It is more difficult for women entrepreneurs to access capital for their businesses, compared to their male counterparts. This gap is even more evident in the male-dominated field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
According to Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub’s (WEKH) “State of Womens Entrepreneurship in Canada” 2020 report, over 83% of women-owned SMEs use personal sources of financing to start their businesses. Additionally, women are less likely to seek and receive financing than men (32.6% vs. 38%) and firms owned by men are more likely to receive venture capital or angel funding and other forms of leverage such as trade credit or capital leasing.
WEKH Saskatchewan and MLT Aikins are working together to advance women entrepreneurship in Canada and are pleased to present a free virtual event focusing on accessing capital in the agriculture industry.
This webinar will help attendees grow their understanding of options for capital raising for private enterprises. Key topics for this webinar will include:
- Raising equity – key considerations
- Rules for selling securities
- Prospectus exemptions
- Crowdfunding
- Local government incentives and equity raising programs
- Organizing equity holders
- Debt financing – key considerations
- Structuring a loan
- Types of security
- Covenants
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Wanda Hunchak, Executive Vice-President of Westcap Mgt, Saskatchewan’s premier venture capital and private equity fund manager. Westcap Mgt is one of the most active venture capital and private equity investors in Canada having invested more than $1 billion into the Province of Saskatchewan in more than 200 companies.
While the webinar is tailored for entrepreneurs in the ag industry, we invite all entrepreneurs and entrepreneur support organizations to attend.
About WEKH
The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) shares research and resources on women entrepreneurs in Canada.
Made up of 10 regional hubs, WEKH operates in both official languages and includes a network of over 250 organizations, reaching more than 100,000 women entrepreneurs.
WEKH is a part of the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy that aims to increase women entrepreneurs’ access to financing, talent, networks and expertise. Using a methodology developed by the Boston Consulting Group and the Cherie Blair Foundation (2019), it is estimated that closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship in Canada could add $41-$81 billion to Canada’s GDP.
About the Presenters:
- Gina Grandy – Dean, Hill-Levene Schools of Business at the University of Regina and co-author of the WEKH Saskatchewan Women in Ag Entrepreneurship Report
- Erin Eccleston – Erin maintains a commercial law practice focused on financing, leasing and purchase/sale of commercial real estate. She also has experience in the resource sector, assisting companies with land transactions and regulatory compliance
- Pamela Hilderman – Pamela practises primarily in the areas of corporate law, commercial law and securities law. She has a broad base of experience acquired by advising clients in various industries and at various stages of development
- Wanda Hunchak – Executive Vice-President for Westcap Mgt. Ltd. Wanda has more than 20 years of experience investing in Saskatchewan business and is an entrepreneur herself. She is dedicated to helping build a strong community and volunteers her time on many Boards such as the Saskatoon Community Foundation. She holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) designation and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.