INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE AND SUPPLY COUNCIL OF CANADA

What INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE AND SUPPLY COUNCIL OF CANADA does

The Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada (IWSCC) is a not-for-profit Supplier Diversity organization operating as Canada's National Certifying Body for Disabled-Owned and Veteran-Owned businesses. It is the only national non-government organization dedicated to supporting Disabled-Owned businesses in Canada and one of few nationally supporting Veteran-Owned businesses. The organization runs four interlocking functions: certification of majority-disabled or majority-veteran-owned businesses (verifying 51%+ ownership), networking certified suppliers with corporate and government procurement buyers, education through free webinars, research, and content, and advocacy for inclusive supply chains.

IWSCC's product surface is centered on two revenue-generating services. The Business Certification Service charges $500 per year to Canadian businesses that pass application review, certifying them as Veteran-Owned or Disabled-Owned and listing them in a roster accessible to corporate members. The Corporate Membership Program charges $5,000 to $10,000 annually depending on organization size and type (non-profit, government, for-profit tiered by revenue), giving enterprise and government buyers access to the certified supplier roster, networking events, and supplier diversity support. Supporting community programs include two annual flagship forums (Reach Forum for disabled entrepreneurship held during National AccessAbility Week, and Evolve Forum for veteran entrepreneurship), free educational webinars with ASL interpretation, a research portfolio (including the Accessible Procurement Research Project conducted 2022-2024 with Adaptability Canada, Carleton University, and EY), a community calendar, and a content blog. No proprietary technology platform is disclosed; operations rely on standard SaaS tools (Zoho Public for applications, Zoom for scheduling).

The business model is membership- and certification-fee-driven, with revenue concentrated in two annual recurring streams (corporate membership dues and supplier certification fees). The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by the two national forums and supported by content marketing, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), email newsletters, and webinars. Customer segments are Canadian Veteran-Owned and Disabled-Owned SMBs seeking certification and procurement access, and corporate members (including BMO, RBC, Bell, PwC, and the City of Toronto) seeking verified diverse suppliers for their supplier diversity initiatives.

Name

INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE AND SUPPLY COUNCIL OF CANADA

Legal name

Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada

Website

https://iwscc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IWSCC is a Canadian not-for-profit that certifies Veteran-Owned and Disabled-Owned businesses and connects them with corporate and government buyers. It operates the country's only national certification body for these communities, generating revenue through certification fees and corporate memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supplier Diversity Certification Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYAFALAMAD

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing Certification Services

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Certification Services (Organic, Non-GMO, etc.)

Keywords

• Supplier diversity certification
• Veteran-owned business certification
• Disabled-owned business certification
• Corporate membership program
• Diverse supplier sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from corporate members (private companies, government bodies, NGOs, crown corporations) based on organization size and type. Non-profit/government/public institutions pay $5,000-$10,000 depending on geographic scope. For-profit private and crown corporations pay $5,000-$10,000 based on annual revenue.
2. Supplier Certification Fees: Certification service for veteran-owned and disabled-owned businesses costs $500 per year. No cost to apply; fees collected only upon application approval.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IWSCC certifies Canadian businesses as Veteran-Owned or Disabled-Owned (verifying 51%+ ownership by Veterans or persons with disabilities, at $500/year) and connects them with corporate and government buyers through an annual Corporate Membership Program ($5,000-$10,000/year). The organization supplements these core offerings with two annual forums (Reach for Disabled entrepreneurship and EVOLVE for Veteran entrepreneurship), free educational webinars, and collaborative research projects on accessible procurement.

Product overview

IWSCC operates as a not-for-profit certification and Supplier Diversity organization offering a suite of programs and services centered on business certification, corporate membership, and community engagement. The core offering is the Business Certification Service, which verifies Canadian businesses as Veteran-Owned or Disabled-Owned. This is supported by the Corporate Membership Program that connects certified suppliers with procurement professionals. IWSCC also runs two annual forum events—Reach Forum (for Disabled entrepreneurship) and EVOLVE Forum (for Veteran entrepreneurship)—which serve as networking and recognition platforms. Additional services include free educational webinars, research projects, a community calendar for event promotion, and a blog for thought leadership content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Reach: The National Forum for Disabled Entrepreneurship - an annual celebration during National AccessAbility Week showcasing Disabled-Owned businesses and entrepreneurs.
• EVOLVE

