What is Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES)?
Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) is delivered by ISED as a grant + support. Funding is typically varies by stream; ecosystem grants up to $3M. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Varies by stream; ecosystem grants up to $3M |
|---|---|
| Cost share | Variable |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Grant + Support |
| Delivered by | ISED |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - Loan Fund accepting applications via delivery partners (WEOC, NACCA, Coralus); Ecosystem Fund is not taking new applicants |
| Last verified | 2026-10-19 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: All sectors
- Eligible activities: Business development; market expansion; ecosystem building; advisory services
Watch out for
Less than 51% women-owned; male-led companies
Deadlines & how to apply
WES Loan Fund offers loans up to $50,000 through selected partner organizations ("now accepting applications" per ISED page); apply via partners, not ISED directly. Renewed June 22, 2026: $173.7M over five years ($59M Loan Fund, $100M Ecosystem Fund for not-for-profits, $7M Knowledge Hub). ISED page does not state Ecosystem Fund intake. Coralus was paused (RESET phase) as of early 2026; not re-checked.
How NorthGrants helps with Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES)
Most business owners read about Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building a complete application that answers what the program asks for.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.