Four women-led startups awarded $135,000 at Uniting the Prairies 2024

The second Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator program cohort, presented by Elevate and The Firehood, took place throughout April and culminated in a showcase on stage at Uniting The Prairies last week.

The program aims to support and empower women and non-binary entrepreneurs by providing them with the resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities needed to grow their businesses. The showcase allowed participants to present their innovative projects and business ideas to a wider audience, highlighting the diverse and dynamic contributions of women+ entrepreneurs in the tech and startup ecosystems.

The event saw attendance records broken and four women-led startups receive a collective investment of $135,000 from The Firehood’s angel investors. This remarkable support underscores the growing recognition and backing of female entrepreneurship within the tech and startup communities.

The investments are aimed at helping these startups scale their operations, innovate further, and make significant impacts in their respective industries. The success of this event highlights the importance of initiatives like the Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator program in fostering a more inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial landscape.

These investments reflect the diverse range of innovative solutions being developed by these women-led startups and the confidence investors have in their potential for growth and impact. The funded startups span various sectors, demonstrating the broad scope of innovation being championed by female entrepreneurs in Canada.

Toronto-based DuaWalla, which received the largest investment of $75,000, is indicative of the high potential recognized by investors. Chexy, also from Toronto, secured $25,000, further showcasing the city's dynamic startup ecosystem. Battleford, Saskatchewan-based Combine Settings, which received $25,000, and Kitchener’s Asima Health, which garnered $10,000, highlight the geographic diversity and the innovative spirit thriving across the country.

Danielle Graham, co-founder of The Firehood, emphasized the national reach of the program, stating, "Given the truly national nature of this program, with founders pitching us from coast to coast, it seemed only appropriate to have the program end with everyone meeting in the middle—in Saskatoon!” Her remarks underscore the program's commitment to inclusivity and its role in fostering a collaborative environment for women entrepreneurs from all regions of Canada.

The success of the Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator program underscores the importance of supporting diverse entrepreneurial talent. By bringing together innovators from different regions, the program not only provides crucial financial support but also fosters a sense of community and collaboration that transcends geographical boundaries.

These investments are a testament to the growing momentum behind women-led startups in Canada. As these entrepreneurs continue to break new ground, initiatives like the Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator are essential in providing the support and resources needed to drive their success. The confidence shown by investors in these startups highlights the significant potential for these businesses to achieve substantial growth and make a lasting impact in their respective industries.