The federal government will invest $173.7 million over five years to extend the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, aiming to improve access to financing, training and business networks for women across Canada.
The funding, announced by Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism Rechie Valdez, is intended to address persistent barriers faced by women entrepreneurs and to build on existing federal programming designed to support business creation and growth.
The announcement signals a continuation of Ottawa’s broader approach to small business development, with a focus on increasing participation in the economy by women entrepreneurs. The funding will support loan programs, advisory services and research initiatives that underpin the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, first launched in 2018.
Women entrepreneurs continue to encounter challenges, including difficulty accessing capital, limited mentorship opportunities and gaps in data used to inform business supports. The federal government said addressing those issues is necessary to fully leverage economic growth opportunities.
The new funding package includes continued support for the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, which provides microloans of up to $50,000 through not-for-profit partner organizations. The program has already delivered more than 1,600 loans to women entrepreneurs nationwide and is expected to expand its reach under the renewed funding.
Additional funds will go toward the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund, which backs not-for-profit groups offering business training, mentorship and advisory services. These programs are designed to help women entrepreneurs start, scale and access new markets.
The government will also maintain funding for the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, a national network that connects researchers and business support organizations. With 10 regional hubs and more than 250 partners, the initiative produces research and data intended to inform policy and improve program delivery.
Since its inception, the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy has supported more than 500,000 women entrepreneurs across Canada. The government said the latest investment is meant to build on that track record while aligning with other federal measures aimed at strengthening small businesses, including tariff relief, support for artificial intelligence adoption, regulatory changes and export development.
Valdez said the continued investment reflects the role women entrepreneurs play in economic growth and community development.
“Women entrepreneurs are essential to building the strongest economy in the G7. They create jobs, strengthen communities and contribute to a Canada that is strong for everyone. By continuing to invest in the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, our government is making sure more women have what they need to start, grow and build businesses.”
The renewed funding is part of a broader Women Entrepreneurship Strategy envelope valued at more than $7 billion. Of the newly announced funding, $59 million is allocated to the loan fund to continue providing financing through partner organizations. Another $100 million will support the ecosystem fund to expand access to mentorship, training and networks.
A further $7 million will go toward the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub to maintain its role as a centralized source of data and best practices. Nearly $8 million over five years is earmarked for program operating costs.
The federal government is also continuing parallel efforts to address systemic barriers faced by diverse entrepreneurs, including initiatives such as the Black Entrepreneurship Program and the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program, alongside support for organizations like Futurpreneur.
The announcement positions the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy as a key component of the federal government’s long-term plan to strengthen Canada’s small business sector by improving access to capital and resources for underrepresented groups.
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