Resource Guide for Women Entrepreneurs - BDC · Women entrepreneurs can register their business on bdc.ca/supplier, and find all procurement opportunities at BDC regarding goods,

Resource Guide for Women Entrepreneursfor the Quebec region

Updated December 5, 2019

1BDC – Resource Guide for Women Entrepreneurs

Table of contents

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) ............................................................................................................ p. 3-5 Women Entrepreneurs .................................................................................................................................................. p.3

Women in Technology Venture Fund ........................................................................................................................... p.4

Supplier Diversity........................................................................................................................................................... p.5 Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) .......................................................................................................... p.6

Cheffes de file................................................................................................................................................................ p.6

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions ..................................................................................................... p.7 Canadian Intellectual Property Office ............................................................................................................................ p.8

IP awareness and education program........................................................................................................................... p.9 Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal – ACCLR/Info entrepreneurs ......................................................... p.9

City of Montréal ............................................................................................................................................................. p.10

École d’Entrepreneurship de Beauce ............................................................................................................................ p. 11 Ernst & Young (YE).......................................................................................................................................................... p.12

EY Entrepreneurial Winning WomenTM....................................................................................................................... p.12

Export Development Canada (EDC) ............................................................................................................................... p.13 EDC’s Women in Trade Investments Program ......................................................................................................... .p.13

Femmessor................................................................................................................................................................. p.14-23

Conventional loans via the Fonds pour les femmes entrepreneures FQ.................................................................... p.14 Share capital financing for women entrepreneurs ..................................................................................................... p.15

Welcome and referral over the phone........................................................................................................................ p.16

Pre-financing advisory services ................................................................................................................................... p.17 Personalized post-financing support........................................................................................................................... p.18

Femmessor Experts ..................................................................................................................................................... p.19

Femmessor Co-Development Cells (start-ups)............................................................................................................ p.20 Femmessor Co-Development Cells (growing) ............................................................................................................. p.21

Femmessors seminars (men and women) .................................................................................................................. p.22

Visibility and success of women entrepreneurs in Quebec ........................................................................................ p.23 Fondation Montréal Inc. ................................................................................................................................................ p.24

Women’s entrepreneurship ........................................................................................................................................ p.24 Fonds de solidarité FTQ.................................................................................................................................................. p.25

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) ..................................................................................................................................... p.26-28

Trade Commissioner Service (TCS).............................................................................................................................. p.26 Business Women in International Trade (BWIT) ......................................................................................................... p.27

CanExport .................................................................................................................................................................... p.28

Inno-Centre (Corporation Inno-Centre du Québec) ...................................................................................................... p.29 Les Innovantes ............................................................................................................................................................. p.29

Innovation Canada ......................................................................................................................................................... p.30

La Ruche .......................................................................................................................................................................... p.31 Activer les idéateurs d’ici.......................................................................................................................................... p.31

Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec (MEQ) ..................................................................................................... p.32 Montréal International .................................................................................................................................................. p.33 OSEntreprendre .............................................................................................................................................................. p.34

OSEntreprendre Challenge, Business Creation and Successful Business Inc. divisions .............................................. p.34


Table of contents

Public Services and Procurement Canada – Office of Small and Medium Enterprises ...........p.35 How to do business with the government of Canada.............................................................p.35

Réseau des femmes d’affaires du Québec (RFAQ) ............................................................. p.36-45 Support cells ............................................................................................................................p.36 Training, networking and assistance ......................................................................................p.37

ACCROIT (cooperative growth accelerator) and ACCROIT Tremplin ......................................p.38

Identification of women-owned businesses and large corporations .....................................p.39 Webinar – How to get Quebec government contracts ...........................................................p.40

Growing business development office (BDEC)........................................................................p.41 Support for certification as a women-owned business ..........................................................p.42

Due diligence audit..................................................................................................................p.43

Matching of certified women-owned businesses with large corporations ............................p.44 Trade missions in Canada, the U.S., Europe and different countries of the Francophonie....p.45 SADC + CAE ........................................................................................................................... p.46-48

Training, networking and assistance ......................................................................................p.46 Financial products and support ..............................................................................................p.47

Youth Strategy ........................................................................................................................p.48

Sous-traitance industrielle Québec (STIQ) ...............................................................................p.49 WEConnect ........................................................................................................................... p.50-52

Supplier forums and meet the buyer events ..........................................................................p.50

Annual conferences across the globe .....................................................................................p.51 Office hours .............................................................................................................................p.52

WEConnect Academy ..............................................................................................................p.53 Women Initiative Foundation ...................................................................................................p.54

Transatlantic ............................................................................................................................p.54


Contact information

Women entrepreneurs’ needs

Inspiration from other women

entrepreneurs

Access to resources and available support options

Financing

Development of necessary skills

to succeed

Network of contacts, partners and mentors

Growth stage of targeted businesses

Start-ups

Expansion

Reaching new markets

Targeted revenues:

Business DevelopmentBank of Canada (BDC)

Mission

Help make canadian entrepreneurs the most competitive in the world.

