A more inclusive economy is a stronger economy. That’s why the Government of Canada is dedicated to taking concrete action to advance gender equality, which will help build an economy that works for all Canadians.

“Supporting women entrepreneurs isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do. Partners like the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub are helping us better understand the immense contribution women make to our economy and the challenges they still face. I want to thank everyone who helped put together this report and its findings, which will help inform our future policy-making on supporting women entrepreneurs across Canada. This is not just how we create a more inclusive society—it’s also how we create good jobs and build a strong economy that works for everyone.”
– The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business 

"To design effective strategies and programs to support women entrepreneurs, we need evidence about the support resources available and their impact, as well as what works for them. The annual State of Women’s Entrepreneurship report outlines what we know and what we need to know to promote a more inclusive innovation ecosystem and to inform the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES). Recently, in a workshop at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, attendees confirmed that what we are doing in Canada is unique and important. While many countries recognize the important role of small and medium-sized enterprises and the need to support women entrepreneurs, Canada, through WES, is a global leader in taking a whole-of-government approach to strengthening the ecosystem and advancing women entrepreneurship. Our intersectional approach is unique. So is our laser focus on applying a gender and diversity lens to understand systemic barriers and develop effective strategies to unlock opportunities across all government departments.”
– Dr. Wendy Cukier, Founder and Academic Director, Diversity Institute and Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub 

• The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) is a one-stop source of knowledge, data and best practices for women entrepreneurs.

• In 2018, through a competitive process, the Government of Canada awarded Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) up to $8.62 million over three years to establish the Hub. In Budget 2021, the government committed a further $5 million to support the Hub’s work, and a further $3.8 million in November 2023.

• National in scope, WEKH is made up of 10 regional hubs that work together to coordinate activities in different regions. Each of the regional hubs brings its unique area of expertise and specialization to WEKH.

• With a network of over 250 partners, WEKH brings together researchers, business support organizations and key stakeholders to create a more inclusive and supportive environment to grow women’s entrepreneurship in Canada. Together, they are supporting the advancement of women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds throughout the innovation ecosystem.

• The Hub’s activities include:

  • collecting, analyzing and disseminating information, and/or advancing research on women’s entrepreneurship;
  • supporting and sharing best practices and knowledge among women business support organizations; and
  • reporting on the progress of women entrepreneurs in Canada, including a review of the Canadian entrepreneurship ecosystem’s supports for women.

• The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) is a nearly $7 billion investment that, in addition to the WEKH, includes:

  • the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, which funds partner organizations to deliver loans of up to $50,000 to women business owners and entrepreneurs;
  • the Inclusive Women Venture Capital Initiative, which seeks to build a more inclusive venture capital environment for Canadian women; and
  • the WES Ecosystem Fund, which is helping strengthen capacity within the entrepreneurship ecosystem and deliver the resources that women entrepreneurs need to start or grow a business. 

• The government is also investing in removing systemic barriers faced by diverse and intersectional women entrepreneurs through programs like the Black Entrepreneurship Program and the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program. 

Nadine Ramadan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Small Business
343-575-5436
nadine.ramadan@ised-isde.gc.ca

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
media@ised-isde.gc.ca

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