How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

What are DELIA's eligibility criterias?

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.

DELIA

Last Update: July 22, 2025

ON, Canada

Funding program supporting women-owned businesses in Canada

DELIA at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $50,000

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Eligible Industries

All industries

Grant Providers

Nventure

Status

Open

Overview of the DELIA program

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.

Financing terms and conditions

Loans up to $50,000 are available for eligible businesses.
Approved loan amounts are typically around $15,000.
Interest rates for DELIA Loans range between Prime +2% and Prime +4%, varying according to the risk assessment.
Funds are disbursed via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) directly to the business bank account if the application is approved.
Successful applicants usually receive funds within two weeks of complete application submission.
Extended due diligence may be carried out, and no funding amount is guaranteed.

Eligible projects & activities

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 criteria of the DELIA program

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 to the DELIA program

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.

Apply to this program

Money for Ontario magazine publishers and diversity enhancement