
ELLA Altitude
Last Update: July 22, 2025
ON, Canada
Accelerator program for women-led organizations
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Open Date : July 16, 2024
- Closing date : August 11, 2024
Financing Type
Expert Advice
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Funds Providers
Unspecified
Program status
Closed
Overview
Join a 4-month accelerator program and get access to expert advice, mentorship and leadership coaching to scale your business rapidly.
Activities funded
The ELLA Altitude program offers activities tailored to support women entrepreneurs in rapidly scaling their businesses. It provides mentorship, strategy development, and leadership coaching distinctly designed to foster business growth.
- Mentorship pairing to define business goals and provide guidance to achieve them.
- Strategic planning with a fractional executive in key areas such as marketing, operations, or finance.
- Access to leadership coaching to enhance leadership abilities and personal development.
- Participation in an inclusive community of diverse women entrepreneurs for networking and support.
- Growth strategy development facilitated by dedicated mentors for reaching new customers and markets.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 25,000
Expand social enterprise services by acquiring new clients and improving technological infrastructure
$ 16,000
Boost a sole proprietorship café business's growth through professional development and strategic marketing
$ 20,000
Enhance a NPO’s autonomous revenue by investing in technology and staff training
$ 20,000
Expand a financial cooperative’s outreach by leveraging market strategy and leadership training
$ 20,000
Develop an innovative marketing strategy and acquire new customers through digital campaigns
$ 20,000
Assist non-financial cooperative in gaining market share through strategic planning and technology
Eligibility
To be eligible for the ELLA Altitude program, applicants must meet certain criteria:
- You are a woman entrepreneur with at least 50% ownership of a registered business, non-profit or social enterprise, and you are working full-time on your venture
- Your business earns at least $200,000 in revenues annually*
- You have significant traction in your industry and are ready to scale your business to new heights
- Your business is located in Canada
- You are open to change, looking to step out of your comfort zone
Who is eligible?
Yes, there are eligible types of companies for the ELLA Altitude program. These include women-owned businesses, non-profits, and social enterprises that meet specific criteria.
- Women-owned businesses with at least 50% ownership
- Non-profits
- Social enterprises
Eligible expenses
There are eligible expenses for this grant. Eligible expenses may include:
- Business operations costs
- Marketing expenses
- Professional development fees
- Technology and software upgrades
Eligible geographic areas
The ELLA Altitude program is designed specifically for businesses located in Canada. This geographical constraint ensures participants share similar market conditions, allowing for a more cohesive and relevant program experience.
- Businesses located in Canada.
Selection criteria
The ELLA Altitude program selection process is competitive and is based on several criteria to ensure that the most fitting candidates are chosen. The criteria focus on the entrepreneur's leadership, business traction, readiness to scale, and commitment to the program.
- Applicant is a woman entrepreneur with at least 50% ownership of a registered business, non-profit, or social enterprise
- Applicant is working full-time on their venture
- Business earns at least $200,000 in annual revenues (special considerations made for non-profit organizations and social enterprises)
- Significant traction in the industry
- Readiness to scale the business to new heights
- Business is located in Canada
- Openness to change and willingness to step out of the comfort zone
How to apply
1
Complete the online application. Please note applications are now closed. To join the waitlist for 2024, please subscribe below. If you have any questions about the registration process, email us at ellawomen@yorku.ca.
2
Short-listed candidates invited to interview.
3
Candidates finalized.
Additional information
ELLA Altitude is an accelerator program aimed at helping women entrepreneurs scale their businesses through expert mentorship, strategic guidance, and leadership development.
- Applications open on July 16, 2024
- Applications close on August 11, 2024
- Program duration is from October 2024 to January 2025
- Participants must be women entrepreneurs with at least 50% business ownership
- Business must have annual revenues of at least $200,000
- Business must be located in Canada
- Attendance at various sessions is mandatory unless otherwise arranged
Contacts
ellawomen@yorku.ca
416-736-2100
Frequently Asked Questions about the ELLA Altitude Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the ELLA Altitude. 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 ELLA Altitude?
How much funding can be received?
What is the deadline to apply?
Is the ELLA Altitude a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Who are the financial supporters of the ELLA Altitude?
Who is eligible for the ELLA Altitude program?
Who can I contact for more information about the ELLA Altitude?
Where is the ELLA Altitude available?
Are women eligible for the ELLA Altitude program?

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