ELLA Express
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.
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.
At a glance
Funding available
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop an online presence
- Varies by project
Eligible candidates
- All industries
- Ontario
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
- All revenue ranges
- All organization sizes
- Women
Next Steps
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.
Official resources
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.
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
Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
- Step 1: 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.
- Step 2: 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.