Scale-up Virtual Program

Women Innovators Scale-up and Investment Program

For many women founded and/or led companies in Canada, accessing capital and knowledge at the critical earlier stages of growth can be the difference between creating impact at scale, or delaying company growth.

The Women Innovators Scale-up and Investment Program has been created for women innovators who are ready to scale their businesses and are open to an innovative modern way to grow sustainably. These women innovators have raised seed funding and are preparing to raise a Series A round. Raising Series A is highly competitive and requires a different set of skills, knowledge, and expertise. The program is designed to address the challenges facing the transformative phase of growth between seed and Series A funding.

Cost: Sponsored

Application Deadline: 21st June 2024

Program Overview

Through the Women Innovators Scale-up and Investment Program you will be introduced to a system that enables you to create an overarching strategy for sustainably scaling your business via the implementation of appropriate business systems and building your leadership team. You will be introduced and coached through a process of presenting to funds who are matched to the ventures. This time spent on working on your business will increase your confidence, inspire you, and result in an improved chance of success in raising your Series A round.

This virtual seven-month training, coaching, and experiential learning program helps you as a woman founder chart your path to success. You will:

  • Build the capability to scale your business
  • Navigate roadblocks that typically prevent companies from building capacity
  • Learn how to become “investment ready” and relate to investors
  • Access funds that support women innovators

    Who Should Apply

    To apply, you will have already:

    • Completed a seed round of financing
    • Proven your product-market fit
    • Developed an understanding of your business model
    • Identified team leads

    Founder(s) are eligible even if they have already participated in incubator or accelerator programs. The aim is to provide support to founders and leaders who need to develop their operating system and funding knowledge in order to scale efficiently.

    This program is for committed founders who are willing and able to complete the assigned weekly fieldwork.

    What to Expect

    You will learn how to overcome the challenges experienced in the transformative phase of growth between seed and Series A funding.

    The Program provides you with the opportunity to work on your business and invest in yourself and your team. You will also have the opportunity to interact and collaborate with a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

    The Program is comprised of three innovative programs:

    The Scale-up Program provides you with the

        • resources, training, tools, and networking opportunities needed to focus on scaling your business.
        • support you and your leadership team to design, develop, and then implement strategies that will create sustainable growth.

    The Investment Readiness Program provides you with

        • clarity required to develop your business model and financial model, build your team, and prepare for due diligence.
        • preparation for communicating with investors at this level of raising capital as you become “investment ready”.

    Curation of Funds
    a unique program that

        • Identifies investors/funds committed to supporting women founders as they prepare for Series A funding.
        • Matches and introduces qualified ventures to the investors/funds.

    The Scale-up Program
    provides you with the

        • resources, training, tools, and networking opportunities needed to focus on scaling your business.
        • support you and your leadership team to design, develop, and then implement strategies that will create sustainable growth.

    The Investment
    Readiness Program

    provides you with

        • clarity required to develop your business model and financial model, build your team, and prepare for due diligence.
        • preparation for communicating with investors at this level of raising capital as you become “investment ready”.

    Curation of Funds
    a unique program that

        • Identifies investors/funds committed to supporting women founders as they prepare for Series A funding.
        • Matches and introduces qualified ventures to the investors/funds.

    Hear From Our Participants

    What You’ll Gain

    Strategy to Scale
    Your Business

    Investment
    Readiness

    Access
    to Investors

    How to apply

    We are recruiting 11 women innovators leading companies in Canada to participate in this program between September 2024 and March 2025.

    The following are the mandatory requirements for applying

    Submit

    Your pitch deck
    A video about you – download the guide outlining the expected content
    The completed additional information form downloaded from this website
    Application: Closes June 21st 2024
    Selection: July 2024
    Scale-up and Investment Program: September 2024 to February 2025
    Curation of Funds: October to March 2025

    All applications will be assessed by the Selection Committee comprised of Imaginal Ventures and a few of the investors who could potentially be investing in the qualifying ventures.

    Ventures Participating in the Women Innovators Scale-up and Investment Program

    Explore Our Current Programs

    Women Innovators Scale-up and Investment Program.

    Women Innovators Scale-up and Investment Program

    Imaginal Ventures invites Canadian women innovators to take part in this virtual 7-month training, coaching, and experiential learning program to help scale up and meet their venture capital development goals.

    Application Deadline: June 21, 2024

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    Imaginal Ventures has partnered with The Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub and SUMS Capital to launch the seven-month Atlantic Canada Healthcare Solutions Scale-up and Investment Program.

    As a leader of a healthcare solutions venture, you are preparing for the next phase of growth of your business by focusing on commercialization, revenue generation, and growing your team. 

    Application Deadline: July 26, 2024