Explore the stories, announcements, and milestones shaping our work to activate women’s capital and expand access to angel investing across Canada.
Women’s Equity Lab Launches in Calgary and Makes Its First Investment in Par Olive WEL Calgary Limited Partners gather with the founder of Par Olive at a celebration event in Calgary, Alberta. New Calgary fund activates an ambitious group of women angel investors, backs founder-led wellness brand Par Olive, and opens the door to additional early-stage...
Women’s Equity Lab Launches in Montréal National angel investing network expands to Montréal, inviting Quebec women to back the next generation of high-growth companies MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC, CANADA - June 18, 2026: Women’s Equity Lab (“WEL”) has launched its Montréal investment group (“WEL Montréal”), a women-led angel investing community built by and for women in Quebec. The...
Women’s Equity Lab Manitoba Closes First Fully Subscribed Fund in Chapter History WEL Manitoba Team: Mia Balansag, Lindy Norris, Joelle Foster, Sandra Foster, Priti Mehta-Shah, Trudy Martens, Katie Hall Hursh, and Melanie McCreath All-Women Investor Collective Reaches Full Subscription at 60 Limited Partners for Fund 3, Deploying $300,000 into Early-Stage Canadian Startups WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA –...
BETAKIT
Fifty percent of venture firms surveyed by BDC Capital have no women senior investors. The compensation picture for women in VC may be reaching a tipping point in Canada—at least at the highest levels. For the first time, women’s average salary in senior investment roles was higher than that of men, according to the 2024 Canadian Venture...
NEWS RELEASE
Key leadership hire for WEL to advance equal representation and influence of women in private capital markets November 2024 — The Womenʼs Equity Lab (WEL) is thrilled to announce Ariel Siller as its new Managing Director. Ariel brings a wealth of experience from her role as CEO of the Canadian Childrenʼs Literacy Foundation (CCLF), where she...
NEWS RELEASE
July 2024 — The Women's Equity Lab Atlantic Investment Group (WEL Atlantic) is proud to announce the launch of its 2nd fund to continue its mission to support women-led businesses and build the community of female investors. With an impressive growth in Limited Partners (LPs) WEL Atlantic’s 2nd fund has 50 women investors. WEL Atlantic has...
ISLAND WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
June 13, 2024 - In a groundbreaking move to foster diversity and empower women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Island Women in Science and Technology (iWIST) is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural scholarship program. This initiative, launched this month, is made possible through the generous support of the...
PRIVATE CAPITAL JOURNAL
Women’s Equity Lab Toronto has closed an initial round of fundraising for Fund III. Launched in 2017 as a non-profit organization, Victoria, BC-based Women’s Equity Lab has spun off 16 funds, including 9 in BC (Victoria & Vancouver), 3 in Ontario (Toronto) and 1 each in Manitoba and Atlantic region, and 2 Venture Capital Corporations (VCCs)....
NEWS RELEASE
Empowering Women-Led Social Impact Businesses: Women's Equity Lab (WEL) Partners with BDC's $100M Thrive Lab to Co-Invest Alongside 25 Canadian Partners. Women's Equity Lab (WEL) is excited to be one of the 25 partners collaborating with BDC's $100M Thrive Lab to support women-led social impact businesses. This initiative's first phase will co-invest, alongside partners from across...
NEWS RELEASE
St. John’s, September 14th, 2023 - In just six short months since its inception, the WEL Atlantic angel fund has already made investments in three promising women-led businesses within the Atlantic provinces. Founded with a mission to address the chronic and systemic underrepresentation of women in early stage investing, WEL has created opportunities for both new...
