StrikeUP Canada Expands Into Free Year-Round Digital Platform for Women Entrepreneurs
StrikeUP Canada is entering a new chapter, expanding from its flagship annual digital conference format into a free year-round digital event and resource platform for women entrepreneurs across Canada.
Founded by Nventure with strategic funding from the Government of Canada, StrikeUP was created to make entrepreneurship support more accessible to women business owners regardless of where they live, what stage they are at, or how easily they can travel to attend in-person programming. Since its launch, StrikeUP has brought together thousands of women entrepreneurs, speakers, partners and business support organizations from across the country for learning, connection and practical business support.
That foundation remains the same. What is changing is how often women entrepreneurs can access it.
As business owners continue to navigate shifting markets, rising costs, new technology and the realities of building with limited time and resources, StrikeUP is evolving to provide dynamic support beyond a single annual event. The new platform will offer more ways for women entrepreneurs to access practical learning, resources, connection and funding opportunities throughout the year, all online and completely free.
“StrikeUP has always been rooted in the concept of democratic access in the spirit of International Women’s Day (IWD) month,” said Heather Cannings, StrikeUP Lead. “The digital format has allowed us to reach women entrepreneurs across Canada, including those who may not have the time, budget or ability to travel for in-person programming. This next chapter builds on StrikeUP’s six-year legacy by making support available more often, in more formats and around the real needs of women building businesses today.”
The new StrikeUP experience brings together four pillars of support: the Signature Series, presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative®, the Connects Series, the Business Vault and the DELIA Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, with the support of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED Canada).
Rather than centring on one annual conference, StrikeUP will now deliver free digital programming throughout the year. The Signature Series will offer mini-conferences built around key themes in the entrepreneurial journey, with expert speakers, founder conversations and opportunities to connect with other women entrepreneurs. StrikeUP Connects will continue to offer focused webinars throughout the year on timely topics such as: business growth, funding, digital adoption, export readiness, and success in marketing and operations. The Business Vault, coming soon, will offer free tools, templates and resources that women entrepreneurs can access when they need them.
The DELIA Loan Fund will also become part of the StrikeUP experience, connecting eligible women-owned businesses across Canada with financing and support to help them take their next step. Through DELIA, eligible women entrepreneurs may qualify for a microloan of up to $50,000, with flexible repayment terms designed to reduce barriers to accessing capital.
In addition, DELIA’s Access to Innovation Capital for Accelerators (ATICA) initiative offers specialized term sheets to women-owned innovation-driven ventures pre-qualified by leading national accelerators under strategic Memoranda of Understanding, including new partners in 2026: Innovation Factory (Femtech Canada), RXN HUB, the Small-Scale Food Processors Association (SSFPA), University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (UTE) and York University YSpace (ELLA) who are joining founding ATICA pilot partners, Boundless Accelerator and Bioenterprise Canada.
For Wendy Curtis, CEO of Nventure, the new chapter is about strengthening StrikeUP’s role in Canada’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem. “Our goal is to make StrikeUP an indispensable resource for women entrepreneurs,” said Curtis. “By bringing events, opportunities, connections and access to funding support into one free digital platform, we are creating a place women business owners can come back to throughout the year as their business needs change and as market conditions rapidly evolve.”
The announcement includes the launch of StrikeUP’s new website, which is designed to make it easier for women entrepreneurs to find upcoming events, learn about DELIA, access new resources and stay connected to programming throughout the year.
Registration is also open for the first event in the new StrikeUP Signature Series. “Make Your Mark” with Vivian Kaye as keynote is taking place September 24, 2026, and will focus on marketing, brand storytelling, visibility and relationship-led growth. Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and small business owners, the event will offer practical insights and connections for women entrepreneurs looking to strengthen their brand and build more vivid business relationships.
While StrikeUP is evolving, the purpose behind it remains the same: to make high-quality entrepreneurship support easier to access for women across Canada, without cost, travel or location becoming barriers to growth.
This next chapter builds on the foundation of today’s national StrikeUP community and the continued creative force of women entrepreneurs, partners and ecosystem who have guided this evolution.
With the new website now live at strikeup.ca, StrikeUP invites women entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners to explore upcoming events, new resources and opportunities coming down the pipeline throughout the year.
About StrikeUP Canada
Founded by Nventure with strategic funding from the Government of Canada, StrikeUP Canada is a free year-round digital event and resource hub for women entrepreneurs across Canada. Since its launch, StrikeUP has engaged more than 25,000 women entrepreneurs, with support from more than 109 ecosystem partners and a 98% positive rating from its national community. StrikeUP supports inclusive economic growth through entrepreneurship by delivering accessible programming, practical resources, community connection and funding pathways for women entrepreneurs at every stage of business. Its current programming includes the StrikeUP Signature Series, StrikeUP Connects Series, Business Vault and DELIA Loan Fund.
About Nventure
Nventure is an innovation-oriented organization based at Venture13 Innovation Centre, focused on delivering financing and strategy services for entrepreneurs. Nventure drives economic advancement by investing in industry-led growth in Northumberland, southern Ontario and across the country. Its current initiatives include the Community Futures Program, DELIA lending, StrikeUP Canada, Vfactory and the V13 Policetech Accelerator, a joint initiative with the Cobourg Police Service that advances innovation in policing. These programs are supported by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and the Province of Ontario through the Skills Development Fund and the Rural Economic Development Program.
