Partnering with the BDC Women in Technology Venture Fund to Tell Women’s Stories
Changing the face of the Canadian economy is a heavy lift, but many hands make light(er) work. The51 is proud to champion female investors and entrepreneurs to grow women’s wealth in Alberta and beyond but challenging the status quo — correcting the systemic gap in representation over centuries of prejudiced thinking and unequal opportunities — is not a job for a single organization.
By harnessing a network of like-minded organizations activating investment by and in women, we’re unlocking the potential of The51%, changing the narrative around women’s participation in wealth creation, and bringing about essential social change.
Today, The51 is very excited to announce a new partnership with the BDC Capital Women in Technology Venture Fund. Like so many other industries, women’s financial participation in the technology sector has historically been low, but due to the hard work of organizations like BDC, the stats are changing for the better.
BDC Capital’s Women in Technology Venture Fund is one of the world’s largest venture capital funds dedicated to investing in women-led technology companies.
The Fund has a dual mandate: to deliver a return on the investment, and to make a lasting impact on the Canadian tech ecosystem. The Fund provides “patient” capital to support founders from seed stage to series A & B as they scale while preserving capital for follow-on investment rounds. It invests in Canadian, women-led companies who bring together the right combination of technology, team and resources primed to transform or disrupt today’s markets.
The51 investment philosophy and approach is to build positive, long-term relationships with our portfolio companies; visionary, and built to last. We’re sector agnostic but seek to invest in companies where we can bring relevant expertise to the table, and leverage the talent, wisdom and power of The51 investor collective. The51 started as a collective of angel investors; women came together to invest directly in female-founded startups, or to co-invest together as a group.
Thanks to this partnership, we’ll be furthering our collective mission to invest in women and make our economy stronger through diversity and inclusion. Together, we will share stories of female founders and female investors in the Canadian tech ecosystem to inspire and empower other future women in tech leaders. The51 and the Women in Technology Venture Fund are actively seeking out stories from across the country which are fully representative of the diversity of women in Canada; aboriginal, LGBTQ, women of colour, age, education, rural, urban, provinces, territories.
If women and men participated equally as entrepreneurs, the GDP could rise by $5 trillion globally and $80 billion in Canada (BCG).
As we sit on the cusp of extreme economic and social change, it is more important than ever to ensure the diverse experiences, perspectives and knowledge of the 51% are not only heard – but elevated, celebrated and shared. Watch our channels – the blog, social media, and our events to hear inspiring stories, and learn and gather insights from Canadian women in tech leaders.
To learn more about BDC Capital’s Women in Technology Venture Fund visit bdc.ca/womenintech or contact Michelle Scarborough, Managing Partner at michelle.scarborough@bdc.ca.
To learn more about The51 contact us at hello@the51.io .