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Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Canada
Loans for women entrepreneurs
Loans and Capital investments
Overview
Receive a microloan of up to $50,000 to start or grow your business if you are a woman entrepreneur, particularly if you are a start-up, from an underrepresented group or a sole proprietorship.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Integrate new technologies
- Develop a new product
- Develop an online presence
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
Timeline
- Open Date : June 28, 2022
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Startups
- Women
Activities funded
- Starting or growing a business led by a woman entrepreneur.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 50,000
Establishing a local farm-to-table restaurant
$ 50,000
Launching an eco-friendly clothing brand
$ 50,000
Launching an online platform for Indigenous art
$ 50,000
Creating a tech startup focusing on AI solutions for small businesses
$ 50,000
Starting a mobile hair salon for low-income women
$ 50,000
Opening a new bakery specializing in gluten-free products
Eligibility
- The application must be submitted by a female entrepreneur.
- The loan specifically targets start-up businesses or sole proprietorships for which access to credit is more difficult.
- The application must be submitted to one of the selected funding organizations (for example: Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada, NACCA, Nventure, Coralus, Evol).
Who is eligible?
- Women-led businesses or female sole proprietorships.
- Start-up businesses founded by women.
- Businesses owned by women entrepreneurs facing difficulties in accessing credit.
- Indigenous women-owned businesses (through partner Indigenous financial institutions).
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
How to apply
1
Identify Appropriate Organization
- Visit the websites of the selected delivery organizations: WEOC, NACCA, Northumberland, Coralus, and Evol.
- Determine which organization best suits the needs of your business based on their specific focus and regional service providers.
2
Review Eligibility and Application Requirements
- Check the specific eligibility criteria and application requirements of the chosen delivery organization.
- Review any provincial or territorial service provider specifics if applicable to your location.
3
Prepare Application Documents
- Compile necessary documents such as business plans, financial statements, and personal identification.
- If applicable, prepare a statement on how the loan will be used to start or grow your business.
4
Complete the Application
- Fill out the application form provided by the chosen delivery organization on their website.
- Ensure all information is accurately provided and that the form is fully completed.
5
Submit Your Application
- Submit the application electronically through the delivery organization’s portal or follow their specified submission method.
- Apply within specified deadlines as applicable to ensure consideration.
6
Confirmation and Follow-up
- Receive confirmation of application submission, which may vary by organization.
- Monitor email or contact from the organization for any follow-up action required.
Additional information
- Coralus does not operate a continuous intake for loan applications.
- NACCA acts as an umbrella organization for Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) across Canada serving Indigenous entrepreneurs.
- Each selected delivery organization may have differing application processes and requirements; details can be found on their respective websites.
- The program is part of the broader Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) initiated by the Government of Canada.
