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Researchers have found that both men and women loan officers perceive women entrepreneurs as more risk-averse and less autonomous than men.

Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, Shattering the Second Glass Ceiling, November 2020

Access to financing is the top challenge identified by Indigenous women entrepreneurs. It has hindered by eligibility criteria for equity investment, collateral, proven credit history, full-time involvement in the business and lack of micro-loans available.

Many immigrant women entrepreneurs are multilingual and have global experience that sets them apart and enables higher levels of export. In fact, almost double the proportion of businesses led by immigrant women export compared to businesses led by Canadian-born women (16.6% vs 10.4%).

Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada, 2021

37% of all 2SLGBTQ+ entrepreneurs (including agender, non-binary, transgender, and cisgender individuals) choose not to be public with their identity to avoid discrimination when accessing funding or services.

Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada, 2021