Canadian SMEs majority-owned by women
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Jennifer Cooke,
Corporate Lead Women in Trade
Recently announced as the new Corporate Lead for EDC’s Women in Trade Strategy, Jennifer is focused on helping more women entrepreneurs export to grow their business.
Jennifer Cooke,
Corporate Lead Women in Trade
Announced as the Corporate Lead for EDC’s Women in Trade Strategy, Jennifer is focused on helping more women entrepreneurs export to grow their business.
$250M
EDC’s contribution to the federal government’s three-year plan to help women-owned and led companies grow and scale their business
Number of Canadian women majority-owned exporters
What is the industry telling us?
There are vast opportunities for Canadian women to lead more high-growth businesses with national and global ambitions. With EDC as your trusted partner, we can help you in every facet of your export journey.
What is the industry telling us?
There are vast opportunities for Canadian women to lead more high-growth businesses with national and global ambitions. With EDC as your trusted partner, we can help you in every facet of your export journey.
Canadian women majority-owned SMEs currently exporting
Canadian SMEs with 100+ employees that are women majority-owned
Canadian women’s economic contribution over the next decade if women-owned businesses increased by just 10%
Looking to grow your business? EDC can help.
We provide trade knowledge, financing solutions, insurance and global connections to give you the opportunity to succeed internationally.
Success Stories
Piccola Cucina
Piccola Cucina is a family-owned business run by Pina Romolo and her mother, Anita. The business started out small, with Anita selling homemade biscotti, and grew from there.
Smart Sweets
As a teenager, Tara Bosch learned to cook in her grandmother’s kitchen. But these culinary lessons weren’t the only thing the two shared — both had a sweet tooth, with gummy bears at the top.
Smart Sweets
As a teenager, Tara Bosch learned to cook in her grandmother’s kitchen. But these culinary lessons weren’t the only thing the two shared — both had a sweet tooth, with gummy bears at the top.
Pehr Designs
When best friends Jen Kelly and Becca Perren decided to start a business during their maternity leaves, success came quickly.
DeeBee's Organics Inc.
Mother and PhD Medical Scientist Dr. Dionne Laslo-Baker was in the kitchen with her two children when the idea for DeeBee’s Organics was born.
Recommended articles and webinars
The deeper dive: If you’re a canadian woman, here’s why you need to export
Article April 22, 2019 Women are rocking at starting new businesses, but they’re wary of growing outside of Canada. Here’s why that matters to all of us.
Unleashing the power of women entrepreneurs
Blog April 16, 2019 Today, almost half of all small and medium-sized businesses in Canada are either partially or entirely owned by women.
Women take business beyond borders
Webinar The Canadian government has numerous programs to help women-led businesses expand into global markets, and a new webinar shows you how.
Women going global: Q&A with Jennifer Cooke
Article March 20, 2019 Few Canadian women entrepreneurs are expanding their businesses into international markets.
Dream big, be daring
Blog March 08, 2019 EDC’s Jennifer Cooke embraces new role to help women-led businesses overcome barriers to go global.
Export challenges: Women lack connections, confidence and capital to go global
Blog March 04, 2019 Jennifer Cooke, EDC’s new Corporate Lead for Women in Trade shares three challenges women entrepreneurs face when exporting.
Confidence, courage and calculated risk: Key ingredients to going global
Blog January 14, 2019 Dragon’s Den’s Arlene Dickinson says entrepreneurs need to take risks to be successful.
Bold and the beautiful: Putting on a brave face is paramount to exporting
Blog January 14, 2019 Canadian beauty maven Daniele Henkel shares four lessons she learned on her successful export journey.
If you’re a female business owner, it’s time to jump on the e-commerce business boom
Article November 05, 2018 Only 7% of women-owned businesses are reaping the benefits of exporting.
5 challenges for women exporters and how to overcome them
Blog August 03, 2018 Between 13-16% of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses are women owned, but only 7% export products or services. A Twitter chat reveals how more women can benefit from international sales.
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