Fuel Your Venture’s Growth. Drive Canada’s Prosperity.
Women-led ventures deliver results, generating stronger returns, driving innovation, and creating meaningful jobs. Yet in Canada, this proven engine of economic growth remains underfunded and underestimated. Founder Lab exists to change that.
If you’re a founder building a high-potential company and preparing to raise capital, your success isn’t just about your business; it’s part of a bigger story. Founder Lab helps you sharpen your strategy, strengthen your investor materials, and make the connections that position your venture to scale and thrive, contributing directly to Canada’s innovation economy along the way.
Applications for Founder Lab are now closed. Join our waitlist to be the first to know when applications reopen and stay up to date on future opportunities to prepare for fundraising and scale your venture.
Why Founder Lab?
Founder Lab is built on a simple premise: when women entrepreneurs have access to capital, strategy, and investor networks, they build high-performing companies that fuel growth and innovation.
We know what works, and we know that women founders deliver results. Founder Lab equips high-potential women entrepreneurs with the strategies, tools, and investor access needed to unlock funding, scale their ventures, and drive meaningful economic impact, which benefits not just their businesses but also Canada’s future prosperity. vesting means to them!
How Founder Lab Activates Growth
Founder Lab is not about generic startup advice. It’s a focused, high-impact program built for founders who are serious about raising capital, scaling their businesses, and driving meaningful growth. Participants will:
Build a strong financial strategy and funding roadmap
Develop a credible, investment-ready pitch deck and data room
Strengthen governance, capitalization strategy, and investor alignment
Gain direct access to curated investor networks through Demo Day and targeted introductions
Program Outcomes: Measurable Impact
Founder Lab alumni have collectively raised over $50 million, secured competitive funding rounds, built strategic partnerships, and received national recognition through pitch competitions and industry awards. More than funding alone, the program helps founders build the skills, strategy, and confidence to lead successful, growing ventures long after Demo Day.
Hear from our Alumni
“I spent the last 3 months with some of the most innovative, visionary women I’ve ever met, each one building something from scratch that challenges the status quo. Programs like Movement51 don’t just teach investment strategy. They give women the tools and the community to keep going, to think bigger, and to remind each other we’re not alone in this fight.”
— Venessa Stonehouse, Founder of Mindful FUD
“It’s hard to describe the value of spending time in a cohort like this. What I gained from the Founder Lab was so much more than investor readiness. It was a deep sense of connection, shared purpose, and the reminder that we can take up space, even in rooms that weren’t designed for us.”
— Tina Merry, Founder of Simply Sweet Games
“This week has been nothing short of incredible. I'm leaving with invaluable insights, new frameworks, and a community of badass, brilliant founders who inspire me to build boldly and stay true to my values.”
— Taylor Kawaguchi, Founder of askelle
Is Founder Lab Right for You?
If you're preparing for your next raise and ready to scale your company, Founder Lab is designed for you. This program is built for founders who are:
Preparing to raise capital within the next 6–12 months
Leading women-led ventures across Canada with high-growth potential
Focused on scaling operations, attracting investment, and strengthening governance
Incorporated and headquartered in Canada
MVP-ready or already in market
Not Sure if VC Is Right for You?
Replay our webinar, Are You VC Ready? Understanding Your Funding Options to learn about different funding pathways and determine whether venture capital aligns with your growth strategy.
Watch the replay here.
Want to Learn More?
Take a look at our last info session, where we walked through the program, application process, and how Founder Lab helps founders become investment-ready.
Ready to Accelerate Your Growth?
Raising capital can feel like a daunting process but it shouldn’t be a mystery. Founder Lab helps you build your fundraising strategy, strengthen your investor materials, and connect with the networks that matter most.
Answers to the Questions You Didn't Know You Had
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Founder Lab is fully funded to ensure that the most promising women-led ventures can access the strategies, networks, and tools they need to raise capital and scale — with no cost or equity required to participate.
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The Founder Lab runs in a hybrid format. All core programming takes place virtually, with the in-person Demo Day.
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Applications have closed.
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Early 2027
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Founder Lab is designed for early-stage women-led ventures across Canada that are preparing to raise pre-seed/seed capital within the next 6–12 months. The program is best suited to founders who are actively building toward scaling their companies — with a focus on market opportunity, strong execution plans, and the ambition to contribute meaningfully to Canada’s innovation economy.
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That’s absolutely fine. Founder Lab welcomes ventures with diverse founding teams. To be eligible, the venture must be women-led (meaning at least one co-founder who identifies as a woman holds significant ownership and plays an active leadership role). If your company meets this criterion, your full founding team is welcome and encouraged to participate.
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Yes, co-founders from the same venture are welcome to participate together in the program. All participating team members will benefit from the core workshops and learning sessions focused on fundraising strategy, financial modeling, governance, and pitch preparation. The program also offers dedicated peer sessions designed for women founders, creating space to share insights and experiences specific to navigating entrepreneurship and securing capital.
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Founder Lab provides a structured approach to fundraising. Participants will develop an investment-ready pitch deck and data room, strengthen their governance and financial strategy, and gain access to targeted investor networks through Demo Day and curated introductions. We focus on giving you the tools, insights, and connections to run an effective fundraising process.
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Founder Lab alumni have collectively raised over $50 million. The program is designed to equip ventures for fundraising success, scale operations, and contribute directly to Canada's economic growth and innovation ecosystem.
Once they have been informed, shortlisted candidates will be called in for an interview (conducted remotely). The Movement51 team makes admission decisions after the interview.
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Successful applicants clearly articulate the problem they are solving, provide data-backed market insights, and demonstrate early traction through partnerships, funding, or customer validation. A compelling narrative that connects your business vision to real-world needs combined with innovation, scalability, and a strong understanding of your target market will strengthen your application.
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Once submitted, applications cannot be edited. However, if you are invited to the interview stage, we will request any key updates or changes at that time.
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Each Founder Lab participant will be paired with a mentor and an accountability partner. In addition, founders will benefit from the support of the Movement51 and The51 communities, as well as curated connections to investors and experts.
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Participation in Demo Day is included as part of the Founder Lab program, and there is no fee to take part in the event itself. Founders are responsible for their own travel and accommodation to attend in person.
We recognize that travel costs may be a barrier for some founders. While we aren’t able to cover these expenses at this time, we are actively exploring ways to reduce this challenge in future.
Fueled by
