Empowering women and gender diverse individuals
Fostering innovation starts with fostering inclusion.
AC:Incubate+
Enhancing economic and leadership opportunities for women and gender diverse individuals
We have partnered with the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region to create programming designed to empower women and gender diverse individuals in STEM careers and entrepreneurship.
When you’re a part of our community, you benefit from mentorship, our virtual platforms that enable growth through hard work, events, funding opportunities, and access to partners — so you’re never going it alone.
Impactful partnerships for gender equality
Expanding proven programs to remove systemic barriers
The economic and social benefits of diversity in leadership and STEM fields are clear. Research indicates that companies with diverse leadership are 25% more likely to outperform their peers and experience enhanced innovation and profitability. Despite this, women make up just 29% of the STEM workforce globally and, in Canada, only 17% of all private sector businesses were majority-owned by women.
This unique collaboration brings together SASC's expertise in fostering education and training in creating equitable workplaces with the AC's award-winning programs for early-stage technology companies, amplifying the reach and impact of both organizations.
leadership
Eligibility
Who is AC:Incubate+ for
The AC:Incubate+ program aims to address the barriers in the tech industry head-on by offering actionable tools, mentorship, and support to women, women-identifying, and gender diverse individuals as they start and grow their businesses.
To join the AC:Incubate+ program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be a woman, woman-identifying, and/or gender diverse founder with a STEM-based startup
- Must be available to participate programming from February 19, 2025 to August 29, 2025
- Can commit to attending 80% of the weekly in-person meetings, on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Be incorporated in Canada or Ontario, or you must be prepared to incorporate within 30 days of being accepted into the program
- Eager to fully engage in our high-touch, high-impact and hybrid programming designed to accelerate growth and drive tangible results
Bring your innovation to life
Join the movement
We're looking for 10 incredible STEM-based startups led by women and/or gender diverse founders to participate in 6 months of AC:Incubate+ programming.
Participants will gain access to content and community-building programming that leverages equitable and inclusive ideals, and provides:
- Access to our award winning programming, based on best-practices from around the world
- Startup business basics and foundations targeted workshops, and educational opportunities
- Customized resources designed to empower women and gender-diverse founders
- The AC’s digital and in-person founder communities
- Free events and workshops that help you build network and grow your business
- One-to-one guidance with our team of in-house mentors and specialists
- 1:1 investment advisory services and access to the AC's investor network
- A dedicated Founder Experience Team to guide you through the program and ensure you're connected to all the resources you need to be successful
- Access to the AC's Value Added Service Providers with up to $600,000 in credits and discounts from industry leaders like AWS, Google for Startups and more
The best part? It is free thanks to the generous support of WAGE Canada.