Women‑In‑Tech Event to Bring Together 150 Female Investors & Founders Across Canada

Canadian female investors & founders to celebrate industry diversity for Canada’s 150^th with series of events from coast-to-coast

The Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, BDC Capital and McRock Capital have joined forces to bring together 150 Canadian women-in-tech across the country for a Canada 150-themed celebration

150 Canadian-based female technology investors and founders are marking Canada’s 150^th anniversary this July, turning an informal monthly get-together into a series of events celebrating the importance of gender diversity in the innovation economy. The events will take place at various locations across Canada on July 5^th.

“In the spirit of Canada Day and Canada’s sesquincentennial, this is a great way to celebrate the growth and success of Canada’s innovation economy, notably Canada’s strong and skilled female investors and founders and the growing number of females working in the ecosystem,” says Michelle Scarborough, Managing Director, Strategic Investments and Women in Tech at BDC Capital. Scarborough is responsible for managing BDC’s $50-million investment in women-led technology startups, announced in November 2016 and other initiatives to support women in tech and venture capital.

The celebration builds on an already successful monthly networking get-together that Toronto-based women-in-tech have been participating in over the last year. Informally named ​“WIT Wednesday”, the event brings together many female tech investors and high-growth female entrepreneurs in Toronto on the first Wednesday of every month. The location changes monthly and attendees each bring a bottle of wine or a light snack for a few hours of informal and casual networking.

“Canada is an incredibly diverse country so what better way to celebrate Canada’s 150^th birthday than by celebrating our countries talented female entrepreneurs and investors,” says Whitney Rockley, Co-founder and Managing Partner, McRock Capital – also the CVCA’s first female chair. ​“Celebrating 150 female investors and entrepreneurs alongside Canada’s 150^th anniversary on our WIT Wednesday series in July will be a lot fun.”

Rockley will be hosting the Toronto edition of the July 5^th WIT Wednesday event at McRock Capital’s headquarters in Liberty Village. Various industry stakeholders across the country have also stepped up to help host this event in various other cities, including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Halifax.

The theme of the event is about recognizing the importance gender diversity plays in the innovation economy. While the event is celebrating gender diversity and female success, it is not limited to females only and male investors are invited to attend and participate in the celebration.

For more information or to register to attend WIT Wednesday – The Canada 150 Edition in your respective city, click here. Come celebrate WIT Wednesday –The Canada 150 Edition with women and men across the country!

Event Details & Locations: 

– Vancouver @ Yaletown Brewing Company – 5pm-7pm PDT
– Calgary @ Saltlik – 5pm-7pm MDT
– Edmonton @ Startup Edmonton, Mercer Warehouse – 5pm-7pm MDT
– Winnipeg @ Thompson Dorfman Sweatman – 5pm-7pm CDT
– Toronto @ McRock Capital – 5pm-7pm EDT
– Montreal @ Notman House – 5pm-7pm EDT
– Halifax @ Volta Labs – 5pm-7pm ADT

Please help us promote this initiative event by using hashtag #WITCanada150

WIT Wednesday – The Canada 150 Edition Partners:

This event would not be possible without the support of our women-in-tech partners across Canada who’ve helped to coordinate this event. The CVCA, BDC Capital and McRock Capital would like to thank:

Front Fundr – A Vancouver-based FinTech equity crowdfunding platform
The RAISE Collective – The RAISE Collective is a community of female investors with a purpose to change the gender ratio in innovation and funding by leveling the investment playing field.
Startup Edmonton– An entrepreneurial community hub that connects entrepreneurs and product builders with skills, community and workspace
Bartman Advisory Services – A Winnipeg-based full service advisory services specializing in helping companies in transition
Thomson Dorfman Sweatman – A Manitoba-based law firm specializing in Corporate/​Commercial, Litigation and Labour & Employment Law
Teralys Capital– A private fund manager financing private venture capital funds investing in innovative businesses in information technologies, life sciences, and clean or industrial innovations
Notman House– A physical campus dedicated to supporting the Montreal Startup ecosystem
Volta Labs– Halifax’s Tech Super Hub; helping tech Startup’s get the tools they need for success – including programming, events, and co-working space