No matter the type of business you’re in – whether it’s investing in tech, creating tech or anything in between – you’ll need fundamental business skills, operations and networks to make it fly.
If you have any questions, contact us or call us at 1.800.643.7014 ext. 112.
Accessing Financing
We can help you navigate the financing continuum so you can pursue the correct type of financing for your business type and stage.
Women’s Enterprise Centre offers only term loans, so a business loan from WEC may not be the best option for funding your tech business. As well, our financing program requires your business to be already generating revenue from sales.
Learn more about the financing continuum below and get in touch with us once your business has revenue from multiple customers.
A company’s fundraising efforts depend on the type of product or service on offer and how long the development cycle is.
Sources of funding for tech businesses
Below are some organizations that provide funding or tax incentives to technology companies. Be sure to click through both tabs.
Sources of female-focused fundingOther sources of funding
BDC Capital Women in Technology (WIT) Fund: One of the world’s largest venture capital funds dedicated to investing in women-led technology companies. It will invest $200 million over the next five years to help bridge the gender gap in technology and investment companies.
Beehive Holdings: An angel fund focused primarily in seed to Series A investing with a sweet spot to support diversified teams. The companies they invest in address challenges and opportunities associated with products and services that are mostly used by women.
Disruption Ventures: Invests in businesses that solve real problems, with teams that are committed to succeed, in markets that have high growth potential and in companies that have a female founder or females in leadership roles.
Female Funders: Empowers thousands of women to become the angel investors of tomorrow through blended education, investment opportunities, and a global community.
Pique Ventures: An impact investment and management company that enables a diverse investor community to pursue integrated investing. They manage Pique Fund, an inclusive angel fund focused on women-led technology ventures.
SheEO: A global community of women radically transforming female innovators are financed, supported, and celebrated.
StandUp Ventures: Invests in seed-stage technology companies with at least one woman in a C-level leadership position within the company and an equitable amount of ownership.
Tech Co-op Grant: Offered by Innovate BC, this grant provides up to $10,800 per year in funding to hire co-op students.
VANTEC Angel Network: A group of angel investors who support promising BC-based entrepreneurs in technology ventures with angel investment, advice and connections. They host monthly angel investment meetings where 8-12 early stage companies present their business and investment opportunity to an audience of angel investors, and are are often the first investor community where startups pitch.
Accessing Support from the Tech Ecosystem
While we’re not focused on supporting women in tech specifically, we have built relationships with tech-focused organizations around the province, which specialize in funding and developing women-led tech ventures. Check out this directory below to connect with the right network. Be sure to click through both tabs.
Networking and Professional Development OrganizationsAccelerators and incubatorsOther
BC Women in Technology (BCWiT): A core group of women, members of Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC), representing various disciplines in the technology field.
Innovation Canada Platform: Simply fill in a few blanks about your business and what you’re trying to accomplish, and the platform delivers a list of relevant resources and support.
Women in Communications and Technology (WCT):A national association that provides networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities for women in the information, communication, media and technology industries.
Women in Tech World: A a national nonprofit dedicated to creating community driven plans and educational programming to support and advance women in tech.
Innovate BC: A one-stop service centre to connect innovators — large and small — with BC government funding, tools, resources and support.
Spring Activator: Empowers social impact leaders with the know-how, network and support needed to build a better business.
Online Market Validation Training Program: This is a free, self-guided online program, open to anyone in BC with a tech or small business idea. It uses multimedia learning modules, videos, and venture-building assignments to help you validate your market and assess your business idea.
