Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: A Comprehensive Guide to Resources in Canada

In the spirit of International Women’s Day, BetaKit aims to elevate discussions and resources that enhance the visibility and support of women entrepreneurs within the Canadian tech landscape. This initiative highlights the growing number of organizations and programs dedicated to fostering female entrepreneurship.

This evolving resource is continually updated to reflect the dynamic landscape of initiatives available across Canada. While this list is extensive, it is by no means exhaustive. We encourage contributions to fill any gaps and amplify the efforts of those dedicated to creating a diverse and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Highlighted Programs for Women Entrepreneurs

Project JumpSTART

A collaborative initiative by York University’s YSpace, the Schulich School of Business, and Treefrog Accelerator, Project JumpSTART offers workshops, mentorship, and potential specialized training for women and international entrepreneurs. Its ELLA incubator further supports women entrepreneurs with a robust mentoring network.

Women in Health Initiative

Managed by the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization, this initiative provides up to $20,000 CAD in grant funding to women-led companies aspiring to make an impact in health sciences.

MaRS Women in Cleantech Network

This initiative fosters women entrepreneurs dedicated to sustainable practices by facilitating connections, resource sharing, and business support through events and discussions.

Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator

Facilitated by Elevate and The Firehood, this incubator program empowers early-stage entrepreneurs with investment skills, direct investor access, and the opportunity to pitch for a potential $100,000 cash prize.

Innovation Governance Program

The Council of Canadian Innovators has partnered with The Firehood to provide board governance training to women tech leaders through this program, commencing in March 2024.

She’s Next Grant

Introduced by Visa Canada, this grant initiative provides funding of $10,000 and mentorship opportunities through York University to bolster women-owned small businesses.

Canada-India Acceleration Program

This program, provided by Carleton University, assists women-led businesses in expanding their operations into the Indian market.

Women in Innovation Lab (WiLab)

North Forge’s WiLab equips women entrepreneurs with valuable resources and mentorship, focusing on essential topics like financial literacy and marketing.

WE-CAN Project

Led by Queen’s University, this project aims to empower women-identifying entrepreneurs through mentorship and networking opportunities in the Kingston and Quinte regions.

Women in Tech Sales Bootcamp

Hosted by TalentMinded, this program offers a five-day intensive training course to assist women entering tech sales roles.

Other Notable Programs

• LIFT Circle – Supporting Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs.
• Communitech Fierce Founders Program – Tailored for female entrepreneurs close to launching their products.
• Digital Skills for Women+ – Targeting underrepresented gender identities in Nova Scotia’s tech sector.
• HERoes Program – Enhancing leadership in STEM for women and youths.
• SheBoot – A boot camp in Ottawa streamlining pitching to secure investments.
• DMZ’s Women Innovation Programs – Providing amplified support for women entrepreneurs in technology.
• Firestarter – A mentorship and resource program launched by BDC Capital.

Organizations Supporting Women Entrepreneurship

The Firehood

This angel network emphasizes investment in technology-focused women-led ventures, holding events across Canadian tech conferences.

Women in Communications and Technology (WCT)

WCT offers learning programs and mentorship to bolster women’s careers in the communications and technology sectors.

StandUp Ventures

A seed-stage venture fund situated in Toronto, focusing on investments in businesses led by women.

Coralus

Previously known as SheEO, this organization fosters community investment in women-led businesses, providing interest-free loans.

Women’s Equity Lab

This angel investment group connects women-led startups with funding, while fostering collaboration among investors.

The Canadian Women’s Network

This network connects female entrepreneurs with a global community, providing valuable educational resources to scale their businesses.

This article was first published on March 5, 2021, and has been updated as of March 7, 2025.