ELLA Express

Q: How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the ELLA Express a grant, loan, or tax credit?

ELLA Express is a Expert Advice

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the ELLA Express?

ELLA Express is funded by York University

Q: 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.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the ELLA Express?

You can contact York University.

Q: Where is the ELLA Express available?

The ELLA Express program is available the province of ON.

Q: Are women eligible for the ELLA Express program?

Yes, women are eligible to apply for the ELLA Express program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

ON, Canada

Advice for early-stage women entrepreneurs

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Open Date : July 18, 2022

Financing Type

Expert Advice

Eligible Industries

All industries

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

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.

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.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 7,500

Establish a local organic food market with community engagement

$ 8,000

Starting a sustainable beauty product line focusing on organic ingredients

$ 8,000

Launch a tech-based mental health support app

$ 7,000

Establishing a community garden and educational programs about urban agriculture

$ 7,000

Developing a sustainable fashion line and e-commerce platform

$ 7,500

Creating a bilingual educational program for immigrant children

Eligibility

The ELLA Express program has specific eligibility criteria for women entrepreneurs who wish to apply.

You must be a woman entrepreneur.
You are about to launch your business or have recently launched it.
Your business must be located in Canada.
You should be open to change and willing to step out of your comfort zone.
You must be able to fully commit to completing the 6 modules in the online course.

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.

Selection criteria

ELLA Express has evaluation and selection criteria to assess applicants' eligibility and commitment to the program. The criteria are outlined as follows:

Applicant is a woman entrepreneur who is about to launch or recently launched a business
Business is located in Canada
Open to change and willing to step out of comfort zone
Can commit fully to completing the 6 modules in the online course

How to apply

Submit Application

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
Visit the application link provided in the ELLA Express program information to apply.
If you have any questions about the registration process, email the provided address: ellawomen@yorku.ca.

Join Course

After your application is accepted, join the virtual course to access core concepts.
Engage in the workshops and modules that cover various business essentials.

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

Apply to this program

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.