Visa Canada announces next round of She’s Next grant recipients for small business recovery

Visa Canada has announced another round of recipients of its She’s Next Grant Program in Canada to boost women entrepreneurship, aiding in COVID-19 recovery and empowering growth and innovation. In collaboration with IFundWomen, ten additional Canadian women small business owners each received a grant of $10,000 CAD and one-year business coaching to support, grow and expand their businesses.

“Small businesses continue to struggle because of the pandemic, with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) estimating that total debt held by small businesses in Canada is $139 billion,” Visa Canada officials said. “This round of She’s Next Grant Program recipients span diverse backgrounds and industries from apparel, food & beverage and home goods, to professional services, non-profit and social good-for-profit, each offering innovative solutions and products.”

The recipients are:

• Brave Soles, Toronto, ON: Brave Soles makes classically styled footwear and accessories with upcycled materials and ethical, small scale production chains.
• EarthPup, Toronto, ON: EarthPup transforms nutrient-dense food otherwise destined for landfill, into healthy dog treats. To date, they have rescued over 1,100 pounds of food from going to landfills.
• Employ to Empower, Vancouver, BC: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-owned, Employ to Empower is a registered charity that helps individuals who face barriers by cultivating community through entrepreneurship and self-advocacy opportunities.
• Kind Karma Company, Toronto, ON: BIPOC-owned, Kind Karma employs at-risk and homeless youth in Toronto to handcraft fine jewelry.
• Monday Girl, Toronto, ON: The Monday Girl Social Club is a BIPOC-owned company with a career platform that gives members access to exclusive networking opportunities, resume reviews, coaching, a resource library, courses, job board, mentorship, and more.
• Nuba, Oakville, ON: A mother and daughter team, Nuba brews herbal infusions with ingredients like hibiscus flowers, Tamarind & Carob for amazingly delicious, authentic drinks.
• Our Ancestories Corporation, Oakville, ON: Our Ancestories, a BIPOC-owned publishing company, creates children’s books that share positive stories based on African history.
• Remix Snacks, Markham, ON: Remix Snacks is a BIPOC-owned snack company that uses beans as a source of plant-based protein, and upcycled ingredients to reduce food waste.
• The Plot Market Garden, Victoria, BC: The Plot Market Garden provides healthy, fresh produce to locals.
• Toronto Womxn in Data Science, Toronto, ON: Founded by a group of BIPOC women, they provide programming for women in data, educates those interested in the field through events, mentorship, and data product co-creation.

Since the start of 2020, through its global She’s Next Grant Program, Visa has awarded over $1.5 million dollars in grants and coaching memberships to women entrepreneurs around the world.