In June 2023, the Federal Government revealed a $25-million program aimed at offering support to Canadian entrepreneurs who identify as members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. The program, called the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program, mirrors the approach of the government’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy and its Black Entrepreneurship Program. It consists of an ecosystem fund, a knowledge hub, and a business scale-up program. It is administered by the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the principal Canadian organization dedicated to helping 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs.
Among a group of 17 organizations, Queertech was selected to deliver the program’s ecosystem fund, which was designed to help organizations offer resources to support 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs.
Queertech began in 2016 as a meetup group to connect 2SLBGTQI+ professionals within the local tech industry. After a few years, it grew from a casual meetup group to a successful non-profit organization headquartered in Montreal. Now, the organization helps empower queer tech professionals through professional development programs and mentorship.
Of the $8 million available through the ecosystem fund, the 17 organizations selected will receive $5.1 million. The government has announced that the remaining funds will be given to organizations in regions “where service gaps still remain”, in order to ensure that there is support across all Canadian regions for the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
In a recent statement, Rechie Valdez, Canada’s Minister of Small Business, encapsulated the importance of the new fund: “Who you are and who you love shouldn’t hurt your business”, she said, “in fact, it should be a part of your success”.
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