Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)

What Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) does

NLOWE is a Newfoundland and Labrador-based non-profit, membership-supported organization founded in 1997 that supports women entrepreneurs across the Canadian province. It serves women business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs at all stages, from startup ideation through growth and international expansion, with a stated focus on addressing challenges specific to a dispersed, rural province. Core services are organized under three pillars: Start (Business Start-Up Services and the government-delivered Self-Employment Assistance Program for unemployed individuals entering self-employment), Grow (Business Growth advisory services, Mastermind peer micro-networks of 8–15 non-competing members), and Advance (Export Services, Supplier Diversity NL, and certification pathways via WEConnect, WBE Canada, WBENC, and CAMSC).

The organization supplements advisory work with a community and content platform: a members-only portal, a searchable member directory, a quarterly Advisor magazine, a resource library with templates and toolkits, an annual conference, the eight-category Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, and the three-year WAGE Gender Bias Project. Underlying technology is conventional non-profit infrastructure (website, member portal, event registration, webinar delivery) rather than proprietary software or AI.

NLOWE generates revenue primarily through tiered membership dues (Silver at $125/year, Gold at $250/year, Platinum at $500/year, plus associate and additional-business tiers), government program-delivery contracts (notably the provincial Self-Employment Assistance Program), and grant funding from federal and provincial sources including the Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy, WAGE Canada, ACOA, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The operating model is community-led: acquisition and retention are driven by regional business advisors who travel to clients across all four NL regions (Avalon, Central, Western, Labrador), a member Ambassador referral program, Mastermind groups, and recurring events, with a small central team of 11–50 staff led by CEO Carolyn Wakeham.

Name

Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)

Legal name

Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs

Website

https://nlowe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NLOWE is a 1997-founded, Newfoundland and Labrador non-profit that supports women entrepreneurs province-wide through tiered memberships ($125–$500/year), free regional business advising, the Self-Employment Assistance Program, Mastermind peer groups, export and supplier-diversity services, and an annual conference and awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Support Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (813920), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship & Freelance Employability (Self-Employment Readiness) (EDAAAKAM)

Keywords

• Women entrepreneur support
• Business advisory services
• Supplier diversity programs
• Small business training
• Export development services

Headquarters

HQ city

St. John's

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NLOWE generates primary revenue through tiered annual membership fees: Silver ($125/year), Gold ($250/year), and Platinum ($500/year) for women-owned businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador, plus associate memberships for non-NL businesses, non-profits, and corporate supporters. Additional business memberships available for $50/year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NLOWE is a nonprofit membership-based organization that supports women entrepreneurs across Newfoundland and Labrador through free one-on-one business advising, training programs, networking, mentoring, and export development services. It offers tiered memberships (Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Associate) and runs signature programs such as the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) Program, Supplier Diversity NL, the WAGE Gender Bias Project, Mastermind Groups, and an annual provincial conference.

