SheBoot program

An investment in the next generation of women entrepreneurs.

Get your startup investment ready and pitch to win a minimum of a $150,000 grand prize

SheBoot is an Ottawa-based six-week bootcamp that prepares founders to pitch their business and secure investment.

To date, we have graduated two cohorts and awarded over $300,000 of funds to women entrepreneurs building exciting, scalable businesses. Find out more about Sheboot’s first and second cohorts.

Cohort #3 is set to launch in fall 2022. Applications will open in March 2022. Until then, you can connect with our team at any time to ask questions and learn more.

A women-led bootcamp for women-led businesses

Together, Capital Angel Network and Invest Ottawa built this bootcamp to help scalable technology and technology-enabled women-led businesses tackle tough challenges like:

✔ Access to capital

✔ Access to mentors

Our objective

1. Help more women founders access capital.

2. Have more women investing in startups.

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Why the name
SheBoot?

Urban dictionary defines “SheBoot” as, “a film or television property that is rebooted and recast with women in roles played by men in the original material.”

This production and cast are women-led.

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The Bootcamp

SheBoot is designed and delivered by leading women from across our ecosystem: a collective of seasoned entrepreneurs, angel investors, and all-around success experts.

It’s your chance to learn from these high-achieving trailblazers, all of whom are committed to your success. It’s also an opportunity to build your network of peers – fellow entrepreneurs who want to see you succeed.

What to expect

The SheBoot boot camp takes place over six weeks. Cohort #3 will run from September 12 until October 24, 2022. If accepted, prepare to commit a minimum of one day per week to the program.

Be ready to rapidly develop skills, build your network, and perfect your business pitch through workshops, mentorship, coaching and more.

Beyond bootcamp, every cohort graduate benefits from a dedicated coach and ghost board of experts, which means you can anticipate an additional nine months+ of continued support!

The details are to come, but you can count on:

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Investors introductions

The Capital Angel Network is a group of angel investors committed to building the region’s entrepreneurial community. Get to know their members and be introduced to the network, which extends across and far beyond Ottawa’s ecosystem.

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Business coaching

Get matched with a dedicated business coach who will work as your program guide.
Get to know you and your business
Increase your accountability and focus
Ask tough questions
Help make connections
And, more!

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Specialized mentorship

Learn from experienced mentors with specialized skills during hands-on sessions.
Investors
Accountants
Lawyers
Entrepreneurs
And, more!

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Masterclass workshops

The curriculum is designed to ready you and your business to secure investment.
Finance
Legal
Pitching
Sales and marketing
And, more!

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Continued support

The support doesn’t end when the bootcamp does. Similar to an advisory board, each SheBoot company is paired with high profile executives, entrepreneurs and professionals who lend their expertise, provide advice and make recommendations to support the founder’s investment and growth plans beyond the six-week bootcamp.

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A peer network

Be a part of a founder community. Leave our bootcamp with a robust network of ambitious game-changers you can lean on, learn from, and grow with.

The finale: pitch to win a grand prize of a minimum of $150,000 in investment!

SheBoot’s 6-week bootcamp concludes with a celebration and pitch finale. Finalists pitch their business to a panel of investors who select our winners.

The program prepares each founder to compete for the grand prize of $150,000 in equity-based funding. This top prize is an investment made by 20 women investors in the Capital Angel Network. Although there is a top prize, a second-place winner will also be awarded $50,000 in investment.

Additional information

The top prize money is awarded in the form of a convertible loan.

What is a convertible loan? It’s a short-term debt that converts into equity. The basic terms are below.

    • An interest rate of 8% per annum
    • A discount rate of 20%
    • Term of 5 years
    • Capped price of $2.5 million CDN

Get involved!

Passionate people make this program possible.

Do you want to support women-led startups as a mentor? Get in touch with Erin Seegmiller, Manager, Early Stage Programs, at [email protected].

Are you interested in angel investment and exploring the opportunity to join the Capital Angel Network? Connect with Julia Elvidge, SheBoot Leader and Investor, at [email protected].

Is this the program for you?

Apply if your startup is:

  • Women-led, meaning a woman has significant ownership of the business (33% minimum) and holds the title of CEO, COO or CTO;
  • Prepared with a clear vision of the product and defined roadmap to reach identified markets and target segments;
  • Innovative, scalable, and a tech or tech-enabled startup;
  • Showing initial signs of traction, i.e. customer feedback, beta tested or generating revenue;
  • Looking for support and mentorship;
  • Ready to put insight into action; and
  • Eager to join a founder community.

Don’t count yourself out.
We know, just like every business, situations are unique. If you’re not sure your company qualifies for SheBoot, don’t give up – get in touch. 

Applications are closed.
Applications are currently closed but they are set to open again in March!

Press

SheBoot is newsworthy. That’s why it’s capturing attention.

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Stay up-to-date

Interested in receiving updates regarding Invest Ottawa’s women-initiatives?

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Contact us

Have questions about the program or the application process? Want to know how you can get involved? Don’t hesitate, get in touch with our team.

Send Erin Seegmiller, Manager, Early Stage Programs, an email at [email protected].

SheBoot extends special thanks to the following partners:

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