Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada
WEOC is a Canadian non-profit that operates a national microloan program and resource network supporting women entrepreneurs across all provinces and territories, delivering up to CAD $50,000 loans through 8+ regional partner organizations under the Government of Canada's Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersWinnipeg, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada does
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) is a federally mandated Canadian non-profit established in 2019 to coordinate and support the country's network of women's enterprise organizations. Its core offering is the WEOC National Loan Program, which provides loans of up to CAD $50,000 to women entrepreneurs across Canada, featuring a 1% administration fee (capped at CAD $500 per loan), interest rates at prime + 4% or less, terms of up to 5 years, no prepayment penalties, and a holistic evaluation approach with no minimum credit score requirement. The program is funded through a CAD $55 million allocation from the Government of Canada under the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (Budget 2021) and is delivered via 8+ regional Loan Fund Partners covering every province and territory, including PARO, WE BC, WESK, NLOWE, WECM, AWE, Centre for Women in Business, and PEIBWA.
The organization supplements the loan program with complementary products and services: a Resource Library / Knowledgebase for business advisors; the WEOC Marketplace, a directory of women-owned businesses supported by the program; weekly virtual loan information sessions; an annual WEOC National Summit; research and policy publications (including the "Bootstrap or Borrow" report); and an "Open Access" inclusive lending pathway for Indigenous, Black, racialized, LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs with disabilities, and those in northern, rural, or remote communities. As of March 2025, the program had disbursed over CAD $20 million to 450+ women entrepreneurs across 137 communities and 15+ sectors.
WEOC's go-to-market is a partnership-led channel model in which WEOC operates as the national coordinating secretariat and brand, while regional partners perform local outreach, advising, and loan origination. Marketing reaches borrowers through the weoc.ca website, email newsletters, LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, virtual info sessions, the annual Summit, and partner referrals. The organization is currently navigating a leadership transition, with inaugural CEO Alison Kirkland announcing her departure following the May 2025 Summit and Miriam Johnson (CEO of WESK) appointed Chair of the Board in June 2025.
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada
- Legal name
- Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada
- Website
- https://weoc.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WEOC is a Canadian non-profit that operates a national microloan program and resource network supporting women entrepreneurs across all provinces and territories, delivering up to CAD $50,000 loans through 8+ regional partner organizations under the Government of Canada's Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Lending
- NAICS
- Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)
- SIC
- Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
Keywords
Where Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winnipeg
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: WEOC receives funding from the Government of Canada through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy to operate the National Loan Program and support women entrepreneurs across Canada.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | WEOC National Loan Program - Up to $50,000 financing for women entrepreneurs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WEOC operates the National Loan Program, providing loans of up to $50,000 to women entrepreneurs across Canada through a network of regional Loan Fund Partners. Loans are offered at prime + 4% or less, with terms up to 5 years, no prepayment penalties, a 1% administration fee (capped at $500), and no minimum credit score requirement. Complementary offerings include a Marketplace directory of women-owned businesses, a Resource Library, weekly virtual info sessions, an annual Summit, and research reports on women entrepreneurship.
Product overview
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) is a national non-profit organization that serves as a coordinating body for women's entrepreneurship organizations across Canada. The organization operates primarily as a service and resource provider rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include the WEOC National Loan Program (providing loans up to $50,000 to women entrepreneurs), the WEOC Marketplace (a directory of women-owned businesses), the Resource Library/Knowledgebase (containing educational content for advisors), and the WEOC National Summit (annual networking event). These services are delivered through partnerships with regional women's business organizations and funded by the Government of Canada's Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WEOC National Loan Program: A national loan program providing loans up to $50,000 to women entrepreneurs across Canada, funded by the Government of Canada through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.
- WEOC Marketplace
- WEOC X Symposium
Products and services
- WEOC National Loan Program A national loan program providing loans up to $50,000 to women entrepreneurs across Canada for working capital, equipment, operations, marketing, and business development. Features flexible terms up to 5 years, interest at prime + 4% or less, no prepayment penalties, a 1% administration fee (capped at $500), and no minimum credit score requirement. Delivered through regional Loan Fund Partners.
- WEOC Marketplace An online directory showcasing women-owned businesses across Canada that have received support through the WEOC National Loan Program. Categories include food & beverage, health & beauty, home & office, fashion & accessories, and gifts.
- Resource Library / Knowledgebase An online resource library containing articles, PDFs, webinars, and links organized by categories including Funding & Finance, ExportHUB, Marketing & Branding, Operations, Skills & Tools, and Collaboration. Curated for business advisors supporting women entrepreneurs.
- Weekly Loan Info Sessions Weekly virtual information sessions held every Wednesday at 1:00 PM ET introducing the WEOC National Loan Program, eligibility requirements, and application process. Free for participants.
- Open Access Lending Pathway An inclusive lending pathway within the National Loan Program designed for entrepreneurs facing barriers to financing, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit entrepreneurs, those living with disabilities, and those in northern, rural, or remote communities.
- WEOC National Summit An annual summit bringing together women's enterprise ecosystem partners, advisors, and entrepreneurs for networking, learning, and collaboration on women's economic empowerment.
- Research & Reports Research publications and reports including the Bootstrap or Borrow report on women entrepreneurs' access to capital, economic updates, and recommendations for the women's entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $20 million disbursed to 450+ women entrepreneurs across Canada
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK)coreRegional Loan Fund Partner providing expert guidance and loan application support to women entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan. CEO Miriam Johnson serves as Chair of the WEOC Board.
- Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK)coreRegional Loan Fund Partner providing expert guidance and loan application support to women entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)coreRegional Loan Fund Partner providing expert guidance and loan application support to women entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Women's Enterprise Centre of Manitoba (WECM)coreRegional Loan Fund Partner providing expert guidance and loan application support to women entrepreneurs in Manitoba.
- Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)coreRegional Loan Fund Partner providing expert guidance and loan application support to women entrepreneurs in Alberta.
- WE BCcoreRegional Loan Fund Partner providing expert guidance and loan application support to women entrepreneurs in British Columbia.
- Centre for Women in BusinesscoreRegional Loan Fund Partner providing expert guidance and loan application support to women entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia.
- Prince Edward Island Business Women's Association (PEIBWA)coreRegional Loan Fund Partner providing expert guidance and loan application support to women entrepreneurs in Prince Edward Island.
- PARO Centre for Women's EnterprisecoreRegional Loan Fund Partner providing expert guidance and loan application support to women entrepreneurs, with coverage for Northwestern Ontario and Northwestern territories.
- EVOLminorReferral partner for Quebec region offering comparable loans for women entrepreneurs.
- The Venture Invitation (Coralus)minorReferral partner offering comparable loans for women entrepreneurs across Canada.
- National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA)minorReferral partner offering comparable loans for Indigenous women entrepreneurs across Canada.
- UrbaninkminorDesign partner responsible for WEOC's website and brand design.
- The HatcheryminorDevelopment partner responsible for WEOC's website development.
- Decolonize and RizeminorConsulting firm led by Vanessa Lesperance and Ariana Fotinakis that conducted the Decolonizing Business session at WEOC's national summit, providing training on incorporating Indigenous worldviews into business practices.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kiva: Global non-profit microlending platform providing 0% interest loans to underserved entrepreneurs, including a strong women-entrepreneur focus via Kiva's US and Canadian chapters. Closely comparable mission, product structure (crowdfunded microloans with no credit score minimum), and inclusive underwriting approach.
- Grameen America: US microfinance non-profit providing small business loans to women entrepreneurs in poverty, using group-lending methodology. Highly comparable mission (women-only borrowers, mission-driven underwriting) and product structure to WEOC's loan program.
- Access Community Capital Fund: Canadian non-profit CDFI providing microloans and small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs (newcomers, women, low-income founders) in the Greater Toronto Area. Comparable product (microloans with flexible underwriting), target segment, and community-lender model.
- DreamSpring: US-based CDFI providing small business loans, capital, and training to underserved entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on women, people of color, and rural founders. Comparable mission-driven micro/small business lender with similar underwriting flexibility and federal backing.
- National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA): A national network of Indigenous capital corporations providing small business loans and advisory services to Indigenous entrepreneurs across Canada. Highly comparable as a national, government-supported, non-depository microloan coordinator with a regional partner distribution model — and a referral partner of WEOC for Indigenous women borrowers.
- Coralus: Formerly The Venture Invitation, Coralus provides capital (loans, investments) and community to women and non-binary entrepreneurs in Canada. Closest direct comparable to WEOC, with similar national scope, inclusive mission, and partnership-based deployment model. Listed as a referral partner in WEOC's distribution network.
- PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise: One of WEOC's regional Loan Fund Partners, PARO provides loans, advising, and peer support to women entrepreneurs across Northwestern Ontario and the Northern territories. Highly comparable mission, product set (peer-lending circles and microloans), and target borrower profile.
- Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK): One of WEOC's core regional Loan Fund Partners, WESK delivers loans, advising, and programming to women entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan. Operates the same WEOC loan product on the ground and shares the same inclusive women-owned-business mission.
Broad incumbents
- Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Canada's federal development bank providing loans, equity, and advisory services to Canadian SMBs. Operates in the same small business lending category as WEOC, but at much larger ticket sizes, and increasingly runs programs targeted at women-owned businesses that compete for the same upper-edge of WEOC's borrower pool.
- Futurpreneur: Canada's leading non-profit providing loans (up to $60K), mentorship, and resources to entrepreneurs aged 18-39. Comparable as a federally-backed, non-depository small business lender with national reach, though broader in age and gender scope than WEOC.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada social profiles
Digital presenceWomen's Enterprise Organizations of Canada financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada
What does Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada do?
WEOC operates the National Loan Program, providing loans of up to $50,000 to women entrepreneurs across Canada through a network of regional Loan Fund Partners. Loans are offered at prime + 4% or less, with terms up to 5 years, no prepayment penalties, a 1% administration fee (capped at $500), and no minimum credit score requirement. Complementary offerings include a Marketplace directory of women-owned businesses, a Resource Library, weekly virtual info sessions, an annual Summit, and research reports on women entrepreneurship.
Is Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada a public or private company?
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada founded?
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada based?
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Funding.
Who are Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kiva, Grameen America, Access Community Capital Fund, DreamSpring, National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA), Coralus, PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK). Broad incumbents are Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Futurpreneur.
Does Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada have an API?
No public API is recorded for Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada.
What industry is Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada in?
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada's product category is Small Business Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAA, Microloans & Working Capital Loans, with a secondary code of FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans. Its NAICS code is 522 and its SIC code is 6153.