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The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) is a not-for-profit organization focused on Canada’s relations with Asia and deepening engagement between Canada and Asia. Established by an Act of Parliament in 1984, APF Canada is dedicated to strengthening ties between Canada and Asia. Our research and engagement provides high-quality, relevant, and timely information, insights, and perspectives on Canada-Asia relations.

The APF Canada, Central Canada Office team has been leading trade missions specifically aimed at supporting Canadian women entrepreneurs find new markets in Asia since 2019. Supported by the private sector and the Government of Canada, through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund, the missions provide Canadian women-led or -owned companies with the support to access markets in the Asia Pacific through pre-mission training, B2B connections, and public conferences with high-level speakers. The 2023 mission is titled Smarter Living: The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand. This mission is the Foundation’s first gender-based business mission to Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region in the 2023-2025 mission series, Northeast X Southeast: Advancing Partnerships Between Canada and Asia, and the seventh since launching our efforts aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs grow their businesses globally. For upcoming opportunties, see APF Canada’s full list of business missions to Asia for women and gender-diverse entrepreneurs.

Building on the trade mission series, APF Canada has launched CanWIN, the Canadian Women’s International Network, to connect women thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and gender equality organizations to advance economic equality and empower Canadian women entrepreneurs through engagement with international growth markets in Asia.

As BC’s leading business resource organization for women, our passion is to support women entrepreneurs along their small business journey.

We exist to empower women entrepreneurs to make an impact in their communities and create opportunities in BC’s economy.

The Prince Edward Island Business Women’s Association (PEIBWA) is a dynamic network of women entrepreneurs and business professionals from across PEI.

The organization’s membership represents women at all stages of their careers and businesses – from start-up entrepreneurs, established business owners, and mid-career business professionals, to dynamic rural entrepreneurs, newcomers launching their businesses, students, and more.

A member-based not-for-profit organization, PEIBWA has a mandate to educate, empower and inspire PEI women to succeed in their business endeavours.

It is the only women’s business association with an Island-wide mandate in the province. PEIBWA provides advisory services, training, opportunities for development, and connections with other women in business.

Community Futures British Columbia is the provincial association for the Community Futures Development Network of Canada. Through our 34 member offices, we provide business services and loans to new and experienced entrepreneurs in rural and remote communities, and we’ve been doing it since 1992. Since 1997 our Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP) has made it easier for entrepreneurs with disabilities or ongoing health conditions to pursue their business goals by providing access to a network of business professionals and resources. Using a GBA+ lens EDP is built on the intersectionality of diversification of our participants and equitable supports. The EDP program supports to a wide cross-section of entrepreneurs in both urban and rural communities throughout the province.

We help entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals unlock funding — from home ownership, to business expansion.

PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise provides programs and services to women across Ontario who are ready to start, grow or build new opportunities.

Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK) is a non-profit membership organization which works with women who are considering starting a business, purchasing a business, or operating an existing business. Our priority is to help women throughout Saskatchewan achieve their entrepreneurial goals. Programs and services offered by Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan include business advisory and support services, start-up and expansion lending, networking and mentoring opportunities, and business development seminars which focus on entrepreneurial skill development.

We help businesses diversify and grow beyond B.C. by guiding them through the export process. Once accepted into Export Navigator, you’ll have free one-on-one access to your personal export advisor. Your advisor knows your region, your community, and will get to know your business to provide tailored guidance.

Alberta Women Entrepreneurs is an organization dedicated to enabling women to build successful businesses. We provide unique programs and services to women in business through mentoring, advising, financing and skills and network development.

NLOWE helps women entrepreneurs start, grow and advance successful, leading-edge businesses that capitalize on emerging economic opportunities. NLOWE stays ahead of the trends so that we can encourage business development in key growth sectors, and we offer training opportunities such as workshops and seminars to help women entrepreneurs take advantage of changes in the economy.

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YWCA Moncton
YWCA Moncton is a chapter of the national YWCA movement, which focuses on empowering women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people. For over 100 years, it has worked to advance gender equity through national advocacy and community action. Its goals include stopping gender-based violence, creating affordable housing and pushing for workplace equity.

Among its education and employment programs includes YW Employment My Way, a 12-week employment training program for women and gender-diverse individuals to build a business model for their current or future businesses. Workshop topics include how to do market research, financial literacy, marketing and communications, and more. The program also includes one-on-one training sessions and peer-support activities.

Community Futures offices provide loans, advice, and support to rural business owners.  We work with entrepreneurs in all stages of their businesses.  Community Futures actively supports community-based economic development to create diverse, sustainable rural communities. Community Futures Manitoba (CFM) and Community Futures Saskatchewan (CFS) are associations representing independent nonprofit Community Future organizations established throughout rural and northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Community Futures South Georgian Bay (CFSGB) is a not-for-profit Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) sponsored by Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. We’re governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and are one of 61 CFDCs in Ontario.

