacturing)

Louis T. Lemay | Lemay (Real Estate and Construction)

Guy Tremblay | LOKIA (Health Care and Wellness)

Toby Gauld | Optima Aero (Manufacturing Cleantech)

Richard Morgante | Rustica Foods (Business-to-Business Products and Services)

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Eastern Special Citation recipient:

Catherine Lunardi | GenAIz

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Eastern Lifetime Achievement Award of Excellence recipient:

Andrew Lutfy | Groupe Dynamite (learn more)

What's next?

As the Eastern region's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026, Malik will compete with winners from the Pacific, Prairies and Ontario regions for the national title of Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026. The national award will be presented at a celebration on November 24, 2026, in Toronto. Canada's winner will then advance to the global stage in 2027 to compete with more than 50 other country recipients for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ hosted in Monaco.

More information

Follow @EYCanada and #EOYEastern on social for the latest event updates. Visit ey.com/ca/EOY for more program details and a complete list of finalists and winners.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year^®

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program shines a spotlight on entrepreneurs across Canada who master the artful balance of passion, determination, character and skill to create businesses that address the most complex challenges and build a better working world. By joining the program, you'll have the opportunity to celebrate success with your team, inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and gain access to an exclusive global network of program participants that help to build connections, fuel success and navigate long-term growth.

The 2026 Eastern independent judging panel comprises Pelra Azondekon, Managing Director, asterX | Québecor; Mélissa Lambert, President and CEO, Lambert Design; Henri-Charles Machalani, Founder and Chairman, Mistplay; Catherine Morneau, Co-President, Groupe Morneau; Eric Naaman, CEO, Damotech; Chiko Nanji, Founder and Chairman, Metro Supply Chain Group; and Orlane Panet, Co-Founder and CEO, MicroHabitat Urban Farming.

This year's national program sponsors are Air Canada, TSX Inc., The Globe and Mail and The Printing House.

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SOURCE EY (Ernst & Young)