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The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted women entrepreneurs. It has severely affected sectors such as retail, hospitality and food services—sectors where women entrepreneurs are most present. On top of typically operating smaller businesses and having less access to capital, many women business owners also still bear a disproportionate share of domestic work, caregiving and childcare.

To address these realities, and in keeping with our commitment to advance the economic empowerment of women, WEtech Alliance and partners are taking action.

The F5: Refresh & Reload program powered by WEtech Alliance  – has built a dynamic “F5: Refresh & Reload Venture Success Recovery Team” comprising of Canadian women (and men) experts in tech and business. Experts will be selected based on key business growth areas including: capital and investment, leadership, digital transformation, sales, marketing, IP, growth coaching, scaling, going global, etc.. The program aims to support female entrepreneurs in overcoming immediate pressures and challenges facing their ventures with technical and business advisory support.

Why focus on business advisory and mentorship? According to a recent Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub The Impact of COVID-19 on Women Entrepreneurs report, access to concierge, advisory, coaching and mentorship services were listed as top needs of women surveyed. This report sheds light on what’s working and what could be improved to meet the needs of diverse women entrepreneurs.

Throughout the duration of the program, WEtech and partners will support over 40 female entrepreneurs with one-on-one business advisory, connect 35 female entrepreneurs from across Southwestern Ontario to pitch to the F5 Power Panel, and connect over 200 female entrepreneurs – and their kids – with online education, networking opportunities and entertainment.

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ONLINE EDUCATION AND NETWORKING

From September to March, 2021, WEtech Alliance will be offering four (4) unique “F5: Refresh & Reload” Virtual Meetups”. The meetups are open to female entrepreneurs across Canada including Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy ecosystem partners. Topics will be selected based on current economic climate as well as “top” pain points addressed by business advisors and/or female entrepreneurs. Sessions will vary from virtual AMAs with key expert(s) to networking events to tangible key topic discussions.

Have kids at home? WEtech will be adding a twist to the F5: Refresh & Reload” Virtual Meetups. Each of the four (4) virtual meetups will be paired with a unique “kidsitting” virtual activity performed by a female-owned business. Example of activities include: storytime, magic, art and crafts, animal experiences, etc…. The goal is simple. Give moms a moment to step away – even if it’s just of an hour.

F5: Refresh or Reload” Virtual Meetups are scheduled for October 20th (register), November 17th, January 12th and February 9th from 7-8PM.

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ONE-ON-ONE BUSINESS ADVISORY AND MENTORSHIP WITH F5 VENTURE SUCCESS RECOVERY TEAM

The F5 Venture Success Recovery Team is made up of current and former entrepreneurs and executives who understand what it takes to pivot and grow a business. Their extensive network of contacts and personal expertise will help you find solutions to your biggest pain-points and/or help you take advantage of all of the government programs and services available amid COVID-19.

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., 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 of Nichole Howson, Owner of AIM Social Media Marketing,  and many more.

F5 Business advisory services will be open to Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent female entrepreneurs of all sectors and stages including those participating in Small Business Centre’s Starter Company, EPICentre’s VentureWomen, WEtech Alliance’s Innovation Catalyst and ScaleUP programs, and/or are active clients of WEtech Alliance, Small Business Centre, EPICentre and Genesis Centre. Preference will be made to female entrepreneurs who businesses have been affected by COVID-19.

Ready to get started? Click the button below to complete the application form.

APPLY NOW
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POWER PANEL 

The Power Panel aims to expand mentorship and strategic connection opportunities for women owned technology and innovation companies in Southwestern Ontario. Participating companies will have the opportunity to accelerate their skills development and be able to leverage high powered, influential mentors from outside of their usual networks. This will be particularly important for women identifying how to capture growth opportunities in new or adjacent markets as the economy recovers post COVID.

The Power Panel is open to active clients of Haltech Regional Innovation Center, Innovation Guelph, Innovate Niagara, TechAlliance, and WEtech Alliance. Companies will be selected from each participating RIC and be in a late validation or efficiency/scale stage of their business.

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QUESTIONS?

Contact our Women’s Entrepreneurship Coordinator, Kate Tomen

Email: ktomen@wetech-alliance.com  |  Phone: 519 355-7365