Platform
Consulting
Resources
Pricing
ELLA Express - Ontario - Canada
Open

ELLA Express

Advice for early-stage women entrepreneurs
York University
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
No Condition
Timeline
  • Open Date : July 18, 2022
Location
Ontario, Canada

Overview

Receive advice, tools, and foundational business knowledge, through six workshops training program, if you have a business idea or have recently started a business or not-for-profit organization.

/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
Eligible Funding
  • No Condition
Timeline
  • Open Date : July 18, 2022

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Location
  • Ontario
Legal structures
  • For-profit business
  • Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • All organization sizes
Audience
  • Women

Next steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

The ELLA Express program supports initiatives that empower women entrepreneurs at the pre-revenue or early stage of their business journey. The eligible activities focus on delivering educational workshops that build foundational knowledge and critical business skills.

  • Participation in workshops on Business Models.
  • Engagement in Marketing Fundamentals training.
  • Development of a Sales Funnel strategy.
  • Operations & Finance skills enhancement.
  • Pitching your Venture workshop for effective presentation skills.
  • Website Optimization for improved online presence.
  • Receiving expert feedback on business pitches.

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

The ELLA Express program targets women-identifying entrepreneurs who are in the pre-revenue or early stage of launching their business. Eligible participants must meet specific criteria to apply for the program:- Women Entrepreneurs: The applicant must be a woman entrepreneur.- Business Stage: The business is either at the pre-revenue stage or has been recently launched.- Location: The business must be located in Canada.- Eagerness for Growth: The applicant should be open to change and willing to step out of their comfort zone.- Commitment: The applicant must be committed to completing all six modules in the online course.

Eligible expenses

ELLA Express aims to empower women entrepreneurs by providing them essential tools and skills necessary for business development. The program comprises workshops and activities designed to enhance business knowledge in key operational areas.

  • Business model development workshops.
  • Marketing fundamentals and strategy sessions.
  • Sales funnel creation and optimization workshops.
  • Operations and finance management training.
  • Pitching sessions with expert feedback.
  • Website optimization and digital presence workshops.

Eligible geographic areas

This program is open to women entrepreneurs whose businesses are located in Canada. The eligibility criteria are designed to provide support to Canadian-based founders in the early stages of their business development.

  • Businesses must be located in Canada.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this program:

  • Participants have the flexibility of a self-paced course, allowing them to set their own learning schedule.
  • After program completion, participants will have enhanced their understanding of their customer needs regarding their product or service.
  • Expert feedback is provided on participant pitches, aiming to refine and enhance pitching skills.
  • Networking opportunities with a diverse community of women entrepreneurs are available, potentially leading to partnerships.
  • Desjardins powers the program, which may provide additional insights or opportunities linked to financial services.

Documents and links

ELLA Express

Frequently Asked Questions about the ELLA Express Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the ELLA Express. 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 Express?

Receive advice, tools, and foundational business knowledge, through six workshops training program, if you have a business idea or have recently started a business or not-for-profit organization.

Who is eligible for the ELLA Express program?

To be eligible for the ELLA Express program, you must: Applicant must be a woman-identifying entrepreneur. The business must be located in Canada. The business should be at a pre-revenue/early stage.

What expenses are eligible under ELLA Express?

The ELLA Express program supports initiatives that empower women entrepreneurs at the pre-revenue or early stage of their business journey. The eligible activities focus on delivering educational workshops that build foundational knowledge and critical business skills. Participation in workshops on Business Models. Engagement in Marketing Fundamentals training. Development of a Sales Funnel strategy. Operations & Finance skills enhancement. Pitching your Venture workshop for effective presentation skills. Website Optimization for improved online presence. Receiving expert feedback on business pitches.

Where is the ELLA Express available?

The ELLA Express program is available the province of Ontario.

Who are the financial supporters of the ELLA Express?

ELLA Express is funded by York University

More programs like this