Join the next Women’s Pitch Night, March 27, put on by Volition Events, in partnership with Women in Tech World and Driven by Women. Women's Pitch Nights provide a comfortable space for women to gain practical experience and constructive feedback on their 90-second pitch, in front of a live audience ad industry expert panel. The audience (all genders welcome) votes on the top three companies to receive valuable opportunities and services from from prize sponsors. Not ready to pitch? Want…
Export Development Canada (EDC) and Island Women in Science and Technology (iWIST), are hosting a breakfast session on May 29 with EDC VP and Chief Economist Peter Hall. Mr. Hall will talk about our competitive export landscape in Canada and what we can expect going forward. The Victoria event is unique to the national tour because of the panel component. Three BC based female CEOS will talk about their own experiences in export with moderator Peter Hall. Sea Cider CEO…
Starting in May 2018, Women’s Enterprise Centre is offering a mentoring program for BC women entrepreneurs in tech, called Discovery Foundation’s EM3 (Entrepreneurial Mindset Mastery & Mentoring) Program. The EM3 program is based on our peer mentoring format, which is proven to create success. It will bring women together for six mentoring sessions, led by an experienced female tech entrepreneur. The EM3 program will help you: Access a peer network of like-minded female founders Get insights from an experienced woman…
This event is designed to showcase the hottest high-tech companies from across North America, offer insight into key issues within the industry, provide a premium networking opportunity and give companies a chance to learn from world-class professionals in the investment community. Featuring technology companies across the Information Technology and Sustainable Technology sectors, the Banff Venture Forum provides emerging technology companies with unparalleled visibility and an opportunity to present to leading private equity and venture capital investors from across North America. For…
This is a blended education program and community for female corporate and technology leaders to learn how to evaluate startup companies, to understand the mechanics of venture investing, and to build vetted deal flow alongside experienced investors. The mission at Female Funders is to increase the number of women Angel investors across the globe, resulting in increased funding for more diverse companies. Applications for the next cohort are now being accepted until September 30th, 2018.
OKGNtech LIVE is all about exploring the wild and wonderful world of innovation brewing right here in the Okanagan. If you weren’t sure if you are invited, you super are. OKGNtech LIVE is for everyone - entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts, investors, students, and supporters! Seriously, if you’re willing, you’re welcome. Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 4th & Friday, October 5th and meet us at the Innovation Centre. DAY 1 | THURSDAY, OCT 4 High-Voltage Happy Hour This is a chance to clink and…
The 2018 INTERFACE Summit is the 7th annual global conference about the Future of Health. It is a two-day event created to engage, inform, inspire and connect the world’s digital health innovators. The theme for this year is "THE BRAIN-MACHINE CONNECTION: How Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Digital Therapeutics Are Transforming Education, Research and Healthcare." This year you can enjoy amazing talks; meet the pioneers of VR and AR therapies and world-experts in AI, Precision Health and Digital Therapeutics; see…
This event will feature various government support programs that are available to Canadian companies in research and development. development and in innovation. There will be presentations and discussions with industry experts, as well as programs from the following organizations: Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) Innovation for Defense, Excellence and Security (IDEaS) National Research Council Canada (IRAP) Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program (SR & ED - ARC) Mitacs Province of…
This FREE webinar will provide potential applicants with an overview of the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program Call for Proposals (CFP) application process and timelines. About this Program: The Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program provides repayable, interest-free funding to firms with high growth potential that are pursuing business growth and expansion. These firms are seeking to accelerate their growth by commercializing technology, enhancing productivity, scaling-up, and expanding their market domestically and globally. Projects should result in the creation…
Relationships are the True Currency. Find your tribe at the Women in Tech Regatta. From cryptocurrency to crying in the bathroom, polishing your startup pitch to why women turn on each other, we tackle the topics women in tech care about and we tackle them together. Each two-hour workshop features a hour of panel discussion from experts who share their insights. During the next hour attendees break into small groups to share their experiences and help each other to move…
Explore the new age of innovation at Western Canada’s largest annual innovation event. The #BCTECHSummit showcases B.C.’s vibrant technology industry, builds cross-sector and cross-border opportunities for businesses, and explores the latest ideas and innovations that are solving today’s biggest challenges. Hosted annually by the BC government and Innovate BC, this three-day conference brings together technology leaders, industry executives, investors, senior government officials, researchers and students to connect and share insights, experiences, and opportunities.
