Access 40+ funding programs designed for women entrepreneurs. From federal programs to provincial support, discover grants that prioritize female-led businesses.
Explore funding programs designed specifically for female entrepreneurs
Part of Canada's $2 billion Women Entrepreneurship Strategy. Supports women-owned businesses scaling up and accessing new markets with non-repayable contributions.
Interest-free loans funded by a community of women investors. Includes access to powerful network of mentors and women entrepreneurs across North America.
Venture financing specifically for women-led tech companies. Combines funding with advisory services to help women scale technology businesses.
Startup loans with mentorship for women aged 18-39. Includes 2 years of one-on-one mentoring from experienced business professionals.
Each province has dedicated women's business centers offering grants, loans, training, and mentorship. Programs include Alberta AWE, Ontario WEOC, BC WEC.
Women-owned businesses receive priority consideration in many federal programs like IRAP, SR&ED, and CanExport. Access both women-specific AND general funding.
Follow these steps to secure funding as a female entrepreneur
Most programs require at least 51% ownership by women and day-to-day management by a woman. Prepare incorporation documents showing ownership structure.
Use GrantCompass to filter for women-focused grants. Consider both women-specific programs and mainstream grants with priority scoring for women-led businesses.
Create detailed financial projections, market analysis, and growth strategy. Strong applications demonstrate viable path to profitability and scalability.
Connect with provincial women's business centers, chambers of commerce, and entrepreneur networks. Networking provides mentorship and improves application quality.
Apply to multiple programs simultaneously. Women-owned businesses can stack grants from federal, provincial, and private sources for maximum funding impact.
Common questions about women's business grants in Canada
Canada offers 40+ programs specifically for women entrepreneurs, including the Women Entrepreneurship Fund (up to $100K), SheEO loans, BDC Women in Tech funding, provincial women's business programs, and preferential access to many mainstream grants.
Most programs require at least 51% ownership by women and day-to-day management by a woman. Some programs have more flexible requirements, accepting businesses with significant women leadership even without majority ownership.
Women-specific grants range from $5,000 to $150,000+. Additionally, women-owned businesses can access all mainstream grants (potentially millions more) while often receiving priority consideration or bonus points in evaluations.
Yes! There are additional programs for women in tech (BDC WIT), women in STEM, women in trades, and women in agriculture. These stack on top of general women's business grants.
You'll typically need to provide incorporation documents showing ownership percentages, plus attestation that a woman manages day-to-day operations. Some programs accept self-declaration; others require CPA verification.
Complete directory of women-focused funding programs delivered to your inbox