Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec

What Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec does

Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec (RFAQ) is a Quebec-based non-profit organization (OBNL) founded in 1981 and headquartered in Longueuil. It operates as the largest women's business network in Quebec, serving women entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and professionals across all sectors and regions through a hybrid membership-program-platform model.

The organization operates a portfolio of interlocking products and programs. At the platform layer, Maïa (maiaconnex.com) is an AI-powered business development ecosystem that analyzes, recommends, and connects women entrepreneurs to business opportunities, prospects clients, and drives visibility across Canada. Maïa is augmented by structured programs including AccèsCible (a four-phase B2B institutional market-access program that builds personalized AI assistants for each participant to support strategic decision-making), InterCible (international market development), Mission Paris (European market trade mission), and Cercle des leaders (senior leadership development circle). Community-facing programs include the peer-support Cellules d'entraide (20 cells across Quebec since 1989), Formations VirtuELLES (online training at formations.rfaq.ca), the Conférencières speaker bureau, the Programme Récompenses member benefits program, and the annual Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec (PFAQ) gala — a 25-edition awards ceremony that has honored approximately 270 laureates and 753 finalists and draws 800+ attendees. The organization's underlying technology stack relies on the Yapla CMS/portal platform, Stripe for payment processing, and Google Analytics; no public developer API is exposed.

RFAQ earns revenue through annual membership subscriptions (two tiers, no refunds), event ticketing (galas, regional events, Mission Paris), training and workshop programs (with a 3-day post-purchase refund window), and pillar sponsorship/partner fees from BDC, Desjardins, and uxpertise. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, with reciprocal distribution alliances (RGA, Chambre de commerce de Port-Cartier) extending reach into Quebec regions and content partnerships (Revue Gestion HEC Montréal) supporting top-of-funnel demand. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed; operations are funded through member fees, sponsorships, and program revenue rather than venture capital or private-equity backing.

Name

Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec

Legal name

Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec

Website

https://rfaq.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec (RFAQ) is a 45-year-old Quebec non-profit membership network serving women entrepreneurs and businesswomen. It operates the Maïa AI-powered business development platform and structured programs including AccèsCible, InterCible, Mission Paris, peer-support cells, and the annual Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Business Networking Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Business Services Marketplaces (Freelancers, SMB Services) (BPAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Women business network
• Entrepreneurship networking
• Professional development programs
• Business community platform
• Women business association

Headquarters

HQ city

Longueuil

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Subscriptions: RFAQ generates revenue through annual membership fees with two subscription tiers available based on member needs. Members receive access to networking activities, the member directory, peer-support cells, event discounts, and exclusive market access opportunities. No refund policy applies to memberships.
2. Event Ticketing and Registration: Revenue is generated from ticket sales for regional events, the annual Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec gala, the International Women's Day event, regional tours, and other organized RFAQ activities. Cancellation and refund policies vary by event type.
3. Training and Workshop Programs: Revenue from virtual training sessions (Formations VirtuELLES), in-person workshops, the AccèsCible program, and other structured professional development offerings. Refund available within 3 days of purchase if the participant has not started the training.
4. Sponsorship and Partnership Fees: Pillar partners (BDC, Desjardins, uxpertise) and other corporate sponsors support the organization financially in exchange for branding, visibility, and association with the RFAQ network and its programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RFAQ is a membership-based women's business network that provides Quebec women entrepreneurs with networking opportunities, peer-support groups, training, AI-powered business development tools, recognition programs, and market access initiatives. Its core commercial offerings include annual membership subscriptions (two tiers), the Maïa AI-powered networking platform, the AccèsCible B2B institutional market access program with personalized AI assistants, structured international trade missions (Mission Paris), and the Formations VirtuELLES training portal.

Product overview

RFAQ operates as a membership-based women's business network offering a platform-plus-programs model. The core platform is Maïa, an AI-powered digital ecosystem (maiaconnex.com) that enables women entrepreneurs to build visibility, prospect clients, and connect with institutional buyers. This platform is augmented by specialized programs including AccèsCible (B2B institutional market access with personalized AI coaching), InterCible (international market development), Mission Paris (European market missions), and Cercle des leaders (senior leadership circles). Supporting programs include the annual Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec (PFAQ) awards gala (pfaq.ca), 20 peer-support Cellules d'entraide groups, a Conférencières speaker bureau, Formations VirtuELLES online training portal (formations.rfaq.ca), and a regional events calendar. The organization functions primarily as a professional network and business development accelerator rather than a software-as-a-service provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maïa: AI-powered business development platform connecting women entrepreneurs, facilitating visibility and prospecting.
• Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec
• AccèsCible
• InterCible
• Cellules d'entraide

