After a two-year hiatus, W Venture, an entrepreneurship program for women-led companies in tech, is back with a fall 2022 cohort. The program is curated for each successful applicant and offers hands-on support, subject-matter expertise, and a province-wide network.

Participants will gain the necessary skills to address the specific challenges facing their businesses through four core components: personalized skill-building, impact initiative, curated workshops, and holistic support. 

“When we launched W Venture in the fall of 2020 in the height of COVID, we couldn’t have predicted the program would have such a positive impact on women entrepreneurs in B.C.,” says program manager Shelley Voyer. “The first cohort of W Venture leaders continue to make significant strides building successful ventures. With 97 percent of them saying they would recommend W Venture to someone they know, we’re thrilled to be able to run the program again and continue to help women thrive and build remarkable companies in B.C.”

Women are increasingly founding businesses – since 1976, they’ve created companies at three times the rate of men – but still form only 28 percent of the entrepreneurial population and only receive three percent of venture capital funding. Despite this gap, women-founded companies continue to have a high return for investors. 

W Venture will be delivered remotely over a twelve-week period to allow women entrepreneurs from across British Columbia to access the program. Ten companies will be selected to participate, and businesses based in Victoria or the Okanagan are especially encouraged to apply.

If you’re a woman-led, tech-focused company with a business ready to scale, applications are open now until July 29. The program kicks off on September 12, 2022.