Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Need Support — Here’s How You Can Help with The Forum
Since 2002, The Forum, a registered Canadian charity, has been connecting established and aspiring women entrepreneurs with the education, resources, and community that they need to thrive.
Through our work, we've seen that entrepreneurs require three key forms of capital to build and sustain impactful businesses:
Financial capital: Access to funding, investments, loans and other monetary resources needed to start, sustain and scale businesses
Community capital: Networks, relationships and connections that provide support, open doors to opportunities, and help entrepreneurs overcome isolation
Wisdom capital: Knowledge, expertise, mentorship and guidance that helps entrepreneurs develop the skills and confidence to succeed
Through specialized programming that carefully considers entrepreneurs’ needs at different stages of growth, a growing cross-country community, and events that bring together like-minded business leaders to create and foster impactful connections, we’re helping to create a more equitable and prosperous future not only for women entrepreneurs—but all Canadians.
This is made possible by our network of incredible supporters, including Sponsors, Donors, Mentors, and Faculty Members.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Need Our Support
Women entrepreneurs face a number of gender-based barriers that can prevent them from leading the innovative businesses they’re capable of. These include:
Bank Loan Challenges: Women entrepreneurs face higher denial rates for bank loans that are critical to their success. Even when approved, they tend to receive smaller loans that have higher interest rates and require more collateral than those granted to male entrepreneurs. On average, men-owned businesses are authorized to receive 150% more financing than women-owned businesses. For BIPOC women entrepreneurs, these challenges are even more severe.
The AFIA DEI Index, a first-of-its-kind initiative led by The Forum, is helping Canadian funders address these inequalities.
Wage Gaps: Women in Canada earn approximately 84 cents for every dollar earned by men in full-time employment. This gap indicates systemic wage disparities that can affect women's financial capital accumulation and investment capacity in their businesses.
Did you know women are more likely to lead ventures that prioritize social and environmental progress?
Bias in Pitching Rooms: 60% of the time, investors (who are predominantly men), choose to invest in pitches delivered by men over women and just 4% of available venture capital goes to women entrepreneurs, despite women-owned businesses producing higher returns on investment on average.
Women drive 85% of all consumer spending. When women-led ventures that address the needs and wants of other women aren’t supported, we’re left with a major market gap that negatively affects our economy.
The Entrepreneurial “Boys’ Club”: Canadian women entrepreneurs often encounter exclusionary cultures that dominate professional networks and business development environments. These male-centric spaces limit women’s access to key opportunities, mentorship, and partnerships critical for business growth. The scarcity of women in leadership positions further compounds the issue—resulting in fewer mentorship opportunities for women entrepreneurs. This isolation is particularly challenging since entrepreneurship itself can often feel like a lonely journey.
Interested in learning more about the status of women’s entrepreneurship in Canada? Check out the research and resources from our longtime community partner, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH).
How You Can Support Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Today
Our supporters enable The Forum to have a truly transformative impact on women entrepreneurs. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to respond to the diverse needs of our 15,000+ community and deliver the real-world education, mentorship, and collaborative spaces that they rely on.
When you invest in our community, you’re helping Canada’s most innovative minds reach their full potential, strengthening our economy, and showing the next generation of women leaders what’s possible.
Here’s how you can get involved and support women entrepreneurs today:
Become a Sponsor
As a sponsor, you’ll directly support women entrepreneurs and gain access to a dynamic network of business leaders and changemakers. Your contribution enables the creation of impactful programming and events that meet entrepreneurs where they’re at so they can create their vision of success.
Please connect with lisa@theforum.ca to learn about current and upcoming opportunities.
Partner with The Forum on Events and Initiatives
Are you a business owner looking to give back? Partnering with The Forum can provide unique opportunities to support women entrepreneurs while aligning with a cause that resonates with your customers and communities. If you’re interested in hosting a launch, sale, or event where a portion of proceeds are donated to The Forum or exploring other opportunities, we’d love to hear from you!
Become a Donor
Every donation helps us deliver the programming, resources, and events that women entrepreneurs need to succeed. By giving, you’re playing a vital role in creating a supportive ecosystem that drives innovation, economic growth, and community impact. Every contribution—big or small—makes a difference.
Making a one-time donation or signing up to give monthly as a Future Funder is easy. We gladly provide tax receipts for donations over $20 CAD.
Join as a Faculty Member or Speaker
Are you passionate about sharing your expertise and experience? We’re always looking for faculty members and speakers to lead workshops, panels, and other educational sessions.
Share Your Wisdom in Weekly Virtual Connects
Participate in our free Weekly Virtual Connects on Wednesdays from 11am-12pm PT (2pm-3pm ET), where entrepreneurs and supporters come together to exchange ideas, share experiences, and celebrate milestones. Your insights and advice can offer invaluable guidance to entrepreneurs navigating their journey.
Volunteer Your Time and Talent
Volunteers play an integral part in ensuring the success of our events and initiatives. The added bonus? It’s a ton of fun and gives you the chance to join exciting events at no cost.
Become a Mentor
Mentorship is a powerful way to share your experience and provide guidance to a woman entrepreneur facing familiar challenges. By committing an hour of time to monthly meetings for 12 months, you can help someone refine their business strategies, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals. We often hear from Mentors that these meaningful connections bring fresh perspectives and fulfillment to them as well.
Learn more about how The Forum’s incredible supporters are helping us respond to Canadian women entrepreneurs’ needs by reading our Annual Report.