Products and services

• Maïa Platform An AI-powered business networking platform that enables women entrepreneurs across Canada to increase visibility, prospect new clients, detect business opportunities, and connect with buyers and partners. Functions as both a technology platform and an intelligent business development ecosystem.
• AccèsCible Program A structured strategic transformation program for women entrepreneurs seeking to access B2B institutional markets, combining coaching, methodology, and personalized AI assistants for hypothesis testing, decision reformulation, and scenario simulation.
• Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec (PFAQ) Awards Gala Annual awards competition and gala celebrating women entrepreneurs and business leaders across Quebec, with categories covering Entreprise Impact, Leaders d'Influence, Repreneurship, and Inclusive Economy. Over 753 finalists and nearly 270 laureates honored across its history.
• Cellules d'entraide (Peer-Support Cells) Peer-support groups facilitated by volunteer leaders providing a confidential space for women entrepreneurs to share experiences, challenges, and growth strategies. Operating since 1989 with 20 cells across Quebec, fostering intergenerational, cross-sectoral, and cross-cultural solidarity.
• Mission Paris International Trade Mission An exclusive commercial mission designed for Quebec women entrepreneurs ready to expand into European markets, facilitating business development, network expansion, and international visibility via France as a gateway to Europe.
• InterCible International Development Program An international business development program supporting women entrepreneurs in accessing markets beyond Quebec, complementing AccèsCible by addressing international market readiness and export capability.
• Cercle des leaders An exclusive leadership development circle bringing together high-potential women entrepreneurs for strategic networking, peer coaching, and leadership advancement, accelerating the professional growth of members positioned for or already occupying senior leadership roles.
• Conférencières Speaker Bureau A speaker bureau service connecting RFAQ members with professional women speakers for events, conferences, panels, and corporate functions across diverse sectors represented within the RFAQ membership.
• Formations VirtuELLES Training Portal Virtual training portal offering online workshops and professional development courses for RFAQ members, with both asynchronous and synchronous learning opportunities covering business skills, leadership, strategy, and sector-specific knowledge.
• Programme Récompenses Member Benefits A member rewards and recognition program offering exclusive benefits, discounts, and privileges to RFAQ members, providing preferential pricing and access to partner services, events, and resources as part of the membership value proposition.
• Événements RFAQ Events Calendar RFAQ's calendar of networking events, regional activities, galas, and professional gatherings connecting women entrepreneurs across Quebec, ranging from intimate regional gatherings to large-scale annual galas such as the Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec.
• Annual RFAQ Memberships Annual membership subscriptions in two tiers providing access to networking activities, the member directory, peer-support cells, event discounts, and exclusive market access opportunities. No refund policy applies to memberships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 peer-support cells operating across Quebec since 1989
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la capitale nationale (RGA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Strategic alliance between RFAQ and RGA to support women entrepreneurs in the Outaouais region. RFAQ members receive one year of free membership to RGA, and RGA women business members receive a free one-year subscription to RFAQ. The partnership creates real bridges between networks, markets, and business opportunities in the Ottawa-Gatineau corridor.
• Chambre de commerce de Port-CartiercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025Alliance to support the economic development of Côte-Nord and provide greater growth opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the region. New RFAQ members from Côte-Nord receive a free one-year membership to the Chamber, and vice versa, combining networks and expertise to foster innovation, growth, and recognition of women in business.
• Banque de développement du Canada (BDC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBDC is one of three pillar partners (Partenaires piliers) of RFAQ, providing organizational funding, co-branding, and referral pathways to women entrepreneur clients. BDC supports the organization's mission to accelerate the growth of women-owned businesses in Quebec and has sponsored specific awards categories at the Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec.
• DesjardinscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDesjardins is a pillar partner of RFAQ, contributing to the inspiration, connection, and propulsion of women entrepreneurs. Desjardins sponsors the annual Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec gala (presenting sponsor) and provides financial and operational support to RFAQ programs and events.
• uxpertisecoreGTM or Marketing Partneruxpertise is one of three pillar partners supporting RFAQ's mission to accelerate women's entrepreneurship in Quebec through funding, branding, and ecosystem collaboration.
• Maïa (AI Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationMaïa is RFAQ's proprietary AI-powered platform ecosystem that analyzes, recommends, and connects women entrepreneurs to business opportunities. Maïa serves as a core technology distribution channel for RFAQ, enabling members to increase visibility, prospect clients, and access an intelligent ecosystem for business development across Canada.
• Revue Gestion HEC MontréalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRFAQ curates and publishes selected top articles from the Revue Gestion HEC Montréal on its blog, providing curated leadership and management content to its members and audience as a content marketing partnership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Peers

• Female Founders Fund (F3):

Direct peers

• Women Presidents' Organization (WPO): WPO is a peer advisory membership organization for women presidents and CEOs of multimillion-dollar businesses globally. Comparable to RFAQ's Cercle des leaders, both run peer-group-driven models targeted at women business leaders at specific stages of business maturity.
• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): NAWBO is a U.S. membership organization for women business owners offering networking, advocacy, and education. It mirrors RFAQ's combination of community chapters, advocacy, peer support, and educational programming at a national scale.
• Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC): WEOC is a pan-Canadian non-profit network of women's enterprise centres serving women entrepreneurs across all provinces. It is the closest direct peer to RFAQ, operating a similar membership-based model with regional affiliate organizations, training programs, and policy advocacy — directly comparable in mission and programming.

Broad incumbents

• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): WBENC is the largest U.S. certifier of women-owned businesses and a leading non-profit resource for women entrepreneurs, with a strong focus on corporate supplier diversity. Comparable to RFAQ's AccèsCible program, which similarly targets B2B institutional market access for women-led businesses.
• WEConnect International: WEConnect International is a global non-profit that certifies women-owned businesses and connects them to corporate and institutional buyers. Directly comparable to the buyer-matching element of RFAQ's AccèsCible program and Mission Paris, though operating at greater geographic scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RFAQofficiel
• Facebookfacebook.com/RFAQofficiel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rfaq-officiel
• Instagraminstagram.com/rfaq.officiel
• Xx.com/ReseauFAQ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec