The Canadian government’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) has helped more than 400,000 women start and grow businesses since its launch in 2018, according to Small Business Minister, Rechie Valdez.
Valdez highlighted the program’s impact at an event hosted by the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, where preliminary findings from the State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada 2025 report were released.
WES was designed to address systemic barriers women entrepreneurs face and to strengthen economic participation. With nearly $7 billion in investments and commitments spanning 20 government departments, agencies, and Crown corporations, the initiative focuses on financing, mentorship, and ecosystem support.
Expanding access to capital and networks
Since its introduction, WES has contributed to multiple areas of entrepreneurship support:
- Stronger networks: Women entrepreneurs have engaged with federal programs and ecosystem events more than 181,100 times.
- Better access to financing: Federal programs have issued more than 25,600 loans to diverse women entrepreneurs.
- Improved knowledge and data: The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub has co-sponsored more than 4,800 events, drawing more than 160,000 participants.
The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, supported by the federal government, provides research and resources to service providers, industry, and policymakers to enhance support for women entrepreneurs nationwide.
Government sees investment as economic growth strategy
The federal government has positioned WES as part of a broader effort to reduce barriers for women in the workforce. Other related initiatives include $10-a-day child care, paid parental leave, and pay equity legislation, aimed at increasing women’s economic participation.
“Studies show that advancing gender equality and women’s participation in the economy can add billions in GDP,” says Valdez.
“Since creating Canada’s first-ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, our government has helped hundreds of thousands of women start new businesses, grow their existing businesses, and expand into global markets. Investing in women entrepreneurs isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s an economic imperative and a smart strategy for a thriving future.”
Dr. Wendy Cukier, a professor of entrepreneurship and strategy at Toronto Metropolitan University, points to the growing impact of women-owned businesses across sectors.
“Women-owned businesses are not only driving economic growth through job creation but also bringing in higher revenues year over year, generating over $90 billion in sales revenue across Canada and accounting for more than 865,000 jobs,” says Cukier.
“There is a surge in women-founded companies across sectors from technology and finance to health care and consumer goods, attracting significant investment and market attention. As we move into challenging times, we need to ensure women entrepreneurs are central to strategies for resilience and self-sufficiency.”
Support programs for women-led businesses
WES includes several funding and support initiatives, such as:
- Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund: Offers loans of up to $50,000 through partner organizations.
- Inclusive Women Venture Capital Initiative: Aims to build a more inclusive venture capital ecosystem for women entrepreneurs.
- WES Ecosystem Fund: Strengthens resources and capacity within the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
- Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub: A network of 10 regional hubs, over 250 organizations, and thousands of women entrepreneurs sharing best practices and research.
As WES continues, the government and industry stakeholders are assessing its long-term impact on women’s economic participation and business success.
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