Play a leadership role in the ecosystem by supporting the growth and

success of women entrepreneurs by building relationships of trust and

respect with all partners through our leadership, guidance, customized

advice and financial solutions, and workshops throughout Canada.

Objectives

• Improve access to bdc services for women entrepreneurs

• Meet the unique needs of women entrepreneurs by adopting a

personalized approach

• Play a leading role in gender equality in relation to venture capital

• Be a thought leader and catalyzer of canada’s ecosystem of

women entrepreneurs

• Support skills development and financial literacy for women

entrepreneurs to help them access their ecosystem

Women Entrepreneurs

Marie-Chantale Lortie, Regional Manager, Partnerships

514-461-5609 | [email protected]

France Beaulieu, Regional Director, Strategy implementation

514-461-5690 | [email protected]

All revenues

mailto:[email protected]



Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:


Mission

The BDC Capital Women in Technology (WIT) Venture Fund of $200M

is one of the world’s largest venture capital funds dedicated to investing

in women-led technology companies.

The fund invests in women-led technology companies (from seed, to

series A and B financing) that bring together the right people,

technology and resources to transform and disrupt today’s markets. The

fund invests in strong, scalable, revenue generating companies that

want to grow quickly.

Most importantly, each company must be women-led—meaning it has a

female founder, co-founder, CEO or executive driving the direction of

the business. Executives must be in their role for a minimum of one

year.

bdc.ca/capital

Women in Technology Venture Fund

All revenues


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Supplier Diversity


bdc.ca/fournisseur

Mission

Diversity makes good business sense

As the only bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs, BDC has an

important role to play in promoting diversity and helping build world-

class businesses.

As such, BDC is committed to expanding the presence of diverse

suppliers in its procurement process.

Women entrepreneurs can register their business on bdc.ca/supplier,

and find all procurement opportunities at BDC regarding goods,

services and construction projects.

All revenues


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)

Cheffes de file

cdpq.com

Mission and objectives

The CDPQ launched a unique initiative with the goal of accelerating

growth among women-owned companies. Cheffes de file brings

together, by invitation, women entrepreneurs from across quebec with a

track record of achievement and leadership who are running solid

companies with a promising future.

Cheffes de file is a community of women entrepreneurs to which the

CDPQ provides value-add resources and information to hone their

strategic and operational thinking.

$5M to $25M


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:For more information, please contact the CED business office in your area. You

will find their contact information at the following link:

https://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/fra/contact/bureaux/index.html

Mission

Promote the long-term economic development of the regions of Quebec by giving special attention to those where slow economic growth is prevalent.

Objective

CED offers guidance to Quebec businesses and regions toward the

economy of tomorrow. CED focuses its interventions on SMEs and

economic NPOs by building on innovation and inclusive growth, notably

women entrepreneurs.

CED targets projects with significant economic spin-offs, by supporting

SME investments for growth, productivity (adoption or adaptation of

advanced technologies) and international commercialization, or by

acting as a facilitator to bring together the right partners for a project.

Selection criteriaBeing a Quebec SME in manufacturing or high-added value services

Canada EconomicDevelopment for Quebec Regions

Not specified

https://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/fra/contact/bureaux/index.html


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

IP awareness and education program

Canadian IntellectualProperty Office

Xavier Genest

438-340-2218

[email protected]

www.ic.gc.ca

Objective

Our aim is to ensure that IP is better understood by Canadians and is

more strategically used as an integral part of innovation and business

success. CIPO is committed to increasing IP awareness by delivering

tailored and responsive products, services and training in collaboration

with our partners and networks across Canada and around the world.

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal – ACCLR / Info entrepreneurs

Cindy Desmarais

Head, Business Information

514-496-4636

[email protected]

acclr.ccmm.ca

Mission

Provide free, timely information to businesses about federal, provincial

and municipal government programs, services and regulations as well

as private-sector programs and competitions via the web, email and

telephone, and in person, in 12 languages.

