BDC Thrive Lab for Women (co-investment)

In plain language

BDC's $100M collaborative lab — part of the $500M Thrive Platform launched in 2024 — co-invests alongside 25 Canadian partners in women-led businesses with a social-impact thesis tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Not a direct-apply program: NL women founders need to engage one of the co-investment partners (Sandpiper Ventures is the closest Atlantic option). Impact alignment is strictly enforced — generic SaaS without a measurable social outcome will not fit. Tickets scale with the co-investor's round. Best for women founders with real traction and a genuine impact mission, not a retrofit pitch.

Who qualifies

What you'll have to report

Portfolio-level reporting, impact measurement aligned to UN SDGs, board/observer rights, annual financials.