Organization · Micro VC
Women's Equity Lab
Women's Equity Lab (WEL) is a venture capital firm based in Victoria, British Columbia, focused on early-stage investments in women-led and women-run businesses. The organization operates as a collective of over 400 women investors across North America.
Overview
What Women's Equity Lab does
What Women's Equity Lab is
Women's Equity Lab (WEL) is a venture capital firm based in Victoria, British Columbia, focused on early-stage investments in women-led and women-run businesses. The organization operates as a collective of over 400 women investors across North America.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Micro VC
- Founded
- Founded in 2017
- Approximate age
- About 9 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Community
- Last reviewed
- March 27, 2026
Official channels
Find Women's Equity Lab elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Women's Equity Lab as a funder
Investment thesis
Women's Equity Lab (WEL) focuses on investing in women-run and women-led businesses, aiming to empower female entrepreneurs and promote gender equity in the startup ecosystem.
Focus narrative
WEL invests in early-stage companies, particularly those that are women-led and based in Canada. The organization is sector-agnostic but emphasizes businesses with strong growth potential and large market opportunities. Investment criteria include having a lead investor, the ability to submit a pitch deck, and some revenue or third-party validation.
Value beyond capital
WEL provides not only financial support but also a network of experienced women investors who can offer mentorship, guidance, and resources to help portfolio companies succeed.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $50,000–$250,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+ · Series A
- Regions
- CanadaNorth America
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 50
Portfolio context
WEL's portfolio spans various industries, including agtech, AI, automotive, biotech, healthcare, fintech, and software. Specific company names and descriptions are not provided.
Capability profile
Women's Equity Lab as a community
Community overview
Women's Equity Lab (WEL) is a community of over 400 women investors across North America, founded in late 2017 in Victoria, British Columbia. The organization focuses on investing in women-run and women-led businesses, directing more than 70% of its investments towards such companies. WEL operates investment groups in various regions, including British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Silicon Valley. With a portfolio of over 50 corporations, WEL aims to empower women investors and foster growth in women-led enterprises.
Community focus
WEL invests in early-stage companies, with a strong preference for women-led and Canadian businesses. The organization is sector-agnostic but emphasizes companies with significant growth potential and large market opportunities. WEL's investment criteria include having a lead investor, the ability to submit a pitch deck, and some revenue or third-party validation.
Member value
Members of WEL benefit from access to a network of women investors, opportunities to invest in women-led startups, and participation in a community that supports gender equity in entrepreneurship. The organization provides a platform for collaboration and investment in promising businesses led by women.
Membership
- Recorded members
- 400
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Investors · Founders
- Benefits
- network-access
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Seed · Seed+
- Regions
- North America
Community activity
Notable members
Stephanie Andrew, Sally Morris, Jane Tucker, Cathy Bennett, Mona Minhas, Ariel Siller.
Common questions
What to know about Women's Equity Lab
Upseed classifies Women's Equity Lab under the Micro VC organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 27, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.