Product overview

NLOWE is a membership-based business support organization (not a software product) that provides a comprehensive suite of programs and services for women entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization operates as a unified service portfolio rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core offerings include: Business Start-Up Services and the SEA Program for aspiring entrepreneurs; Business Growth Services and Mastermind Groups for established businesses; Export Services and Supplier Diversity NL for market expansion; and the WAGE Gender Bias Project for equity initiatives. NLOWE also publishes The Advisor Magazine (quarterly), maintains a Resource Library with toolkits and templates, organizes the Annual Conference and Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, and provides a Member Portal with exclusive access to webinars, member-to-member deals, and a searchable Member Directory. These services are delivered through tiered memberships (Silver, Gold, Platinum) and direct regional advisor access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NLOWE Membership
• Business Start-Up Services
• Business Growth Services
• Export Services
• Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) Program A funded self-employment program delivered in partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that provides income support, training, and mentorship to eligible unemployed individuals seeking to start their own business.
• Supplier Diversity NL Program connecting women-owned businesses with corporate and public sector procurement opportunities, while certifying diverse suppliers and supporting supplier diversity buyers.
• Mastermind Groups Small, facilitated peer group sessions for NLOWE members to discuss business challenges, share expertise, and provide accountability to accelerate business growth.
• NLOWE Annual Conference Annual provincial conference bringing together women entrepreneurs, corporate supporters, and stakeholders for keynote sessions, workshops, and networking. The 2023 conference was held in Gander, Newfoundland.
• The Advisor Magazine Quarterly print and digital publication produced by NLOWE featuring business advice, member stories, and resources for women entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free business advising available province-wide with advisors in every region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNLOWE is a partner in the WEOC National Loan Program, a partnership between WEOC and loan fund partners across Canada made possible with funding from the Government of Canada through the Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy. The program offers inclusive lending with loans up to $50,000, terms up to 5 years, and flexible payment options for women entrepreneurs.
• Department of Immigration, Population Growth & Skills (Provincial Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNLOWE delivers the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) Program on behalf of the provincial government, assisting unemployed individuals to establish their own business through a 10-52 week support program.
• WEConnect InternationalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate-led non-profit helping women business owners succeed in local and global markets through certification (51% women-owned/managed/controlled), business education, and connections.
• WBE CanadamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-profit organization opening doors to supply chains across North America by certifying firms 51%+ women-owned and connecting them to corporate supply chains since 2009.
• WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded in 1997, WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of women-owned businesses in the United States, partnering with 14 Regional Partner Organizations.
• CAMSC (Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrivate sector-led non-profit promoting procurement opportunities between major corporations in Canada and suppliers owned by Canadian Aboriginals and Minorities.
• Supplier Diversity NLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNLOWE collaborates with Supplier Diversity NL to connect women-owned businesses with corporate procurement professionals and larger contract opportunities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC): National federation that NLOWE partners with for the National Loan Program; aggregates provincial WEOs across Canada and operates at a broader scale, providing similar women entrepreneur support services through a network model.
• Startup Canada: National grassroots organization supporting Canadian entrepreneurs across all demographics with programming, advocacy, and community; broader in scope than NLOWE but shares the entrepreneur support and policy advocacy mission.

Direct peers

• Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE): A fellow provincial women's enterprise organization offering business advising, training, financing, and networking to women entrepreneurs in Alberta; structurally and programmatically near-identical to NLOWE.
• Women's Enterprise Centre (BC): British Columbia's provincial women entrepreneur support organization providing advising, financing, and training; directly comparable provincial WEO model to NLOWE.
• Women in Business New Brunswick: Atlantic Canadian provincial peer providing business advising and training to women entrepreneurs in New Brunswick; same WEO model and direct geographic adjacency to NLOWE.
• Women's Enterprise Centre of Manitoba (WECM): Manitoba's provincial women entrepreneur support organization offering advising, lending, and training; directly comparable to NLOWE under the WEOC national umbrella.
• Centre for Women in Business (Nova Scotia): Atlantic Canadian peer providing business advising, training, and resources to women entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia; structurally analogous to NLOWE with a similar Atlantic Canada service model.

Emerging players

• Futurpreneur: National Canadian non-profit providing financing, mentoring, and resources to entrepreneurs aged 18-39; overlaps with NLOWE's startup services but is youth-focused and pan-Canadian rather than women-focused.
• WEConnect International: Global non-profit that NLOWE partners with for women-owned business certification; offers similar women entrepreneur support services and supplier diversity connections but operates internationally rather than provincially.
• WBE Canada: Canadian certification body for women-owned businesses connecting them to corporate supply chains; overlaps with NLOWE's supplier diversity programming and serves a similar women entrepreneur ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCia45UyEn7jFAV62BkBkXGw
• Facebookfacebook.com/nlowe.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newfoundland-and-labrador-organization-of-women-entrepreneurs-nlowe-
• Instagraminstagram.com/nlowe_org
• Xx.com/nlowe_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)