Virtual meetups + Kidsitting and Access to Expert Recovery Team to Tackle Business Pain Points

Windsor, ON, October 5, 2020 – To address COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on women entrepreneurs, and in keeping with its commitment to advance the economic empowerment of women, WEtech Alliance and partners announced that it’s taking action with the launch of a new recovery program.

The F5: Refresh and Reload program aims to support Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent female entrepreneurs in overcoming immediate pressures and challenges facing their ventures with technical and business advisory support.

The program builds upon WEtech Alliance’s existing Venture Success Team comprised of regional, national and global experts in tech and business.
The enhanced “F5: Refresh or Reload Venture Success Recovery Team” will include Canadian women (and men) experts in key business growth areas including: capital and investment, leadership, digital transformation, sales and marketing, finance, intellectual property, growth coaching, going global, and more.

Already committed members of the Recovery Team include regional female entrepreneurs and experts Federica Nazzani, Managing Partner at Capital Assist (Valuation) Inc., Justine Janssen, Senior Vice President Strategic Initiatives at Ceridian, Karolyn Hart, Founder and President at InspireHUB Inc., Maureen Lucas, Founder and Former President at LucasWorks!, Heather Galt, VP Marketing at P&P Optica, Gail Robertson, Owner at Gail Now, Katie Stokes, Founder at Blab Media, Omolade Williams, Business Development Officer at Turaco Web, Taylor Lanoie, Nichole Howson, Founder at AIM Social Media Marketing, and many more.

“We’ve heard loud and clear the need for access to concierge, advisory, coaching and mentorship services” said Yvonne Pilon, President and CEO at WEtech Alliance. “By connecting local female entrepreneurs with this incredible group of advisors, we can play a role in the fast and sustainable path to recovery.”

Throughout the program, F5: Refresh and Reload will support women-owned businesses in 2 ways: (1) through virtual networking and education events and (2) through one-on-one business advisory/coaching.

The first virtual meetup is set for October 20 at 7PM. The meetup is open to female entrepreneurs from all sectors and stages across Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent including Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy ecosystem partners across the country.

For female entrepreneurs with kids at home, WEtech has added a twist to the F5 virtual meetups. Each virtual meetup will be paired with a unique virtual “kidsitting” activity performed by a regional female-owned business.
“We know that childcare is one of the most, if not the biggest, challenge facing the recovery of women entrepreneurs” said Kate Tomen, Women’s Entrepreneurship Coordinator at WEtech Alliance. “If we can give moms a moment to step away – even if it’s just of an hour, we think it’s worth it.”

This first virtual kidsitting experience will be led by female entrepreneur Karli Kurzuk, Owner of Yellow Bus Yoga. The session will be streamed live on Facebook and will guide kids through a one-hour yoga and mindfulness activity.

The F5 program is made possible with support from the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation.

“WE EDC is pleased to administer the funding for this important and timely program. It will help to empower women-owned businesses in our region and beyond who have been most affected by COVID-19” said Stephen MacKenzie, President and CEO at WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation. “With a great line-up of business advisors, F5 will certainly help to develop the network that these women need for their economic recovery. We are thrilled to share in this exciting announcement!”.

Female entrepreneurs looking for one-on-one business advisory support are invited to submit an application here.