You are currently viewing Canada Commits $173.7 Million to Help Women Entrepreneurs Access Capital, Training and Mentorship

Canada Commits $173.7 Million to Help Women Entrepreneurs Access Capital, Training and Mentorship

Prime Highlights

  • Canada has invested $173.7 million to give women entrepreneurs access to loans of up to $50,000, alongside business training and mentorship support.
  • The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy has supported more than 500,000 women entrepreneurs since its launch in 2018, with over 1,600 loans already delivered.

Key Facts

  • The Women’s Entrepreneurship Loan Fund offers loans of up to $50,000 to women-owned businesses across Canada, funded through the federal government’s latest investment.
  • The WES Ecosystem Fund supports organisations that provide business training, advisory services, and mentorship to women entrepreneurs at all stages of growth.

Background

The Canadian federal government said it will put in $173.7 million to help women entrepreneurs get to financial resources, training, and mentorship. Minister of Women and Gender Equality Rechie Valdez announced Cafe Noir, a woman-owned coffee and pastry shop in downtown Lethbridge.

The investment builds on the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which launched in 2018 and has since supported more than 500,000 women entrepreneurs across Canada. Valdez said the new funding will carry forward the momentum built since the strategy’s first phase.

The latest funding includes support for organisations that run the Women’s Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, which offers loans of up to $50,000 to women-owned businesses across the country. More than 1,600 loans have already been delivered through the programme.

The investment also backs the WES Ecosystem Fund, which helps organisations deliver business training, advisory services, and mentorship programmes to women at various stages of their entrepreneurial journey.

Amber Morrow, owner of Cafe Noir and the host venue for the announcement, said women in business have long struggled to access capital and funding. She described the targeted support as a significant step forward for women entrepreneurs.

The federal government said its goal is to help women start, grow, and scale their businesses while contributing to broader economic growth across Canada. Officials described women entrepreneurs as essential to job creation and community development nationwide.

The strategy continues to expand its reach, with the latest funding expected to support thousands more women-led businesses in the years ahead.