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One Month Away: StrikeUP 2026 Focuses on What Women Entrepreneurs Say They Need Most

COBOURG, ONTARIO, January 26, 2026 – With one month remaining until StrikeUP 2026, organizers are sharing new details about how the free Canada-wide digital conference is designed to support women entrepreneurs through connection, practical resources and accessible learning.

Now in its sixth year, StrikeUP has engaged more than 22,000 women entrepreneurs across Canada and has grown into a national touchpoint for founders navigating uncertainty, change and growth. The February 26 conference builds on that momentum, bringing women together for a single day that balances practical insight with meaningful connection.

While the event features expert-led conversations and workshops, organizers say the most powerful moments often happen between sessions, when women connect with peers who understand the realities of entrepreneurship. That emphasis on connection is intentional and continues to shape how StrikeUP is designed.

Throughout the day, attendees will have multiple ways to connect with one another and with ecosystem partners, whether they are looking for targeted introductions, informal conversation or focused discussion around shared challenges and goals. The conference structure is designed to make networking feel natural and relevant, creating space for real exchange rather than surface-level interaction.

“Many women entrepreneurs are building businesses without a lot of built-in peer support,” said Heather Cannings, Women Entrepreneurship and StrikeUP Canada Lead at Nventure. “StrikeUP creates an environment where those connections happen naturally and where founders can exchange ideas in ways that are immediately useful.”

In addition to the live experience, attendees will have access to curated digital resources and materials intended to extend the value of the conference beyond the day itself. Together, these elements reflect StrikeUP’s broader role as a connector within Canada’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Co-presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative® and Export Development Canada (EDC), StrikeUP 2026 takes place on February 26, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST. The conference is free to attend, with registration open at www.strikeup.ca.

About StrikeUP Canada

Founded by Nventure, StrikeUP Canada hosts Canada’s flagship digital conference unites women entrepreneurs and the women entrepreneurship ecosystem, to foster equity and inclusive economic growth through entrepreneurship. Throughout the year, StrikeUP Canada also delivers free webinars showcasing the diversity and ambition of Canadian women entrepreneurs with accessible programming focused on growth, funding, networking, digital adoption and global opportunities.

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For more information, please contact: 

Daniela Scoppa

Marketing and Communications Manager

Nventure

dscoppa@nventure.ca

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