Products and services

• Business Certification Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Certified businesses are guaranteed 51%+ owned by Veterans or persons with disabilities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Futures BCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government program delivering business development services in rural and remote Canadian communities. Their Accessible Entrepreneurship services support entrepreneurs with disabilities in BC, both rural and metropolitan, as well as online. They offer assistance with business plans, training, coaching, and funding opportunities.
• Ready, Willing and Able (RWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative by Inclusion Canada and Autism Alliance of Canada, funded by Government of Canada. Aims to increase employment for people with intellectual disabilities or autism. Partners with employers and 250+ supported employment agencies. Also supports entrepreneurs with disabilities through The Inclusive Workplace resource hub.
• Startup Help Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization supporting individuals facing socioeconomic challenges in building successful businesses. Recognizes untapped potential in historically marginalized communities.
• Boundless AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning accelerator in Guelph, Ontario equipping entrepreneurs with mentorship, resources, education, and connections to build innovative, sustainable ventures. Located in the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation Corridor.
• Adaptability CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Accessible Procurement Research Project (APRP) conducted from January 2022 to December 2024, exploring systemic barriers preventing people with disabilities and disabled-owned businesses from participating in procurement processes.
• Accessibility Institute at Carleton UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for the Accessible Procurement Research Project (APRP), contributing expertise in accessibility research and policy.
• Ernst & Young (EY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services partner collaborating on the Accessible Procurement Research Project (APRP), providing business and consulting expertise to examine procurement barriers.
• Maple CommunicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIWSCC Certified Business providing ASL interpretation and accessibility services for IWSCC events, including the Reach Forum.
• Crow Works Engraving & SignsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIWSCC Certified Supplier providing trophy supply and engraving services for Reach Success Awards, with products manufactured and engraved in Canada.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC): US national LGBT business chamber certifying LGBT-Owned Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs) and operating a corporate supplier diversity matching program. Direct structural analog in the diverse-supplier certification space with global expansion ambitions.
• Disability:IN: US-based national non-profit certifying Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs) and connecting them with corporate buyers. Highly comparable business model (certification + corporate membership + events), serving the same disability-owned business segment in a larger US market.
• WEConnect International: Global non-profit certifying Women-Owned Businesses and connecting them with multinational corporate buyers. Comparable certification-plus-matching model with a similar community/event-led GTM (annual forums, awards).

Direct peers

• National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA): US-based non-profit certifying Veteran-Owned businesses and connecting them with corporate/government buyers. Directly mirrors IWSCC's Veteran-Owned certification pillar and supplier-matching model, but operates in the larger US market.
• Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC): Canada's national council certifying Indigenous and minority-owned businesses for corporate and government procurement. Closest direct peer: both operate the same supplier-diversity certification and corporate membership model in Canada, but for different diversity categories.
• Buy Social Canada: Canadian social-purpose organization supporting social enterprises and certified B Corps in procurement. Direct Canadian peer in the social/diverse supplier verification space with overlapping buyer audiences in government and enterprise.
• Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC): Canadian national LGBT chamber certifying LGBT-Owned businesses and matching them with corporate buyers. Direct Canadian counterpart to IWSCC operating the same supplier-diversity certification model for a different community.
• Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada): Canadian non-profit certifying Women-Owned Businesses for corporate and government procurement. Closely mirrors IWSCC's certification + corporate membership + networking model, operating in the same Canadian market.

Emerging players

• B Lab (B Corporation Certification): Global non-profit certifying B Corporations on social and environmental performance. Comparable certification-driven model with corporate buyer engagement, though broader in scope than IWSCC's diversity-focused mandate.

Regional players

• Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) / Inclusion Canada: Canadian national initiative (Inclusion Canada + Autism Alliance of Canada, federally funded) supporting employment for people with intellectual disabilities and autism. Direct partner of IWSCC; operates in the same disability-inclusion ecosystem with overlapping beneficiaries and corporate audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IWSCCofficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/IWSCCofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iwscc
• Instagraminstagram.com/iwsccofficial
• Xx.com/IWSCCanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE AND SUPPLY COUNCIL OF CANADA