Strategic information centre: statistics and trends, company profiles,

sector studies, etc.

Selection criteria

Pre-diagnosis of business needs for a more effective referral.

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

City of Montreal

Mission

Optimize the potential of women entrepreneurs through the Action Plan

for Entrepreneurship, which is implementing actions to specifically meet

the needs of women entrepreneurs.

The many areas of action include support, coaching, skills development

and awareness-raising among young women about the technology and

digital industries.

Diane Duhamel

514-872-9944

[email protected]

ville.montreal.qc.ca

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

École d’Entrepreneurship de Beauce

Isabelle Leber

Executive Director

418-228-5558

[email protected]

www.eebeauce.com/

Mission

Create a mythical institution, a space bringing all factors together to

promote mutual exchange and support among entrepreneurs with the

goal of driving the prosperity of Quebec as a whole.

Selection criteria

No distinction between female and male entrepreneurs. All candidates

are eligible.

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Entrepreneurial Winning WomenTM

Ernst & Young (EY)

Objectifs

Help women entrepreneurs achieve their potential through a personalized leadership program. Specifically:

• Grow their knowledge of business strategy and practices• Identify possibilities for partnerships, strategic alliances, clients and

suppliers as well as potential private capital sources• Benefit from access to advice and support• Build leadership skills and identify growth opportunities • Gain greater national and regional visibility

Selection criteria

• Be the founder and CEO of a private company in Canada or the United States (with at least a 51% interest)

• Have founded the company within the last 10 years• Have declared company sales of at least $2 million a year for the

last two financial years (candidate companies generally report annual revenue of between $2 million and around $30 million)

Martine Quintal

514-874-4613

[email protected]

www.ey.com

$2M to $30M


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

EDC’s Women in Trade Investments Program

Export Development Canada (EDC)

1-888-220-0047

[email protected]

www.EDC.ca/femmes-en-commerce

MissionDedicated to helping Canadian companies of all sizes succeed on the

world stage. As international risk experts, we equip Canadian

companies with the tools they need – the trade knowledge, financing

solutions, equity, insurance, and connections – to take on the world

with confidence.

Objectives• Educate and provide knowledge to women entrepreneurs regarding

export planning, financial risks and mitigation tools, and market

strategies to help build skills and confidence to enter new markets

• Offer awareness of export opportunities and provide business

connections

• Increase access to EDC’s financial tools for women-owned and

women-led businesses for exporting and international expansion

including loan guarantees and credit insurance

• Personalized approach to providing advice, insights, long-term

relationship, and added value

• Inspire and build a trade culture in Canada to ultimately have more

Canadian women-owned and women-led companies exporting and

growing in global markets

$100,000 and over


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Conventional loans via the Fonds pour les femmes

entrepreneures FQ

Femmessor

Mission

To contribute directly to the creation, growth and acquisition of

businesses managed and held solely or in part by women, in the 17

regions of Quebec.

To provide financing, coupled with guidance adapted to women

entrepreneurs' specific needs, enabling them to build sustainable and

prosperous businesses.

Objective

To foster the creation, growth and acquisition of businesses managed

and held solely or in part by women.

Selection criteria

Women holding at least 25% of the business's shares (votes) and

occupying a strategic position.

Stéphanie Dumont

1-844-523-7767, ext. 210

[email protected]

femmessor.com

$200,000 to $1M


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Share capital financing for women entrepreneurs

Femmessor

Objective

Promote the growth of women-owned businesses through share capital

investments.

Selection criteria

Growing businesses (those recording three years of profit). Women

holding at least 25% of the business's shares (votes) and occupying a

strategic position.

Myriam Paquin

1-844-523-7767, ext. 201

[email protected]

femmessor.com

Over $1M


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Welcome and referral over the phone

Femmessor

Objective

Offer a personal and warm welcome to all of Quebec's women

entrepreneurs and guide them to the right resources

Selection criteria

Being a woman entrepreneur or a woman wanting to start a business.

Zineb Aharbil

1-844-523-7767

[email protected]

femmessor.com

$0 to $50,000


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Pre-financing advisory services

Femmessor

Objective

Offer guidance to women entrepreneurs who want to receive financing

Selection criteria

Women holding at least 25% of the business's shares (votes),

occupying a strategic position, and hoping to get financing through a

loan or share capital.