Pitch Nights provide a comfortable space for entrepreneurs to gain practical experience and valuable feedback on their 90-second pitch and presentation, in front of a live audience and industry panel. The audience (all genders welcome) votes on the top companies to receive valuable prizes from local sponsors. Tickets for this event are by donation, with partial proceeds being donated to our friends at Women in Tech World and the fantastic work they are doing to support and advance women in…
This offers an environment to share your ideas, a way to connect to your peers and an opportunity to learn and grow in the tech field. Built exclusively for women in the tech sector, women can get the resources they need to achieve their goals. See link for more information. Register by March 29, 2019 to participate in our April Cohort!
Creating Connections 6.0 is a diversity conference presenting cutting edge research, best practices, and workshops for industry professionals. Focused on attracting, engaging, and retaining women and underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), join us for two days of personal and professional development, networking, and inspiration. Keynote speakers this year include Michele Romanow, a "Dragon" on CBC's hit show, Dragons' Den; Ella Chan, Sci-Files on YouTube and 2018 STEAM Horizon Award recipient; and Sabina Nawaz, global CEO coach and…
This session will focus on you and how to manage your personal brand and digital profile. Branding is not just for organizations; we all have an image that is a combination of how we see ourselves and how other people see us. This interactive workshop session will focus on the best practices for building your own personal brand including: Social Selling and My Brand: What is it and why is it important? LinkedIn Best Practices: How do you create an…
Casey Milone is a career-long marketing copywriter and creative director with experience leading messaging at companies like Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Alaska Airlines. He has also consulted with some of the Bay Area's leading self-driving startups like Aurora and Zoox. In this workshop, Casey reviews the methodology behind Strategyzer's Value Proposition design concepts and speaks about his experience working in the tech space helping teams reframe their product marketing so that it focuses on customer value, rather than product specs. Bring…
There are so many amazing groups for women in tech in Vancouver. It's about time we all got together for some fun! This event is a partnership between some of Vancouver's best Women in Tech groups in the city: Women in Male-Dominated Industries Women in Tech World Women in Product WWEST Women in Games Gather YVR Women in Communications & Technology BC Women in Tech Regatta Come on out for a fun night of networking, drinks, and snacks where you…
Learn how to create your own marketing videos! The video landscape is changing. Gone are the days when you needed to create a slick ad using a spokesperson, expensive equipment, and complicated software. Now, your audience wants videos that don’t look like ads – ones that are genuine, relevant, and story-driven. Your business has a story to tell and knowledge to share to inspire and grow your brand and your team. It is time to share that information in an…
How many times have you avoided going to an event because you didn’t know anyone there? Is connecting with fellow female entrepreneurs in your community and industry a challenge? The thought of networking can be intimidating and even anxiety evoking but it’s also a skillset successful entrepreneurs have learned to master. We’ve joined forces with Veza Community to host an event designed to facilitate spirited conversation and knowledge sharing we know will help you build the network you need to…
Amazon, 14th Floor, 510 West Georgia St Vancouver,
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With great design comes great responsibility. User experience (UX) design isn’t just about creating pretty or functioning websites - it’s about creative solutioning and trying to make people’s lives and experiences better. As designers, we need to remember that we aren’t designing products for ourselves, but for other people. Being a UX designer allows you to work with and problem solve for a variety of different people, and empathy plays a huge part in this. During this collaborative learning experience,…
With great design comes great responsibility. User experience (UX) design isn’t just about creating pretty or functioning websites - it’s about creative solutioning and trying to make people’s lives and experiences better. As designers, we need to remember that we aren’t designing products for ourselves, but for other people. Being a UX designer allows you to work with and problem solve for a variety of different people, and empathy plays a huge part in this. During this collaborative learning experience,…
BREAK into new global markets online New trade agreements and a competitive Canadian dollar make it an ideal time to extend your company's reach through the export of goods and services online. World Trade Centre Vancouver is pleased to present International e-Commerce Essentials (ICE), a workshop that helps businesses discover, learn, and create an integrated online strategy to drive global sales. International e-Commerce is growing twice as fast as domestic e-Commerce and expected to hit 4.5 trillion dollars by 2021.…
