Launched in 2019, the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) is a $2 billion investment by the Government of Canada that seeks to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025. Only 16 per cent of Canadian businesses are owned or led by women and yet studies show that by advancing women's economic participation in the economy Canada could add up to $150 billion in GDP.
WES helps women grow their businesses through access to financing, talent, networks and expertise. The Windsor-Essex region received $692,000 over the next four years to provide coordinated support to women entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in emerging technologies. The funding is administered by Invest WindsorEssex through its Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre to support a range of activities linked to breaking down barriers and supporting women across the region to start and grow emerging technology businesses.
RISE Windsor-Essex
Invest WindsorEssex has partnered with other economic development organizations across the region to fulfill its WES commitment through the development of RISE Windsor-Essex.
RISE Windsor-Essex is a network of organizations that are empowering women in entrepreneurship and women in STEM in Windsor-Essex. The network is founded by Invest WindsorEssex through partnerships with its Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, the University of Windsor's EPICentre, Workforce WindsorEssex, WEtech Alliance, Build A Dream and Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network (WECAN).
The purpose of RISE Windsor-Essex is to create a suite of services available to women in the Windsor-Essex region by amalgamating and supporting initiatives with the goal of increasing the number of female entrepreneurs and women in STEM-related fields. In doing so, RISE expects this to lead to an increase in the number of women in emerging technology, as is the main goal of the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy grant. Emerging technologies include advanced manufacturing, agri-tech, digital media and information and communications technology, clean tech and renewable energy, and STEM.