CFSGB is recognized as an expert lender with capacity, knowledge, and resources to drive the growth and development of businesses. We are leaders in promoting collaboration and supporting innovation through investment in our communities and partners.

We support women entrepreneurs through education and events, free business coaching and advice, and lending. We are proud to work with many inspiring and innovative women small business owners and change makers.

Startup YMM is a business support initiative operated by Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism. We offer a range of services for new and existing businesses, including startup guidance, business coaching, mentorship, workshops, and resources to support long-term growth and retention in the region.

Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region has been a regional Economic Development hub since opening in 1986. Throughout the past 36 years, CF, as a grass roots, board led, organization has continually met its clientele where they are at. The organization has served more than 50,000 entrepreneurs, 7 municipal councils, 100s of partners and more than 300 nonprofit organizations.

CFGP has successfully operated provincial programs such as the Self Employment program, Youth Connections, regional and private sector projects such as Shell LiveWIRE, focused on Indigenous entrepreneurship, SMARTStart for startups, Growing the North Conference, and several smaller projects that were necessitated by local need.

Recently, CFGP has engaged in new programs to support women, via the CGI (Capital Growth Initiative) loans program in partnership with the province, to support innovators via the Grande Prairie Regional Innovation Network (GPRIN) and work collaboratively with local, regional, provincial, and federal counterparts to leverage resources and time to support the large goal of Community Economic Development.

March 2022 saw CFGP&R host the first annual Hyperdrive Women in Business Summit in Jasper, AB alongside numerous partners and CF stakeholders. Hyperdrive is a summit designed to support businesses and entrepreneurs in developing their skills, tools, and workforce as we build and diversify the local economies of scale in Alberta. With the summit, CF looks to inspire, promote thoughtful conversations, provide strategies for success, training, and resources directly to the business community. The networks forged during the 3 days event will effectively new tools to the entrepreneurs’ toolkit for success.

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is celebrated every November 19th, in 144 countries, and at the United Nations. The global goal of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) is to ignite women leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and future-preneurs to spark start-ups, economic expansion, and advance communities worldwide.

WEDO Canada supports this global movement. In addition, WEDO Canada is expanding its mission to bring national scholarships to support a new generation of female entrepreneurs through scholarships, education, training, and support. For more information, visit: wedocanada.ca

The Manitoba Women’s Enterprise Centre Inc. (operating as WeMB) has helped thousands of women throughout the province find information, improve their skills and acquire financing so that they can launch, expand or purchase a business. Our team of committed and successful entrepreneurs and professionals deliver resources to support self-identifying women, 2S, and gender-diverse individuals in their pursuit of entrepreneurship at every stage of business. We offer advisory services, in-person and online training, networking opportunities, and loans up to $150,000 to qualified businesses.

I am deeply passionate about empowering entrepreneurs by providing the clarity, financial expertise, and innovative strategies they need to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and turn their boldest business goals into reality.

With 17+ years of experience in corporate finance, marketing analytics, and operational strategy, I bring a practical, data-driven approach to help product and service-based businesses make smarter decisions, optimize for margin, and plan for sustainable growth.

I work with business owners who have out-grown basic bookkeeping and accounting services and are looking for a strategic financial leadership partner to:

Forecast growth and set short-term and long-term business strategy
Improve margins and pricing strategy
Optimize operations and data flow processes
Make informed decisions about hiring, inventory, or expansion
Build financial models to review strategic options and assess risk and opportunities

What I Help With:

Financial Planning & Analysis
Predictive financial models for growth and fundraising
Deep-dive analytics on financials, sales channels, margins, and customer segments
Dynamic, visual management dashboards
Bespoke stakeholder and investor reporting
Budgeting, cash flow tracking, and cash management
Financial and non-financial KPI tracking (marketing, ops, fulfillment)
Reporting that connects the entire business not just the finances

CFO Advisory & Business Transformation
Strategic financial leadership without the full-time CFO cost
Holistic business health assessments
Scalability planning and profitability coaching

Our Business and Enterprise Support and Training (BEST) program is a FREE small business training and consulting program available to all Manitoba residents living on a low income who are starting their entrepreneurial journey or expanding an existing business. The program is also open to groups or organizations wanting to start a social enterprise.

Community Futures Wild Rose offers the Capital Growth Initiative (CGI), a specialized loan product designed to empower female entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their businesses. This initiative offers competitive financing with an interest rate of Prime + 2%, featuring flexible terms to accommodate business needs. Additionally, the loan includes a six-month period of interest-only payments, providing entrepreneurs time to build momentum. A unique benefit of this program is that 25% of the loan may be forgivable, thanks to a partnership with the Government of Alberta, providing further support to help your business thrive.