France Déry

1-844-523-7767

[email protected]

femmessor.com

$0 to $50,000


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Personalized post-financing support

Femmessor

Geneviève Lessard

1-844-523-7767

[email protected]

femmessor.com

Objectives

• Offer personalized guidance based on the needs of women

entrepreneurs receiving financing from the Fonds FQ or in share

capital.

• Help women develop their full potential and maximize their business

success.

Selection criteria

Women-owned businesses having received financing through the

Fonds pour les femmes entrepreneurs FQ or in share capital, thanks to

our partner Desjardins Capital

$50,000 to $200,000


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Femmessor Experts

Femmessor

Objective

Offer women entrepreneurs (or those thinking of starting a business)

across Quebec a source of inspiration and motivation to dare to take

action, and to offer them concrete tools.

Selection criteria

Any business financed through Femmessor.

Geneviève Lessard

1-844-523-7767

[email protected]

femmessor.com

$50,000 to $200,000


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Femmessor Co-Development Cells (start-ups)

Femmessor

Objective

Promote women entrepreneurs’ development through a cell made up of

peer entrepreneurs and through the power of co-development.

Selection criteria

Women in business for at most three years, holding at least 25% of the

business' shares (votes) and occupying a strategic position.

Geneviève Lessard

1-844-523-7767

[email protected]

femmessor.com

$50,000 to $200,000


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Femmessor

Geneviève Lessard

1-844-523-7767

[email protected]

femmessor.com

Objective

Promote the growing entrepreneur's development through the power of

co-development.

Selection criteria

Women entrepreneurs managing a growing business (often in its initial

growth phases).

Femmessor Co-Development Cells (growing)

$200,000 to $1M


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Femmessor seminars (men and women)

Femmessor

Objective

Offer entrepreneurs (or those thinking of starting a business) across

Quebec a source of inspiration and motivation to dare to take action,

and to offer them concrete tools.

Selection criteria

Men and women entrepreneurs wanting to start a business.

Véronique Dargis

1-844-523-7767

[email protected]

femmessor.com

$0 to $50,000


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Visibility and success of women entrepreneurs in Quebec

Femmessor

Véronique Dargis

1-844-523-7767

[email protected]

femmessor.com

Objective

Promote women entrepreneurs from Quebec, and feature inspiring

models.

Selection criteria

Inspiring women entrepreneurs, recognized for their business

success(es).

Over $1M


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Women’s entrepreneurship

Fondation Montréal Inc.

Mission

Promote the success of ambitious young entrepreneurs from Montreal

who have an innovative start-up project. Bursaries (up to $30,000),

workshops and coaching are offered by 450 experienced business men

and women who volunteer to help. New program in 2019: one-day

Boost camp.

Objectives

• Increase the number of women who move from an idea/intention to

action

• Increase the number of women who submit bursary applications

Selection criteria

• From 18 to 35 years old

• Having an innovative project

• Not having made sales / recurring sales for over a year

• Being ready to initiate sales within the next 12 months

• Show that the project has the potential to create jobs

• Live in the Greater Montreal area (head office on the Island of

Montreal or the South Shore)

514-872-8401

[email protected]

www.montrealinc.ca $0 to $50,000


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Mission

Created in 1983, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ is a development capital

fund that calls upon the solidarity and savings of Quebecers to help

fulfill its mission to contribute to Québec's economic growth by creating,

maintaining or protecting jobs through investments in small and

medium-sized businesses in all spheres of activity. The Fonds also

seeks to encourage Quebecers to save for retirement and to offer its

over half a million shareholders-savers a reasonable return over and

above the outstanding tax benefits they receive by purchasing Fonds

shares.

Financing

The Fonds de solidarité FTQ offers businesses custom financing that

complements traditional sources. Two types of loans are available:

Equity loan

• Investment horizon of 5 to 10 years

Insecured loan

• No collateral required

• Competitive risk-base interest rate

• Custom terms

www.fondsftq.com/Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Objective

For more than 120 years, the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) has

been helping Canadian companies break into international markets.

Canadian trade commissioners are located in more than 160 cities in

Canada and worldwide, and can help with international business

expansion by providing key business insights and access to an

unbeatable network of international contacts.

Selection criteria

Businesses must fit the TCS’s definition of a client, including the ability

to export immediately.

Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)

[email protected]

Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

All revenues


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Business Women in International Trade (BWIT)

[email protected]

Objective

The BWIT program seeks to open international markets to Canadian

women-owned companies. It offers targeted products and services to

help women entrepreneurs go global with their businesses.

Selection criteria

Businesses must fit the TCS’s definition of a client, including the ability

to export immediately.


All revenues


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

CanExport

Objective

CanExport provides direct financial assistance to small and medium-

sized businesses (SMEs) registered in Canada to help them develop

new export opportunities and markets, especially high-growth

emerging markets.

Eligible activities

To be eligible, activities must aim to promote international business

development and must go beyond the applicant’s core activities,

represent new initiatives and provide an opportunity to yield

incremental results. For illustrative purposes, these activities could

include:

• Business travel

• Participation at trade fairs

• Market research

• Adapting marketing tools for a new market

• Legal fees associated with a distribution/representation agreement

[email protected]


All revenues


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Les Innovantes

Inno-Centre(Corporation Inno-Centre du Québec)

Mission

Offer consulting services to SMEs that must meet the challenge of

expanding their companies.

Objectives

• Help women entrepreneurs perfect their skills

• Help them with consulting resources

• Help them develop within the business

• Help their business attain its optimal development

Selection criteria

• Businesses with more than $2M in sales

• Women shareholders holding a managerial position

• Businesses having to meet a growth challenge

• Referral from a venture capital investor, a government agency for

the economy, a city or region's economic development service, or

from Femmessor

Pierre Nelis

Chief Operating Officer

514-987-9550 / 1-877-987-9550

[email protected]

inno-centre.com

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Innovation Canada

Mission

From funding to expert advice to driving new collaborations, the

Government of Canada’s flagship programs and services are designed

to help businesses innovate, create jobs and grow Canada’s economy.

The innovation.canada.ca digital platform brings it all together in one

place. It's the place to go to get a tailored list of everything that

government can do for your business.

www.innovation.canada.caNot specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Activer les idéateurs d’ici

La Ruche

Sophie Reis

Executive director, innovation, La Ruche

Co-founder, La Ruche Grand Montréal

[email protected]

Mission

La Ruche is a non-profit organization specialized in crowdfunding. Its

mission is to encourage the emergence of projects that stimulate the

influence and vitality of a given region. Through its proximity

crowdfunding platform and its partners, La Ruche actively contributes to

the development of new projects in the province of Quebec.

• Program 1 : Crowdfunding coaching

• Program 2 : Access to additional financing (bursaries, loans and

grants) through partners

Not specified



Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec (MEQ)

Ana Meija

Director, Manufacturing Projects

514-866-7774, ext. 119

[email protected]

cme-mec.ca

Mission

Support manufacturers facing labour, innovation and export issues, as

well as represent members before provincial and federal governments

to create a business environment that will allow manufacturers to

compete at home and abroad.

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Montréal International

Mission

Attract entrepreneurs to Greater Montreal.

Cédric Tawil

514-987-9393

[email protected]

www.montrealinternational.com

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

OSEntreprendre Challenge, Business Creation

and Successful Business Inc. divisions

OSEntreprendre

Éric Darveau

581-307-2917

[email protected]

osentreprendre.quebec

Objective

The OSEntreprendre Challenge is deployed in all regions of Québec

to turn the spotlight on projects in their communities.

Business Creation Division

The Business Creation division of the OSEntreprendre Challenge offers

new entrepreneurs, during the launch year of their business, an

opportunity to have their project vetted, to receive bursaries, to grow

their network and to share their passion (50 % of participants are

women).

Successful Business Inc.

The Successful Business Inc. division promotes businesses that have

already taken part in the OSEntreprendre Challenge, that are still in

business after five years, and whose track record boasts five

ingredients of success: achievements, values, finances, outlook and

teamwork. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to take stock and

foster the spirit of entrepreneurship by sharing their journey.

$0 to $50,000


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Public Services andProcurement Canada -Office of Small and Medium Entreprises How to do business with the government of Canada

Program overview

Strives to provide information to women entrepreneurs to assist them in

identifying relevant opportunities to do business with the government.

Objective

Provide women entrepreneurs access to government tenders.

Selection criteria

Women entrepreneurs with potential to bid on and fulfill public

contracts.

