Canada Funds Economic Boost for Black, Equality-seeking Women

When women and girls fully participate in Canada’s economic, social, and political life, the whole country wins. Ultimately, empowering women and minority entrepreneurs will ignite economic potential, innovation, and inclusivity all across Canada. However, women continue to face systemic barriers that limit their progress and advancement.

Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced $530,000 for Pitch Better Inc. to improve economic and leadership opportunities for Black and equality-seeking women entrepreneurs.

This funding will support the FoundHers Labs Venture Studio, an innovative project aimed at fostering women’s entrepreneurship and advancing gender equality in the business sector, including startups in e-commerce, healthtech, fintech, edtech, AI and machine learning, and cleantech. FoundHers Labs Venture Studio focuses on addressing the unique challenges faced by Black and equity-seeking women entrepreneurs by providing support through research, network engagement, financing, education and capacity building. In doing so, FoundHers Labs is poised to stimulate economic growth and create jobs that will directly benefit Black women and their communities.

Through funding and other support, the Government of Canada is working to create systemic change by addressing gender norms and attitudes, ensuring women are part of the dialogue and solutions, increasing networks and collaboration, encouraging more effective and equitable sharing of resources, and improving policies and practices.