Canadian exporting businesses owned and led by people identifying as women, Indigenous, Black, and other dimensions of diversity can get help to address the lack of equitable access to capital and create more opportunities for growth.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria for the grant from EDC are as follows: 1. The company must be founded or led by women and/or other diverse management teams. 2. The company is seeking or has recently raised equity funding (Seed to Series B funding rounds) for international growth. 3. EDC can participate as a co-investor or syndicate partner with other venture funds. 4. EDC does not provide grants or subsidies under ITIP. 5. Opportunities are assessed by EDC based on commercial terms and fit with EDC strategy and corporate standards, including ESG. 6. The company must be Canadian and owned or strategically led at the C-suite level by diverse individuals (women, Indigenous, Black or other racialized peoples, LGBTQ2+, or people living with disabilities). 7. Diverse members of the C-suite should have equity ownership consistent with other C-suite members. 8. The company's commercial revenue growth should be accelerating towards C$500,000 with significant export growth potential. 9. The company must demonstrate a commitment to establishing a diverse board of directors.

Who is eligible

- Companies led or founded by women and/or other diverse management teams - Canadian companies owned and/or strategically led at the C-suite level by diverse persons (women, Indigenous, Black or other racialized peoples, LGBTQ2+ or people living with disabilities) - Companies with diverse members of the C-suite who have equity ownership consistent with other C-suite members - Companies with accelerating commercial revenue growth towards C$500,000 and significant export growth potential - Companies demonstrating commitment to establishing a diverse board of directors

Evaluation & selection criteria

- Company led or founded by women and/or other diverse management teams - Raising or have recently raised equity funding (Seed to Series B funding rounds) - Support international growth - Canadian company owned or strategically led at the C-suite level by diverse individuals - Diverse members of the C-suite have equity ownership consistent with other C-suite members - Commercial revenue growth accelerating towards C$500,000 with significant export growth potential - Commitment to establishing a diverse board of directors

Additional information

- EDC assesses opportunities based on commercial factors, fit with EDC strategy, and corporate standards including ESG criteria. - The Canadian company must have diverse representation at the C-suite level, including ownership consistent with other C-suite members. - Commercial revenue growth should be on track to reach C$500,000 with significant potential for export growth. - Companies are encouraged to demonstrate a commitment to establishing a diverse board of directors to align with EDC's goals of supporting diversity and inclusion.

Documents and links