04 Mar Women entrepreneurs consolidate their business financing strategy
Consolidating their financing strategy is a need expressed by many entrepreneurs.
Among them, women face the greatest challenges in raising funds, confronted with biases and prejudices that are still very much present, or lacking access to concrete knowledge related to investment.
That is why, in 2023, we launched a program designed to facilitate access to financing for women entrepreneurs: Perspectives Entrepreneures.
This program is tailor-made to support women entrepreneurs in defining their financing path and preparing their fundraising efforts. Surrounded by a community of investors, experts, and entrepreneurs, it enables them to tackle the crucial challenges of scaling up their projects.
And it is with pride, given their journey and what they have learned alongside us, that we present the entrepreneurs of this second edition!
A program supported by Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada that provides financial support to the WINVC collective led by SVX to strengthen access to capital for women and non-binary entrepreneurs.
Flaura, vegetable leather
A company represented by Fannie Laroche.
Needs upon joining the program:
Upon joining Perspectives Entrepreneurs, Fannie’s main challenge was to develop a clear financing strategy tailored to Flaura’s situation, without resorting to short-term venture capital.
The program enabled me to better plan my next financial milestones, within a rigorous and supportive framework designed for ambitious women entrepreneurs. I also loved having the opportunity to pitch Flaura to real investors and receive their feedback on both form and content. Their concrete advice helped me clarify my message, better structure my financial milestones, and anticipate investors' expectations for the coming years.
>> A few words about Flaura, plant-based leather:
Flaura, plant-based leather is a Quebec-based textile innovation company that transforms apple waste into high-end, bio-based, and sustainable plant-based leather.
Faced with the environmental challenges associated with animal leather and petroleum-based synthetic alternatives, the development of their circular solution makes use of an under-exploited local resource: the 70,000 tons of apple waste discarded each year in Quebec.
Nolu
A company represented by Catherine Dumas.
Needs upon joining the program:
The goal of Nolu’s founder and president was to be better equipped to break through the investment ceiling and enable her company to be sustainable and grow in order to continue the social transformation that Nolu aims to achieve.
In addition to promoting a value creation approach based on the theory of change, the Perspectives Entrepreneures program has enabled entrepreneurs to connect with various social impact investors, fostering a better understanding of our mutual needs, particularly through highly interesting and informative pitch and reverse pitch sessions during our current funding phase.
>> A few words about Nolu:
Nolu is a digital health social tech company that promotes the emotional inclusion of people with disabilities through its ecosystem of products and services offering assistance, support, and social transformation. To this end, a dating app specifically developed for people with disabilities, coupled with a training and awareness center, has been developed to help reduce the loneliness and isolation of this underserved population in the areas of health and wellness.
Nomie
A company represented by Sonia Hudson.
Needs upon joining the program:
When she joined the program, Sonia didn’t have any specific issues, but rather a real need to understand more about the world of investing. It was still a nebulous area for her, and she wanted to acquire concrete knowledge and new skills.
Thanks to the program, I was able to demystify many aspects of investing, and today I feel much better equipped to understand this world. Each session provided me with something rich and meaningful. I particularly enjoyed Sylvain Carle's presentation, which allowed me to see investing from a new perspective. I loved his presentation on impact investing and the way he crafted his pitch to get other investors to join his project. The Delegatus team is also incredible. They managed to make complex legal concepts much clearer and easier to understand. And we feel privileged to benefit from Xavier Aubut's generous and insightful guidance. It's a natural, fluid, and valuable connection.
>> A few words about Nomie:
Nomie is a bilingual, turnkey web platform that strengthens cohesion, engagement, and alignment within groups—whether in the classroom or in the workplace.
Through interactive, fun, and accessible tools, Nomie facilitates human connections, stimulates participation, and helps teams collaborate better. For higher education institutions, it is a concrete lever for promoting student success. For organizations, it is a powerful way to align teams around a strong and shared culture.
Ribozome
A project represented by Jennifer Larouche.
Needs upon joining the program:
By joining the Perspectives Entrepreneurs program, Jennifer wanted to ensure that their first round of financing was well structured in order to maximize returns. Market interest in their products was proven, but they needed strategic support to move forward with confidence and efficiency.
The investment preparation workshops helped me structure my thinking and strengthen the credibility of our approach. In a sector as young as ours, knowing how to effectively present the company's growth potential and solid foundations makes all the difference.
>> A few words about Ribozome:
Ribozome specializes in the recovery of organic matter through the breeding of mealworms to produce sustainable ingredients: a protein powder with natural chocolate flavors for human and animal consumption, as well as a natural fertilizer (EcoFrass).
The company also offers scientific and technical support services to organizations to help them identify the best solutions for recovering their waste.
Sahera
A project represented by Dre Lamia Guellif.
Needs upon joining the program:
By joining the program, Lamia wanted to take a step back to review her overall strategy, clarify her vision, and strengthen her preparation for financing. One of her key objectives was also to consolidate her positioning in order to accelerate her international development.
The strategic thinking workshops and pitch coaching allowed me to refocus our vision and lay the foundations for a clear and ambitious strategy. This work directly contributed to the conclusion of a partnership with Biopharm, the largest private pharmaceutical group in Algeria, present throughout the MENA region and Europe.
>> A few words about Sahera:
Sahera is a FemTech company that develops non-invasive solutions to relieve menstrual pain and support hormone regulation. Their first device combines auriculotherapy and artificial intelligence to offer fast, personalized relief without medication.
Congratulations to these entrepreneurs for their achievements. We look forward to witnessing their future successes!