#BeTheDrum is an Entrepreneurial Outreach and Navigation Program developed by the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). It is a skill-building initiative for Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, transgender and gender-diverse people who are navigating business, management, and entrepreneurship spaces.

Our program is built on four keystones of support:

One-on-One Navigation Support.
Peer Support Circles.
Workshops and Networking Events.
Live Social Q&A’s and Check-in Sessions.
We are contributors, inventors, craftspeople, and most importantly problem solvers. #BeTheDrum is a call to all existing, and prospective Indigenous entrepreneurs. With your determination, strengthened through our mentorship we will build solutions to bring our nations forward and lift our communities to forge a new trail toward prosperity.

YWCA Hamilton women’s entrepreneurship programs support new and existing Ontario businesses with one-on-one coaching, business plan training, mentoring and digital support services.

The Centre for Women in Business is dedicated to helping women business owners and entrepreneurs across Canada succeed through exposure, connection, and learning.

From one-on-one business advice and skills training, to networking and membership programs, we help our clients launch new business ideas, propel established companies to new levels of success, and thrive as owners, CEOs and industry leaders.

We exist to help women business owners in all phases of their business development.

Serving as their first point of contact, Women in Business NB (WBNB) guides and supports the success of female entrepreneurs across New Brunswick.

YWCA Metro Vancouver is a registered charity, gender equity advocate and community service provider. We deliver affordable housing, early learning and child care, training and employment services, and a range of holistic programs that help support individual, collective and economic wellbeing. We boldly envision a just and equitable world for women, families and allies. We advance gender equity alongside women, families, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people through advocacy and integrated services that help support personal, collective and economic wellbeing.

YW Calgary is the largest and longest serving women’s organization in Calgary. Through its more than 108 year history, the organization has touched tens of thousands of lives and evolved its programs to meet the changing needs of women in the community. YW offers a continuum of programs and services for women, and their families, who are struggling with poverty, homelessness, family violence and isolation.
YW Calgary also offers programs and services that are designed to help vulnerable women find stability, then build the skills and confidence they need to make permanent, positive change in their lives. There are also programs for children and men, as well as services to help women and men overcome language barriers.
The PowerUp Program is offered to women interested in exploring entrepreneurship. Information on this program is found here: https://www.ywcalgary.ca/weprosper/

Community Futures Fraser Fort George invests in people and ideas. We provide business support to entrepreneurs in Prince George, Mackenzie, McBride, Valemount and the surrounding rural areas in BC. We can assist business owners, or those considering to become a small business owner, with attaining business loans, creating a business plan, and accessing tools and resources for the different challenges and opportunities small business owners may face. In 2019 Community Futures Fraser Fort George championed a Women Entrepreneurship Eco-System Project which we had named LEAP for Women. The Leadership & Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (LEAP) was designed to assist women to break down barriers in starting or expanding their businesses, and it continues to provide various opportunities to bring under-represented groups together to connect and to gain experiences that will encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and take on new challenges.

The mission of the Quebec Women’s Network is to support and contribute to the advancement of the leadership abilities of women entrepreneurs. We assist women business owners to increase and diversify their supplier networks in order to better position themselves among the larger , more successful Canadian and American organizations.

CDCD is dedicated to addressing regional community development needs and shaping effective policies. Among its standout initiatives is the Newcomer Women’s Entrepreneurship Program, a tailored resource for immigrant women aspiring to launch or expand small businesses. Through a comprehensive approach, the program offers virtual and in-person workshops, networking events, and valuable marketplace opportunities, providing essential tools for success. This initiative exemplifies CDCD’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship as a catalyst for inclusive and vibrant community development.

More than an informational resource, the Newcomer Women’s Entrepreneurship Program is a transformative experience. By blending educational components with practical opportunities, the program empowers participants to navigate the complexities of being a newcomer in Canada wanting to pursue entrepreneurship. This holistic approach aligns with CDCD’s broader mission, ensuring that individuals, regardless of background, have the support and resources needed to thrive.

Small Scale Food Processor Association is a national trade association of processors, growers, and suppliers of food and agricultural products. We help members grow their businesses and expand local economies. SSFPA provides leadership, education, marketing, networking, and advocacy to foster success in a competitive global market.

North Forge is the innovation partner for the Province of Manitoba and a not-for-profit business incubator accelerator that works with startups across Canada in science, technology, and advanced manufacturing.

We have worked with over 300 companies in the past 26 months and have created hundreds of jobs. Armed with one of North America’s largest, not-for-profit publicly accessible Fabrication Fab (FabLabTM), we operate out of over 25,000 sf across Innovation Drive and Innovation Alley here in Winnipeg. We also have locations in Pinawa and Thompson.