News Summary

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has introduced a $50 million fund dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs in acquiring businesses from retiring owners. Amidst a wave of aging Canadian entrepreneurs planning to retire, the Thrive Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Fund provides capital, training, and mentorship to facilitate women-led business acquisitions. This initiative aims to address the gender imbalance in business ownership by supporting over 60 women entrepreneurs in Canada. The fund includes $10 million for indirect investments in private equity funds and $40 million for direct equity investments in search funds and management buyouts. The Thrive ETA Fund also features an accelerator program to assist women in sourcing, negotiating, and managing business acquisitions. This move follows a similar $100 million initiative by BDC and First Nations Bank of Canada to support Indigenous groups. BDC’s latest efforts reflect its broader strategy to boost the Canadian ETA and search fund ecosystem while addressing the underrepresentation of women in business ownership.