Spring is officially in full bloom, and here at Women Funding Women, things are moving just as fast as the season. We can’t wait to share some of the big headlines we’ve been making. From major industry recognition to showcasing the impactful events and resources in our community, this is another must-read.
Extra! Extra! We’re in Forbes!
We are thrilled to share that Women Funding Women was recently featured in Forbes. In the wake of our Be Bold Challenge and Investment Impact Snapshot release, our CEO Dr. Sherry Shannon-Vanstone sat down for an interview with writer Melissa Houston. The article explores a critical shift in the financial landscape: while women are set to control nearly 95% of the $54 trillion in assets passed down over the next decade, women-led startups still receive only about 2% of global venture capital.
The feature highlights our core belief that wealth ownership doesn't automatically equal economic power; true influence comes from deciding where that capital goes.
"When women are at the investment table, they have a voice in which companies get built." - Dr. Sherry Shannon-Vanstone
We are excited for our next Osler Legal workshop with our very own Advisory Council member Christine Jackson and her colleague Joanna Fine. This webinar, The 5 Commercial Contract Terms That Can Kill a Startup Before it Scales, takes place on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 @ 1:00-2:00pm EST / 10:00am-11:00am PST. Register now!
Save the date for our next Founders Fireside Chat on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, at 2PM EST. Expect a virtual session featuring a live founder chat, moderated by WFW, where we dive into their story, cap table, growth trajectory, and their funding ask. Followed by your chance to engage in a live Q&A. Stay tuned for registration information.
Below, you will find a curated list of programs, events, and resources for women founders and funders - let's keep the momentum going!
Join us as we continue to Be Bold, together,
Lara, Deborah & Sherry
Co-founders, Women Funding Women
PS: Our mission thrives on collective action. Is there someone in your network who would benefit from the events in this newsletter? Invite them!
WFW x Osler Upcoming Workshop
You're invited to our April webinar: The 5 Commercial Contract Terms That Can Kill a Startup Before it Scales. Generously hosted by our National Founding Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.
When
Wednesday April 22nd, 2026 @ 1:00-2:00pm EST / 10:00am-11:00am PST
Where
Virtual
What to Expect
Christine Jackson, partner, Technology and Retail, and Joanna Fine, partner, Privacy and Data Management, will break down the five clauses every founder should understand before signing anything, including key issues around liability, ownership of data, privacy obligations and commercial flexibility.
Designed specifically for tech or retail founders, this webinar will give you the tools to:
Identify high-risk contract clauses quickly
Understand how privacy obligations flow through commercial agreements
Avoid terms that can limit growth, fundraising or product expansion
Gain essential legal expertise from top-tier experts.
Successful deals require a shared legal vocabulary. These webinar recordings with Osler offer high-level insights for founders building for scale and funders looking for due diligence excellence:
Startup Funding & Term Sheets
From Hiring to Firing: What Every Startup Needs to Know to be Investor Ready
BMO for Women | BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program
Until April 23rd, 2026, Virtual
BMO for Women is looking for established small business owners who can clearly share what they’re building, the impact they’re creating, and how their business will grow with support from the Grant Program. Applicants will be asked to connect their work to two to three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), explain how they measure their impact, and outline how grant funding would help them scale that impact and strengthen their business.
A full day where women founders preparing to raise and investors looking to deploy capital come together in the same room, with one clear purpose: to do the work of closing the funding gap. In partnership with The City of Toronto.
As someone in the Movement51 network, we're pleased to offer you a code M51-COMMUNITY20 for 20% off.
Rawcology Ignites Next Phase of Growth with Strategic Joint Venture, Unlocking National Scale and Global Expansion
News release
Rawcology Inc. announces a game-changing strategic joint venture with AM Ingredients (2021) Inc., a move that dramatically accelerates Rawcology’s manufacturing capabilities, national distribution, and global growth trajectory.
This milestone marks a defining moment for Rawcology as it transitions from a fast-growing Canadian brand into a scaled, innovation-driven leader in the better-for-you breakfast and snack category.
These documents reflect the standards commonly used across the Canadian market and are intended to help founders, investors, and advisors move early-stage deals forward with greater clarity and efficiency.
Toronto Metropolitan University - CILAR | AI Powered Futures
Virtual program
AI Powered Futures is a first-of-its-kind pilot program designed to transform how retail and retail-adjacent workers prepare for the future of work across Canada. By harnessing AI-driven education, employer-recognized microcredentials, and mentorship, the program ensures participants are learning the most relevant, in-demand skills for an AI-driven economy.
Join the Advisory Committee, mentor participants, become a participant or tell organizers another way you’d like to contribute.
Join The51’s Road to the Summit series in Montreal, a gathering that brings together investors, founders, institutional leaders, and ecosystem builders shaping the future of capital and innovation in Canada.
Building on the momentum from our series leading into the XX Summit 2026, this event focuses on how women are moving, structuring, and scaling capital.
Invest Together in Climate Innovation connects early-stage Canadian climate ventures with accredited impact investors for an impact investment prize of $200K. The new format enables you to choose how you want to participate:
Calling all Canadian women tech entrepreneurs! Get access to the training, resources, and network you need to be investment-ready, and pitch for up to $150,000!
BMO for Women is celebrating 10 years of supporting women‑owned businesses, professionals, and investors across Canada. To mark the occasion, BMO for Women will be traveling across the country from May to October 2026, hosting a series of events designed to inspire, connect, and inform. Each session will offer practical insights, valuable networking opportunities, and the chance to learn from women navigating similar business journeys.
The XX Summit is Canada’s largest gathering of women-led capital, bringing together investors, founders, institutional leaders, and ecosystem builders to shape the future of capital, ownership, and innovation. At this one-day flagship event in Calgary, bold conversations, real stories, and catalytic connections drive forward the economic power of women across sectors and stages.
Applications are now open for the Second Annual Power of The Pitch™, where founders pitch their companies in front of investors, media, and industry leaders — including Dragon’s Den Michele Romanow.
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