Three Canadian Startups Secure Positions in Google’s Latest Women Founders Accelerator Cohort

The three Canadian women-led tech startups selected for Google’s Women Founders accelerator program in 2024 demonstrate the country’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape. Their participation in the program reflects Google’s commitment to supporting diversity and empowering women in the tech industry.

Google’s Women Founders program, initiated in 2020 as part of the Google for Startups Accelerator, underscores the company’s dedication to breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly for women founders in North America.

The representation of women entrepreneurs in Canada stands at 17 percent among small and medium-sized business owners. Initiatives like Google’s Women Founders accelerator program play a crucial role in addressing this gender gap by providing support, mentorship, and opportunities for women-led startups to thrive and contribute to the business ecosystem.

The Women Founders accelerator program, part of Google for Startups Accelerator, aims to break down barriers for women founders in North America. For the 2024 cohort in Canada, it has selected three women-led tech startups. In a country where women entrepreneurs constitute only 17% of small and medium-sized business owners, this initiative provides mentorship, technical support, and workshops over a 10-week period, fostering growth and innovation for the participating startups without taking equity.

In the 2024 Women Founders cohort, three Canadian startups, namely MedReddie, Nimble Science, and SkyAcres, are among the 15 companies selected for the program. This initiative continues to support and empower women-led tech startups, providing them with resources, mentorship, and opportunities to thrive in the business landscape.

Google’s Women Founders accelerator program plays a crucial role in addressing the disparities faced by underrepresented founders, especially women entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to bridge the gap in access to capital and support networks, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in the startup ecosystem, particularly in Canada where women entrepreneurs constitute only 17 percent of small and medium-sized business owners.

MedReddie, a B2B healthtech startup based in Kitchener-Waterloo, stands out in the Women Founders cohort. Led by founder and CEO Kara LeBlanc, the company leverages large language models to enhance healthcare supply chains. LeBlanc’s extensive experience in negotiating multi-million-dollar contracts and managing procurement processes in the healthcare sector positions MedReddie as a promising player in the intersection of technology and healthcare.

Kara LeBlanc’s success continued as she secured a significant milestone for MedReddie. In September 2023, she emerged victorious in the inaugural Women + Pitch Prize at the Elevate Festival, receiving a substantial $450,000 cash investment. This financial boost positions MedReddie to scale its operations and contribute further to the health tech industry.

SkyAcres, headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, is an innovative agtech startup focusing on indoor farming solutions. Their platform provides a marketplace and software tailored for fruit and vegetable growers and commercial buyers. By utilizing underutilized residential and commercial spaces, SkyAcres aims to revolutionize the way produce is grown and sold, contributing to sustainable agriculture practices.

SkyAcres benefits from the strategic insights of Zaffia Laplante, who holds the position of Strategy Officer. Notably recognized among Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 Sustainable Leaders, Laplante has shared her experiences as an Indigenous woman in agriculture at prestigious events like the 2022 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the British Council.

Nimble Science, based in Calgary, has developed a groundbreaking ingestible device designed to collect samples from the small intestine. This clinically validated device, resembling a fish oil pill, enables the collection of uncontaminated samples from previously inaccessible areas of the small intestine. Nimble Science secured $2.7 million in seed financing in a funding round led by Fusion Fund.

Google’s Women Founders program has achieved significant success, collaborating with 47 women-led startups to date. Collectively, these startups have raised an impressive $93.2 million USD since completing the program. Notable Canadian alumni include NLPatent, BorderlessHR, Monark, Blossom Social, Emaww, and MedEssist. The 2024 edition of Google’s Women Founders program is set to commence in the spring.