How much funding can be received?

DELIA Funds up to $50,000 of admissible expenses.

Who is eligible for the DELIA program?

To be eligible for the DELIA program, you must: The business must be over 50% owned by women and managed or controlled by one or more women. The business must be operated independently from businesses not owned by women. The applicant must have a valid and separate business bank account and a Business Number registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.

What expenses are eligible under DELIA?

Acquire capital assets including machinery and equipment. Make leasehold or property improvements. Rent office space and equipment. Cover salaries and benefits excluding the owner's salary. Purchase IT/software licenses. Utilize professional services. Manage inventory and supplies. Protect intellectual property. Secure working capital for expenses like payroll, lease payments, accounts management, rent, and overhead costs. Develop digital platforms including website and e-commerce solutions. Invest in marketing, advertising, and business promotion. Provide employee training. Finance short-term receivables to service contracts. Cover business startup costs such as legal fees and incorporation fees.

Where is the DELIA available?

The DELIA program is available the province of Ontario.

Open

DELIA

Last Update: March 4, 2026

Ontario, Canada

Funding program supporting women-owned businesses in Canada

Grant and Funding

Overview

The DELIA Loan Program provides funding of up to $50,000 to support Canadian businesses that are majority-owned and controlled by women, aiming to finance activities such as capital assets, professional services, marketing, and employee training. Ineligible uses of the loan include real estate purchases, goodwill, and refinancing existing debt.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals

Integrate new technologies
Develop an online presence
Develop employee skills

Eligible Funding

Maximum amount : 50,000 $

Timeline

Open continuously

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries

All industries

Location

Ontario

Legal structures

For-profit business
Sole proprietorship
Social economy enterprise
Non-financial cooperative

Annual revenue

All revenue ranges

Organisation size

All organization sizes

Audience

Rural or Northern Residents
Startups
Women

Activities funded

Acquire capital assets including machinery and equipment.
Make leasehold or property improvements.
Rent office space and equipment.
Cover salaries and benefits excluding the owner's salary.
Purchase IT/software licenses.
Utilize professional services.
Manage inventory and supplies.
Protect intellectual property.
Secure working capital for expenses like payroll, lease payments, accounts management, rent, and overhead costs.
Develop digital platforms including website and e-commerce solutions.
Invest in marketing, advertising, and business promotion.
Provide employee training.
Finance short-term receivables to service contracts.
Cover business startup costs such as legal fees and incorporation fees.

Eligibility

Applicants must be Canadian citizens or legal entities controlled by Canadian citizens.
Eligible business entities include sole proprietorships, federally/provincially/territorially incorporated for-profit small businesses, for-profit co-operative corporations, and social enterprises.
Businesses must be over 50% women-owned and managed.
Applicants must be at least 19 years of age.
Businesses need to maintain a separate business bank account and satisfy liquidity requirements.
A Business Number registered with the Canada Revenue Agency is required.
Not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for loans.
DELIA does not fund businesses involved in real estate management, resource extraction, gambling, pornography, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or illegal goods.

Who is eligible?

For-profit small Canadian businesses federally/provincially/territorially incorporated in Canada and controlled by Canadian residents
For-profit co-operative corporations incorporated under a federal, provincial, or territorial co-operative Act
Social enterprises that meet revenue and profitability criteria

Who is not eligible

Companies primarily engaged in holding or managing real estate.
Businesses involved in extracting resources.
Organizations selling, marketing, or providing gambling services.
Entities involved in the sale or distribution of pornography.
Companies dealing with alcohol or tobacco products.
Businesses related to weapons or illegal goods.
Not-for-profit organizations.

Eligible expenses

Capital assets including machinery/equipment and leasehold/property improvements.
Office and equipment rental.
Salaries and benefits (excluding owner's salary).
IT/Software license purchase.
Professional services.
Inventory/Supplies.
Intellectual Property.
Working Capital (e.g., payroll, lease payments, accounts management, rent, overhead costs).
Digital, including website/E-commerce development.
Marketing/advertising/business promotion.
Employee training.
Short term receivable financing (i.e., financing to service a contract).
Business start up costs (legal fees, business incorporation fees, business plan preparation, etc.).

How to apply

Begin the Application ProcessClick on 'Apply Now' to start the application.

You will be redirected to Nventure's common application platform integrated with Reviewr.

Prepare Required DocumentsHave essential documents ready, such as business plans, cashflow forecasts (for start-ups), personal resumes, financial statements (for established businesses), identification documents, Articles of Incorporation, CRA account information, business insurance policy, and performance metrics.

Complete the Application FormFill out the common application form detailing the program(s) you are applying for.

Ensure all information is accurate and complete.

Submit the ApplicationUpload all required documents through the application platform.

Review your application to ensure all information and documents are correct.
Submit the application once you have confirmed all details.

Confirmation of SubmissionReceive an email confirmation upon successful submission.

Await Funding DecisionA DELIA representative will contact you regarding the application decision.

If approved, Nventure will issue a Letter of Offer and Loan Agreement.
Funds will be disbursed via EFT to your business bank account if the application is successful.

Additional information

The DELIA loan is administered by Nventure Business Development Corporation with support from ISED Canada.
Nventure is a non-profit organization that has been providing support to entrepreneurs since 1985.
The headquarters of Nventure is located at Venture13 in Cobourg, Ontario.
Approval notifications are sent via email, and funds are disbursed via EFT to business bank accounts.
Applicants should be prepared for the possibility of extended due diligence during application review.
Confidentiality of application materials is maintained except with prior written consent.
Completing the application will result in a credit enquiry that may affect the applicant's credit score.
The interest rate for DELIA Loans varies between Prime +2% and Prime +4% and is determined by Nventure's proprietary fundability AI.
Funding of up to $50,000 is available, with typical approvals around $15,000.
Permanent Residents of Canada are eligible provided their status remains valid throughout the loan period.