The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises – Region of Quebec

[email protected]

514-210-5770

https://buyandsell.gc.ca/support-smaller-businesses

Not specified


https://achatsetventes.gc.ca/soutien-entreprises-plus-petites


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Support cells

Réseau des femmes d’affaires du Québec (RFAQ)

Vivianne Beauséjour

Coordinator, Support Cells

514-521-5119, ext. 112

[email protected]

www.rfaq.ca

Objectives

Encourage sharing expertise and professional experiences. Encourage enriching conversations between businesswomen in various fields.

• Develop strong connections (informal and private meetings)

• Share winning strategies

• Receive personalized advice

• Exchange unique expertise in a completely confidential setting

• Break out of isolation and discover the benefits of having a business

network in terms of visibility and career path

• Benefit from many different perspectives

• Develop self-confidence

• Practice teamwork

• Test leadership skills

• Speak and share in a safe and confidential environment

• Create connections to reach goals faster

• Be part of a fast-growing group of businesswomen ready to help

each other

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Training, networking and assistance


www.rfaq.ca

Program summary

Several dynamic monthly activities organized across 13 regions in

Quebec, in addition to the Réseau des jeunes femmes d’affaires du

Québec, allowing businesswomen and women in leadership roles to

reach their career and professional development goals.

Examples of training and activities include: breakfasts, lunchtime

conferences, training cocktails, round tables, business speed-dating,

days outdoors, contests, the Prix femmes d’affaires du Québec gala,

conferences, VIP receptions, etc.

Objective

Create connections, network, create partnerships and alliances, and do

business with other women.

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

ACCROIT (cooperative growth accelerators) and

ACCROIT Tremplin


Objective

Accelerate the growth of businesses owned by women and help them

meet the challenges from that growth.

Lise BlondinProvincial Coordinator514-521-5119, ext. [email protected]

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Identification of women-owned businesses and large corporations


Objectives

The RFAQ and its economic partners in Quebec identify growing

women-owned businesses (WOBs) that would benefit from meeting

with large organizations likely to select them as suppliers.

The RFAQ identifies large organizations that are interested in choosing

WOBs as suppliers or that are in the process of implementing a supplier

diversity policy.


Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Webinar – How to get Quebec government contracts



Objectives

As part of its strategic plan, the Government of Quebec, in partnership with the RFAQ, held an information session to inform participants of the countless opportunities small and medium-sized enterprises can enjoy by doing business with the Government of Quebec, followed by a series of five interactive coffee meetings and practical exercises.

• Allow SMEs to become suppliers for the provincial government,

thereby allowing as many entrepreneurs as possible to benefit from

this opportunity

• Raise awareness of the different government opportunities

• Understand the Government of Quebec's procurement and purchase

process : public and limited tenders

• Understand how to remain up-to-date with government needs—big

and small—for products and services

• Understand how to prepare to make bids and to find them on the

sites

• Tips and tricks to take advantage of government business

opportunities

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Growing business development office (BDEC)


Objectives

The project allows the RFAQ to effectively help businesses majority-owned by women to take advantage of opportunities provided by supplier diversity programs.

With this strategic tool, growing businesses supported by this program will be able to create new business opportunities, particularly with large corporations in local, regional and international markets.

• Accelerate the business's growth by getting the support needed to do so

• More effectively help majority women-owned businesses take advantage of the business opportunities provided by supplier diversity programs

Diane Diotte

Coordinator for the Growing Business Development Office514-521-5119, ext. 123 / 1-800-332-2683

[email protected]

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Support for certification as a woman-owned business



Objectives

The RFAQ has a mandate to help women-owned businesses (WOBs)

increase their development potential so that they can ultimately do

business with large Canadian or international organizations.

• Access to large corporations

• Support to properly understand the criteria and issues

• Access a new business development network

• Build a new network of women entrepreneurs with the same goals

• Access the necessary resources for successful business

development

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Due diligence audit


Objectives

• Allow Quebec SMEs to become certified so that they can make bids

to large corporations with supplier diversity programs

• Inform WOBs of the certification criteria

• Accelerate the process by being the bridge between WEConnect

and the assessors

• Schedule appointments between assessors and WOBs

Main benefits: Access to large corporations and the opportunity to bid

on contracts via a portal dedicated exclusively to diverse suppliers

Lise Blondin

Provincial Coordinator514-521-5119, ext. [email protected]

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Matching of certified women-owned businesses

with large corporations


Lise Blondin


Mission

Help Quebec SMEs bid on large-corporation contracts and ultimately

win them.

The success of the Développement économique féminin (DEF) program

is due in large part to this matching between large corporations and

certified businesses.

