WES Ecosystem Fund 2027: Up to $80 Million in Funding for Organizations Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Canada
Overview
The Government of Canada offers the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund to strengthen the national entrepreneurship ecosystem and expand business support services for women entrepreneurs and majority women-owned businesses. The initiative aims to advance women's economic empowerment by ensuring they have access to necessary resources, networks, financing, knowledge, and business support to establish, operate, grow, and scale their businesses.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are Canadian not-for-profit organizations that develop and deliver programs, services, and initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs and majority women-owned businesses. The funding is intended for organizations rather than individual entrepreneurs.
What you get
Successful applicants receive non-repayable contribution funding ranging from $250,000 to $6 million. The total available funding is up to $80 million distributed over a four-year period beginning in the 2027–28 fiscal year. Applications can be submitted in either English or French.
Requirements
Proposed projects must provide meaningful business support to women entrepreneurs or majority women-owned businesses and contribute to strengthening Canada's broader entrepreneurship ecosystem. Priority areas include improving access to equity capital, developing or strengthening women-focused business accelerators and incubators, and facilitating access to procurement and supplier diversity opportunities. Projects outside these priority areas are also considered if applicants can demonstrate a genuine and clearly identified need, explain the problem and affected populations, show why existing services are insufficient, and outline expected outcomes and contributions to the ecosystem. Successful projects must be completed by March 31, 2031.
Key dates
The application deadline is November 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Funding begins in the 2027–28 fiscal year, and projects must be completed by March 31, 2031.