Showcasing government support available to Canadian companies in the R&D and innovation space, the Innovation Expo will feature presentations from, and discussions with, support programs and experts. The 2020 Innovation Expo is hosted by Public Services and Procurement Canada and the City of Victoria. We will have speakers from the following organizations: Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Innovation Island (Nanaimo) Futurpreneur Canada South Island Prosperity Partnership VIATEC BC Developers Exchange City of Victoria ...and…
Using purposeful diversity and inclusion strategies to build high-impact teams. In the Fall series we learned #whatworks from business and HR leaders. In the Winter Series we'll explore implementation which happens all across the business. Join us to share what is working and what is a challenge to implement gender equity on the front line - in R&D, Sales, Marketing, Product Dev, Finance, etc. Learn from peers about how they are getting better results because they are building teams that…
Learn how to make better design choices for your website! Have you ever gotten tired just from looking at a website? Do you find pop-ups irritating? Over the course of this seminar, we're going to learn about some basic design principles, including Cognitive Overload, Dark Patterns and Designing for Conversion, how these principles can psychologically affect users, and how to make better design choices for your business. Register FREE
This year's theme for IWD is #EachforEqual. Join us for an evening of celebrating women in our lives, a panel discussion and networking. Women face a unique set of challenges as they work to establish themselves professionally. Ranging from being the minority on a team to clear gender discrimination, these challenges are often amplified in male dominated industries. Studies have shown that women still struggle to equally occupy positions of leadership and receive equal compensation. Locelle, in partnership with Island…
Scaling Up for Global Growth Get Actionable Insights to Grow Your Customers, Capital and Team. From the fastest growing companies to the largest private investments and the country’s highest tech wages, BC is being recognized as Canada’s top tech market. Want to start and scale your company in BC? The #BCTECHSummit is the catalyst to help you make that happen. The #BCTECHSummit is Western Canada's largest annual technology event that brings together B.C.’s vibrant technology industry, builds cross-sector and cross-border…
For a successful economic recovery from COVID-19, Canada can’t leave its early stage technology companies behind. Small-scale firms are at a critical phase in development where they will either help shape the future of our technology industry, or under extreme financial pressure, lose the progress they’ve made throughout years of R&D innovation. With technology now a major growth area in our economy that benefits all other sectors, the path Canada chooses will determine our future evolution. Featuring startup CEOs and…
The Impostor Syndrome Series is a series of ‘fireside chats’ with individuals who work in tech to discuss how they’ve experienced and navigated imposter syndrome throughout their careers. Presented by Dyspatch and Lighthouse Labs, the Imposter Syndrome series seeks to provide relatable experience from tech business leaders and educators. Learn More or Register
In a hyper-connected world, having a Digital Workplace plays a critical role in delivering the promise of the connected enterprise. This future is one where a flexible organizational model, culture, diverse capabilities, and an ecosystem of talented people all come together. Organizations are striving for outstanding customer/client experience, which requires continuous digital and technological advances. Leadership and IT must respond together to these accelerating forces of disruption. Becoming “Digital” means evolving your operating model to enable a new level of…
As many businesses move forward, founders continue to deal with challenges their businesses and investors are facing. This session will focus on alternative methods that Technology companies can consider when raising capital. Join BDO's West Technology leader, Mike Hiley, as he leads a group of investment experts from Venture Debt Providers, Government Incentives, Banks and Crowd Sourcing in a discussion on their own insights of what the landscape currently looks like, and what they see moving forward. Included in the…
ABOUT THIS EVENT The Girls in Tech Conference is back! This time it’s virtual, allowing participants from all over the world to gather, find community, sharpen their skills and learn how to thrive in tech. This signature annual event is so much more than a conference. It is an intentional and inclusive space, a space of community. And we invite everyone to have a seat at the table. Every voice counts. Every perspective matters. Every person is needed. The Girls…
This half-day live stream event will explore perspectives on women in the tech and innovation sectors, the challenges women face in the workplace, and ways in which we can better support women-led startups. Learn More or Register
The Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada) invites you to its upcoming Tech Industry Roundtables event organized in online format designed to facilitate connections and conversations between women-owned businesses and corporate buyers. This event serves to connect certified Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) with buyers from companies in the Tech and Telecommunications industry, offering a great opportunity for networking, learning, professional development and connections between certified diverse suppliers and corporations wanting to diversify their supply chains. Learn More or Register
An introduction to the principles and applications of AI & Machine Learning (ML) as seen through the lens of SMEs via user-cases across multiple sectors. You may be surprised to learn that fewer than 1 in 10 businesses are ready for AI adoption. Despite all the AI hype, the reality remains that a vast majority of companies simply do not have the capacity to augment their business operations with AI at scale, resulting in a series of one-off, pilot projects.…
Vancouver's rich talent base, world-class academic institutions and diverse community have made the city a magnet for technology companies of all sizes. As we prepare to navigate post-COVID-19 economic recovery: What opportunities will technology companies create for the local economy? What is the broader impact of the technology sector's growth? How can technology companies continue to invest in our communities? These activities will provide access to the guidance and support businesses require to navigate the crisis. The panel – with…
Entrepreneurs can’t build great companies alone. Finding and retaining top talent and skilled knowledge workers continues to be a key issue for business owners not just in the Okanagan but across the country. If we want to build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem and increase the number of businesses that scale in the Okanagan, we must address this challenge and find new solutions. Join Accelerate Okanagan on October 29, 2020, for the first North Okanagan Talent Hackathon. With the recent opening…
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the largest technology event in the world, and an important venue for business development where companies have the opportunity to debut new and innovative technologies to global buyers and investors. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for over 50 years. The all-digital CES 2021 will allow the entire tech community to safely share ideas and introduce the products that will shape our future. For the occasion, Canada’s Trade…
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the largest technology event in the world, and an important venue for business development where companies have the opportunity to debut new and innovative technologies to global buyers and investors. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for over 50 years. The all-digital CES 2021 will allow the entire tech community to safely share ideas and introduce the products that will shape our future. For the occasion, Canada’s Trade…
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the largest technology event in the world, and an important venue for business development where companies have the opportunity to debut new and innovative technologies to global buyers and investors. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for over 50 years. The all-digital CES 2021 will allow the entire tech community to safely share ideas and introduce the products that will shape our future. For the occasion, Canada’s Trade…
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the largest technology event in the world, and an important venue for business development where companies have the opportunity to debut new and innovative technologies to global buyers and investors. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for over 50 years. The all-digital CES 2021 will allow the entire tech community to safely share ideas and introduce the products that will shape our future. For the occasion, Canada’s Trade…
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the largest technology event in the world, and an important venue for business development where companies have the opportunity to debut new and innovative technologies to global buyers and investors. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for over 50 years. The all-digital CES 2021 will allow the entire tech community to safely share ideas and introduce the products that will shape our future. For the occasion, Canada’s Trade…
This event will explore how businesses across sectors are leveraging technology to adapt their operations, business models and strategies for better environmental and economic outcomes. Learn More or Register
Over the past 10-weeks, participating investors and companies have gone through a series of structured company reviews, founder pitches, and due diligence… and now it’s time to see who will be awarded an investment of $145K. Arlene Dickinson, star of Dragons’ Den, will headline as the keynote speaker at Accelerate Okanagan’s third annual OKGN Angel Summit on March 18! 29 Investors. 6 Finalists. 1 Big Cheque. Learn More or Register
