The Visa She's Next Grant Program

Visa She’s Next Grant Program

Visa is empowering women entrepreneurs across Canada, offering ten $10,000 grants and access to an accelerated mentorship program through YSpace, York University.

Join Waitlist

Past Winners

Rules & Regulations

What to expect

Grant Opportunity

Winning The Visa She’s Next 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.

Mentorship Program

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.

Networking

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.

Learning Resources

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.

Timeline

Applications Open

June 3, 2024

Applications Close

June 17, 2024

Winner Announcement

End July – Early Aug, 2024

Winners will be notified before our public announcement.

Mentorship Program Starts

Mid October, 2024

Mentorship Program Ends

Late February, 2025

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.

Application process

Step: One

Applicants must submit an application form and a short video with details about their business. If you have any questions about the registration process, email us at ellawomen@yorku.ca

Join Waitlist

Step: Two

Candidates finalized.

Once the selection process is complete, the YSpace ELLA team will personally contact the chosen candidate by mid-end July 2024.

Program eligibility

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

Frequently asked

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.

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.

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.)

If you are chosen for our program, you will
receive a notification of your selection in early
March 2024. We are committed to a thorough
and fair review of all applications, and we
appreciate your patience during this process.

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
their ventures.
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
sustainability.
For any questions related to programming
elements, resources, or technical
components of the program, please email
ellawomen@yorku.ca.

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.

5. Follow YSpace to continue your growth and expand your vision. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates and opportunities!

Apply

Apply now to receive the tools you need to succeed.

Join Waitlist

OUR PARTNERS AND FUNDERS

Newsletter signup

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.

Contact us

For more information, please contact us at
yspace@yorku.ca
416-736-2100 ext. 44940