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Trade missions in Canada, the U.S., Europe and

different countries of the Francophonie


Lise Blondin


Objectives

Prepare, inform and support women entrepreneurs to meet large

corporations during trade missions so they can make contacts and

become suppliers.

• Meet with large corporations’ representatives and present

products/services to them

• Know the criteria for becoming a supplier to large corporations

• Integrate large, international supply chains

• Meet women business leaders to network and create business

partnerships

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Training, networking and assistance

SADC + CAE

Mission

The Réseau des SADC et CAE is a network of 66 organizations taking

an active role in the economic development of their communities by

stimulating engagement and coordination, initiating and supporting

collective projects, and providing entrepreneurs with coaching and

financing adapted to their needs.

SADC et CAE are found in all territories outside of major urban centres.

All SADC et CAE develop their own products and services, but they all

offer certain of the same services, such as custom training and

entrepreneur networking. They also provide flexible financing and

personalized coaching tailored to a business’ needs.

Paul Gauthier

Executive Director

418-658-1530

[email protected]

All revenues


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Financial products and support

SADC + CAE

Annie Pomerleau

Program Director

418-658-1530

[email protected]

Diversified financial products

Businesses can access a selection of financial products through SADC

et CAE, from loans with preferential terms to short-term financing and

non-repayable contributions.

Support for small businesses

SADC et CAE give women entrepreneurs access to specialized

expertise in a range of fields, such as technology integration,

innovation, sustainable development, marketing, and business transfer

and acquisition, by defraying the cost of consultation fees.

All revenues


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Youth Strategy

SADC + CAE

Mission

This program targets young people ages 18 to 39 who want to start or

grow their own business.

• Personal unsecured loan

• Two-year interest moratorium

• Personalized coaching

• Adapted training

Criteria

Being a business owner with decision-making power. You are not

required to be the majority owner.

Annie Pomerleau

Program Director

418-658-1530

[email protected]

All revenues


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Sous-traitance industrielle Québec (STIQ)

Mission

A multi-industry association of Quebec-based businesses whose

mission is to improve the competitiveness of manufacturing supply

chains in order to promote the development of the Quebec economy.

Services1. B2B Matching – events, business opportunities, tours, conferences,

etc.

2. Manufacturing supply chain diagnostics

3. Manufacturer-specific development program

514 875-8789

www.stiq.comNot specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Supplier forums and meet the buyer events

Objectives

These events between corporate buyers and women business owners

(WBOs) may include matchmaking for certified businesses, pitching,

workshops and panels to develop entrepreneurial skills.

Criteria

WEConnect International identifies, educates, registers and certifies

business based outside of the U.S. that are at least 51% woman-

owned, as well as managed and controlled by one or more women.

647 453-5483

weconnectinternational.org

WEConnect

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Annual conferences across the globe

Objectives

WEConnect International hosts conferences in its major markets for

women business owners and business networks, government officials,

corporate buyers, industry leaders and investors to participate in

industry-focused business education, focused networking and corporate

to women-owned business matching.

Criteria




647 453-5483


WEConnect

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Office Hours

Objectives

Office Hours is a mentorship program matching women business

owners with corporate representatives to receive feedback, strategic

advice and information regarding their chosen industry.

Selection criteria




647 453-5483


WEConnect

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

WEConnect Academy

Objectives

WEConnect Academy provides online training and additional resources

and information to help WEConnect's global network of women

business owners achieve their growth objectives, become business-

ready to close deals with multinational corporations, learn from experts

and fellow WBEs about the dos and don'ts of managing a company,

discover innovative tools and strategies, build a network of support, and

more.

Criteria




647 453-5483


WEConnect

Not specified


Contact information



entrepreneurs


Financing


to succeed



Start-ups

Expansion


Targeted revenues:

Transatlantic

Women Initiative Foundation

Mission

Promote women in the world of business and the economy in general.

WIF aims to promote women at all levels of business and shatter the

glass ceiling they face, in terms of salary and career.

• Various events

• Training (Stanford)

• Access to women leaders to help them grow their business

• Canadian women have access to French mentors

Selection criteria

• Minimum $1M in sales

• Minimum of 3 years in business

Anne-Marie Hubert / [email protected]

Christiane Bergevin / [email protected] $1M

Documents

Resource Guide for Women Entrepreneurs - BDC · Women entrepreneurs can register their business on bdc.ca/supplier, and find all procurement opportunities at BDC regarding goods,