BDC Thrive Lab for Women
Can you win this grant?
Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.
Takes about 20 seconds. We use this program’s real eligibility rules.
Want your full match picture across 850+ programs? Take the 2-minute quiz →
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
BDC Capital's $100 million Thrive Lab for Women provides equity and equity-like investments to women-led businesses at the pre-seed and seed stages that are committed to delivering social impact alongside financial returns. Part of BDC's broader $500M Thrive Platform, the Lab works with 25 co-investment partners to source, pre-qualify, and recommend women-led businesses. Over five years, Thrive Lab aims to invest in at least 100 companies. The first phase committed $35M in co-investments for women-led impact companies.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be led by a woman (woman founder or woman CEO in a leadership role)
- Must be at pre-seed or seed stage
- Must demonstrate social impact tied to UN Sustainable Development Goals (food security, health and well-being, education, reduced inequalities, responsible consumption)
- Must be vetted and nominated by a BDC-approved co-investment partner, OR win through an investment contest
- Must be a Canadian company or operating primarily in Canada
- Must be actively raising capital
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $100,000–$2,000,000
- Type
- Program
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win BDC Thrive Lab for Women
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 8-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipYou cannot apply directly to BDC Thrive Lab — you must go through one of their 25 co-investment partners.
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 6
Ineligible Expenses 3
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Applying for BDC Thrive Lab for Women? Most founders end up needing more than one template — grab the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27 vs separate) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Not-applicable RiskHow BDC Thrive Lab for Women Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDC Thrive Lab for Women | $100,000–$2,000,000 | Hard | Equity | Ongoing |
| Thrive Venture Fund | Varies | Hard | Equity | Ongoing |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Digital Technology Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Open — Call for... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about BDC Thrive Lab for Women