Visa Canada Announces Recipients of She's Next Grant Program, Providing Ten Women-Owned Small Businesses with $10,000 Grants and Resources

Visa awarded ten Canadian women entrepreneurs funding through grants,
along with resources and mentorship through IFundWomen to grow and expand their businesses

TORONTO, April 29, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Visa Canada announced the recipients of its inaugural She's Next Grant Program in Canada to boost and empower women entrepreneurship. As an extension of Visa's global She's Next Grant Program, ten Canadian women entrepreneurs received a grant of $10,000 CAD and one-year business coaching through IFundWomen to support, grow and expand their businesses.

COVID-19 has highlighted the need to support Canadian small businesses now more than ever, as most (67 per cent) say that 2020 was a challenge and that their business is still recoveringⁱ. This is especially true for women entrepreneurs, who pre-pandemic, were outpacing men in starting their own businessesⁱⁱ. Now they are taking nearly twice as long compared to their male counterparts to recoverⁱⁱⁱ.

Despite the challenges, women entrepreneurs remain optimistic, while working hard to keep their doors open. Visa's Back to Business Study: 2021 Women's Edition revealed that 60 per cent of women-owned Canadian small businesses took measures to adapt to challenges presented by COVID-19, with 30 per cent offering contactless payments and 12 per cent offering alternative payment solutions, like installments.^iv

"ln a pandemic-challenged world, women-owned small businesses are continuing to prove their resilience, demonstrating fierce optimism about the future of their business," said Stacey Madge, president and country manager, Visa Canada. "Visa is appreciative of their dedication and ongoing contributions to our communities, and proud to be supporting them through our grant program. We would like to congratulate the ten women entrepreneurs selected and look forward to empowering them through these grants and mentorship to keep going and thrive during these uncertain times."

"We continue to be extremely proud of our ongoing collaboration with Visa globally, and all that we have been able to accomplish so far through the She's Next Grant Program," said Karen Cahn, founder and chief executive officer, IFundWomen. "Visa walks the walk and is consistently offering funding and business resources to women-owned businesses around the globe, so partnering with them to launch the inaugural She's Next Grant Program in Canada was a no-brainer."

Additionally, according to another recent Visa survey, 48 per cent of women entrepreneurs indicated a grant would be helpful for near-term survival or growth^v. The She's Next Grant Program recipients span diverse industries from textiles, education and food & beverage, to professional services, beauty and wellness, each offering innovative solutions and products:

• Amoda , Vancouver, BC: Founded by Tegan Woo, Amoda offers organic Japanese matcha, nourishing herbal wellness teas and elevated superfood lattes.
  
  
• CurlShoppe, Toronto, ON: No two curls are the same, and founders Natasha Sheppard and Rowan McAnoy at CurlShoppe strive to offer quality hair products for every curl type or texture.
  
  
• Durand Coffee, Hamilton, ON: Named after the neighbourhood it resides in, owner Christine Larabie's mission is to serve quality coffee in a local community space.
  
  
• Goldilocks Goods, Victoria, BC: Founded by Amy Hall, Goldilocks Goods are an all natural and eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap. Each wrap is handmade using locally sourced beeswax.
  
  
• Long Way Homestead, St. Genevieve, MB: Family-owned with Anna Hunter at the helm, Long Way Homestead offers a variety of fibre and wool options, straight from the family farm and mill.
  
  
• Milksmith Inc, Winnipeg, MB: Skilled artisans led by founder Siuleen Leibl serve up incredibly unique rolled ice cream.
  
  
• She's Newsworthy Media Inc, Brampton, ON: Jennifer Singh is the founder of a PR company that helps Canadian women entrepreneurs get exposure for their businesses on TV.
  
  
• The Local Kitchen, Saskatoon, SK: Founded by Caitlin Olauson, Julie Gryba and Bailey Gervais as a clubhouse for people who love food, The Local Kitchen offers resources and support for those looking to gain a skill or join the industry.
  
  
• The Tare Shop, Halifax, NS: A package-free coffee shop and bulk store founded by Kate Pepler. As the first package-free store in Halifax, they provide alternatives to over-packaged food, household, and personal items.
  
  
• Wink and Wave, Toronto, ON: Founded by Aimee Sloggett, Wink and Wave comes directly to you offering a variety of mobile services including RMT massages, lashes and haircuts.

Since March 2020, through its global She's Next Grant Program, Visa has awarded over a quarter of a million dollars in grants and coaching memberships to women across the globe. In Canada, Visa furthers its commitment by way of its extended Canadian grant program, and with initiatives like the Visa Canada Small Business Hub which has programs and solutions to support small businesses in driving efficiency and sales through the acceptance of digital payments and the expansion of businesses online.

About Visa

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. Our relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit visa.ca, visa.com/blog and @VisaCA.

ⁱ The Visa Back to Business Study: 2021 Women's Edition
ⁱⁱ She's Next Visa Study
ⁱⁱⁱ FreshBooks Study (2020)
^iv The Visa Back to Business Study: 2021 Women's Edition  
^v In January 2021, the Visa Canada Small Business Outlook Spring Survey surveyed 1,010 Canadian business owners and business decision makers from various sectors using the Maru Voice research panel, as part of Maru's quarterly BizPulse study. Fielding took place between Jan 20^th and Jan 29^th, 2021.

SOURCE Visa Canada

Media Contact: Jessica Culp, Visa Canada, [email protected]