News

StrikeUP and The Scotiabank Women Initiative Empower Women Entrepreneurs with Grant Funding Workshop

Cobourg, ON –  StrikeUP Canada is delighted to announce the return of The Scotiabank Women Initiative® as an esteemed co-presenting partner for StrikeUP 2024, Canada’s leading digital conference for women entrepreneurs. 

Launching this winter on February 29, 2024, StrikeUP will unite over 4,000 women entrepreneurs from every corner of Canada, granting them access to mentorship, financing opportunities, and a powerful network of like-minded individuals. In a shared commitment to advancing equity and fostering inclusive economic growth, this year’s conference agenda will feature a workshop hosted by Pocketed, a women-owned partner of The Scotiabank Women Initiative, for a dynamic session to help business owners leverage the power of government funding.

The session titled “Accelerate Your Growth with Grants and Tax Credits,” will provide attendees with professional guidance on navigating the grant landscape, identifying suitable grants and incentive programs for their businesses. Participants will also gain insights on how to access the Pocketed platform, and have the opportunity to explore the benefits and resources offered through The Scotiabank Women Initiative.

The Scotiabank Women Initiative is a comprehensive program designed to increase access to financial and professional opportunities for Scotiabank clients who identify as women or non-binary people, to succeed on their own terms. The Scotiabank Women Initiative provides specialized workshops and events that connect women with like-minded peers, growth opportunities, and expert mentors to advance their businesses, wealth, and careers. Scotiabank is proud to partner with StrikeUP for the fourth year to connect women entrepreneurs. 

“We are pleased to be collaborating with The Scotiabank Women Initiative to provide valuable expertise on grant and incentive programs tailored to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs across the country.” expressed Wendy Curtis, Executive Director of NCFDC. “Women entrepreneurs are actively seeking capital. Whether they’re in the early stages of their business or have more established firms poised for growth, The Scotiabank Women Initiative can support them on their journey to success.”  

StrikeUP will once again reintroduce its innovative virtual video networking platform to facilitate meaningful connections among attendees and provide opportunities to engage directly with The Scotiabank Women Initiative team. This interactive platform will allow participants to dive deeper into the wealth of tools and resources offered through their renowned signature program.   

Join us as we come together to empower, uplift, and create opportunities for prosperity and success for all women entrepreneurs in Canada. Attend StrikeUP 2024 for free by registering now.

StrikeUP was founded in partnership with the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).  

About StrikeUP

StrikeUP is Canada’s flagship digital conference uniting women entrepreneurs and the women entrepreneurship ecosystem, with a united vision of equity and inclusive economic growth through entrepreneurship. Founded by Northumberland CFDC and presented in partnership with The Scotiabank Women Initiative®Export Development Canada, and MNP, StrikeUP 2024 will showcase the diversity and ambition of Canada’s women entrepreneurs through an accessible program focused on growth, funding, networking, digital adoption and global opportunities. Find out more about StrikeUP’s mission, vision, and community at strikeup.ca.

About The Scotiabank Women Initiative 

The Scotiabank Women Initiative® is an enterprise-wide program designed to increase economic and professional opportunities for our women clients, empowering them to succeed on their own terms. It provides equitable access to financial solutions, specialized education, and inclusive, women-centric advisory services and mentorship to help people who identify as women or non-binary to pursue their best professional and financial futures. For more information, visit scotiabankwomeninitiative.com.

Press and Media Inquiries

For interviews and further information contact:
Victoria Pichler
vpichler@ncfdc.ca 

Scroll to Top

Chantal Lavergne

PANELIST

Founder, Oh Colour Me

Chantal Lavergne is the founder of Oh Color Me, a Canadian company creating simple and bold coloring books designed to make creativity more accessible and less overwhelming. Inspired by her family’s experiences with ADHD and autism, she developed a collection of mini coloring books that encourage people of all ages to unplug, slow down, and enjoy moments of calm.

Drawing on more than a decade of entrepreneurial experience, Chantal has grown Oh Color Me into a brand carried by over 300+ retailers across Canada and the United States in less than 2 years. Passionate about creativity, innovation, and building businesses with purpose, she enjoys sharing her journey as a founder and advocating for products that support well-being and connection.

Ina Maria Toncescu

Panel Moderator

Founder & CEO, noLMIT Marketing

Ina Maria Toncescu is a marketing strategist with over 17 years of experience helping businesses grow with focus, purpose, and measurable results. Across small business, non-profit, and government sectors, she’s led transformative marketing strategies, built systems that last, and landed multi-million-dollar deals using the same frameworks she teaches today. As the founder of noLMIT Marketing, Ina works with clients through corporate marketing training, digital strategy building, website development, search and AI engine optimization, email marketing, and more.

 

Her philosophy is simple: in a world obsessed with AI and flashy branding, the businesses that win are the ones that get the foundations right, storytelling, strategic systems, and genuine connection with the people they serve.

Géraldine Jippé

PANELIST

Founder, Bloossoming House/Co-Founder at AssetsWaves

Géraldine Jippé is the founder of Bloossoming House, a curated ecosystem empowering female founders to thrive and access capital, the creator and host of the Female Founders Networking Breakfast, and the co-founder of AssetsWaves, a blockchain-based platform designed to facilitate digital asset investments.

Domenique Mastronardi

PANELIST

President, Beck’s Broth

Domenique Mastronardi is the President of Beck’s Broth, an innovative collection of bone-broth-based drinks including hot chocolate and coffee. Her specialty is developing and commercializing sustainable foods that are healthy, delicious, and profitable. She heads up Finance and Operations at Beck’s Broth, and just closed their $500K seed round!

Vivian Kaye

Keynote Speaker

Founder, KinkyCurlyYaki

Vivian Kaye is a serial entrepreneur and business educator who bootstrapped KinkyCurlyYaki, a beauty product-based e-commerce brand, to seven figures without outside funding. With over 15 years of experience in operations, inventory management, and digital commerce, she has mentored 1300+ entrepreneurs through programs with Amazon, Shopify, Toronto Public Library, and Humber College’s Longo School of Business.

Featured in The New York Times, Toronto Star, and on CityTV’s Cityline, Vivian has partnered with brands including American Express Canada. Porsche Canada and Desjardins Bank. She brings practical, founder-to-founder insights on building sustainable businesses, scaling without massive budgets, and staying authentic while growing. Her direct, no-nonsense approach cuts through the noise and focuses on what actually works.