Visa Grant Program for Women Entrepreneurs

Visa Grant Program for Women Entrepreneurs is sponsored by Visa and YSpace. The Visa Grant Program, delivered with YSpace, is a funding and mentorship program for women entrepreneurs across Canada.

The Visa Grant Program - YSpace Turn your research into a market-ready venture with $10,000 in funding. Apply to the Lab2Market Validate now! → Home » The Visa Grant Program Visa is empowering women entrepreneurs across Canada, offering twenty $10,000 grants and access to an accelerated mentorship program through YSpace, York University.

Winning The Visa Grant Program comes with the incredible opportunity to receive a $10,000 grant from Visa. This financial support can be a significant boost for your business, helping you invest in critical areas such as product development, marketing, or expanding your operations. Our mentorship program offers you personalized guidance through a one-to-one matching system.

You will be paired with an experienced mentor who can provide valuable insights, advice, and support tailored specifically to your business needs. Joining our program opens up a world of networking opportunities. You will have the chance to connect with fellow women entrepreneurs, industry experts, and potential collaborators.

We provide access to a wealth of learning resources that can enhance your entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. Continuous learning is key in today's dynamic business landscape, and our program ensures you have access to the latest insights and best practices. Winners will be notified before our public announcement.

Mentorship Program Starts The mentorship program is designed to accommodate various schedules. While we have set start and end dates, we understand the need for flexibility. We're open to working with different timings to ensure broad participation.

Applications for 2026 are now closed. If you have any questions about the program, email us at ellawomen@yorku. ca Once the selection process is complete, the YSpace ELLA team will personally contact the chosen candidate by mid/end February 2026.

You are a woman entrepreneur with at least 50% ownership of a registered business, non-profit or social enterprise, and you are working full-time on your venture You have a minimum annual revenue of $50,000 Your business is located in Canada You are open to change, looking to step out of your comfort zone and are willing to give back to the community with your own strengths and insight You can commit fully to the requirements of a 4-month mentoring program What if I cannot attend the session?

Please note that attendance at mentorship meetings and Progress Check-ins is mandatory. However, we understand that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances. If you are not able to make a session, please email us at ellawomen@yorku.

ca to let us know. Can anyone attend mentoring programs? Official ELLA programming is designed for the participants and are facilitated in such a way that creates a safe space for the participants who were accepted into the program; therefore, only officially accepted participants can attend ELLA programming.

For any external related events hosted by ELLA and community partners, external guests may attend. What should be included in my short video? In your pitch recording, lasting no more than 3 minutes*, we encourage you to focus on the most compelling aspects of your business to make a strong impression.

It's important to include: What your business does, focusing on what makes it innovative or needed in the market. How your business stands out from competitors and what benefits it offers your target audience. Your vision for the future and the goals you aim to achieve through your venture.

(*Less than 3 minutes is also acceptable.) When can I expect to find out if I have been selected? If you are chosen for our program, you will receive a notification of your selection in mid/end February 2026.

We are committed to a thorough and fair review of all applications, and we appreciate your patience during this process. Why are only businesses with 50%+ ownership and a minimum annual revenue of $50,000 considered? Our criteria are designed to support women entrepreneurs who are deeply invested in their businesses, both in terms of ownership and operational success.

By requiring at least 50% ownership, we ensure that women applicants are the primary decision-makers in Regarding the $50,000 revenue benchmark, it serves as a measure of the business's viability and growth potential.

It indicates that the enterprise has reached a certain level of market validation and is on a path of financial For any questions related to programming elements, resources, or technical components of the program, please email How do I improve my grant application? (Guidance from YSpace Team) 1. Make your pitch powerful and clear.

Highlight the problem your business solves, your unique solution, and why you're the right choice to implement it. 2. Prior to submitting a grant application, carefully check if you meet all the requirements.

Understand the criteria and ensure your business fits them. 3. Ensure to outline how you'll use the grant money in your application.

This detail is crucial for a strong proposal. 4. Visit YSpace's YouTube Channel for advice on improving your pitch and filling out the application.

It offers access to over a hundred workshops, providing invaluable knowledge and practical advice to aid in your application process. Applications for 2026 are now closed. Join our program waitlist to stay updated!

YSpace is committed to working with emerging technology, agrifood, products and services. Get in touch today to find out how you can become a part of our community. For more information, please contact us at