A few years ago, I knew nothing about getting outside funding for your business. But after going to a few pitch competitions and becoming friends with Canadian female founders who are seeking investments, now I know a thing or two!

If you’ve ever been told your business is too small, too early, too creative, too service-based, or simply doesn’t “fit,” you’re in good company with a lot of other women entrepreneurs too. 

It’s what inspired my friend Erin Sisko, founder of The Elleiance Network, to create the Capital Elle Business Impact Award.

This year, the Capital Elle Business Impact Award will back 10 Canadian female founders with $50,000 in financial support and resources—fuelling ventures in industries that don’t typically get funded.

Last year’s winners, Jessica Bosman and Bryn Davis Williams of DOUBL, shared that the Capital Elle Business Impact Award gave them the funding, coaching, entrepreneurial support, and community they needed. 

With these resources, they gained the confidence to fully automate their systems, enter conversations with major brands about offering their technology infrastructure as a B2B solution, and continue building toward even greater impact. They also achieved a 40% repeat purchase rate.

If this award sounds like it could support you (or someone you know!), apply here. 

Q&A with Erin Sisko, Creator of the Capital Elle Business Impact Award

Lisa: Finally! An award specifically for us Canadian women entrepreneurs in non-traditional industries. For the female founder who is going to apply, how does she make her award application stand out?

Erin: Authenticity. You don’t need the most polished pitch deck or perfect financials to catch the judges’ attention. What stands out is a clear story of impact—why your business matters, who it serves, and the fire that drives you to keep building even when the odds are against you. Pair that with a bold vision for where you’re going next, and your application won’t just stand out—it will resonate.

Lisa: It’s your second year offering this award. What's your hope for the women who win?

Erin: My hope is that this award becomes a turning point. Not just because of the funding, but because of the doors it opens—the credibility, the community, the belief that “yes, I belong here, and I can compete at the highest level.” I want the winners to feel undeniable, and to leverage this recognition as fuel to go bigger, faster, and with even more confidence.

Lisa: Sometimes we hold ourselves back by telling a story that we're not ready yet. What would you say to the woman entrepreneur who has seen that this award exists, but doesn't believe she's qualified to submit an application yet?

Erin: I would tell her: you are exactly who this award is for. The women who have been underestimated, told they’re too early, too small, too different, too “unfundable”—you are the ones rewriting the rules. Readiness is a myth; no one ever feels fully ready when they step into something big. Apply anyway. Your voice, your business, your story deserves to be in the room.

Ready to Apply?

If you’re a Canadian female founder who’s ever been told no, this is your chance to turn that no into momentum.

Photo Credit: The Elleiance Network

Click here to apply for the Capital Elle Business Impact Award.

Applications open on September 2, 2025 and close on October 28, 2025.