Electronic Products & Technology

Women entrepreneurs network on accessing new markets

Stephen Law   

Electronics Engineering entrepreneurship

Fed biz Minister issues call to action on women entrepreneurship: announces $50 million to help businesswomen access capital

While hosting the Canadian Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference in Toronto this week, Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism, issued a call to action to increase the number of women starting and running their own businesses.

The Minister invited more than 200 women entrepreneurs and businesswomen to the conference from across the country to come together to share ideas on how more Canadian women business owners can be globally successful.

As part of that call to action, Chagger announced that following her discussions with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) about the federal government’s women entrepreneurship strategy, BDC will make fundamental changes to the way it does business with women and will aim to become a world-leading financial institution for women business owners.

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At the same time, BDC is taking on a number of new activities to support women entrepreneurs in the tech sector. These new initiatives, representing over $50 million in investments, will help women who run technology companies raise capital. These include an internal fund for women founders, a women’s venture acceleration program and a women’s seed fund.

Throughout the conference, participants were given the opportunity to hear first-hand from businesswomen on the issues that matter to them, such business growth, access to new markets, social innovation, access to capital and women angel investors, and mentorship.

“The Government of Canada is committed to creating inclusive prosperity and growth that will benefit the middle class and allow women to achieve their full economic potential. That’s why I’m glad to be part of this valuable conference that will provide information, inspiration and support for women entrepreneurs striving to succeed as we build an economy that works for all Canadians,” says Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women.

Keynote speakers participating in the one-day conference include the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women, who spoke about social entrepreneurship and the economic impact of businesswomen on society. Also sharing their experience and insight were the Mayor of Mississauga, Bonnie Crombie, and the conference’s keynote speaker, Farah Mohamed of G(irls)20, an award-winning social entrepreneur who has a specific interest in empowering youth, girls, women and diverse populations.

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