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DELIA - Ontario - Canada
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DELIA

Funding program supporting women-owned businesses in Canada
Nventure
Last Update: April 10, 2026
Funding available
$ 50,000
Timeline
  • Open continuously
Location
Ontario, Canada

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.

/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Increase performance through digital transformation
  • Develop an online presence
  • Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 50,000 $
Timeline
  • Open continuously

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Location
  • Ontario
Legal structures
  • For-profit business
  • Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • All organization sizes
Audience
  • Rural or Northern Residents
  • Startups
  • Women

Next Steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

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

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.).

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.

Frequently Asked Questions about the DELIA Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the DELIA. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the DELIA?

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.

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.