ELLA Incubator

The YSpace ELLA Incubator is a bespoke and flexible membership program supporting Ontario-based women-led ventures to scale and grow. This program was created with generous funding through the York Region Innovation Fund.

With a network of industry experts, entrepreneurs, and advisors, the membership is designed to help founders to navigate the growth journey beyond the launch.

What to expect

Develop and strengthen your knowledge through virtual webinars and educational workshops. Engage with program advisors and industry experts to build strategic direction and drive tactical execution of your company goals. Join a network of like-minded women founders and discuss business challenges in peer-to-peer sessions.

Community

Join driven, collaborative and growth-oriented women entrepreneurs for monthly support and peer advice

Leadership development

Refine resilience and skills in peer circles and advisor check-ins

Growth frameworks

Develop and test growth tactics with expertise from experts and bespoke material as needed

Milestone driven

Establish accountability for tangible milestones to ensure growth

Timeline

Applications open year round

Selected ventures are incubated for six months with an option to renew for up to a maximum of two years

Application process

Step: One

Companies apply online via the application form linked below.

If you have any questions about the application process, email us at ellawomen@yorku.ca

Apply

Step: Two

Selected applicants will be contacted by the YSpace ELLA team to schedule an interview to meet with the leadership team to review the business pitch, goals, current needs, and potential fit with YSpace.

Pitch sessions take place on a monthly rolling basis. You’ll be notified within two weeks after the pitch of your application status.

Step: Three

Once accepted, companies will be offered a six-month free membership, with access to resources and support for growth. This opportunity is created by the Regional Municipality of York's Innovation Fund.

* Please note there is a monthly fee beyond the first six months.

Program eligibility

An Ontario-based women-led business with at least 50% ownership of a registered business, where you are working full-time on the business
Differentiated products that meet a clear need in the market with growth potential. Preference will be given to tech startups
Preference will be given to companies that are based in York Region or that are looking to expand to York Region
Leader(s) has/have a clear view of the business goals for the next 6 months
Driven, coachable and collaborative founders with a growth mindset

Frequently asked

We are looking for full-time founders who are driven, coachable and committed to growing. The ideal company has either launched or is established with a specific focus on market traction and unlocking their roadmap to scale.

The program is sector-agnostic, supporting a wide variety of businesses from product-based and service-based to tech. There is a priority focus on innovative technologies that have market traction.

We do not take any equity in the companies we support; however, please note that there is a monthly fee past the first six months, which helps us continue supporting entrepreneurs.

The program is open to everyone in the community, as long as they are dedicated founders who are willing to put in the time and effort required to grow the venture. There is a priority focus on women founders whose business or residency is in York Region.

The ELLA Incubator is a bespoke, flexible program designed for businesses that need support to tackle specific issues. Typically, the company is in between stages for our other programs, but still needs support to scale the business. The other programs are also more structured, whereas the incubator is more tailored to the individual founder(s) needs.

There are three (3) key components within the program:

Bi-weekly mentorship
Bi-weekly YSpace Advisor check-ins
Access to regular peer sessions for networking and learning opportunities

Three female entrepreneurs in multi-coloured squares.

Apply

Please use the link below to access our application form.

Apply now

OUR PARTNERS AND FUNDERS

The ELLA Incubator program is made possible through funding from the York Region Innovation Fund.

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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