ELLA Ascend

Overview of the ELLA Ascend program:

ELLA Ascend is part of the ELLA (Entrepreneurial Leadership & Learning Alliance) suite of programs housed at York University’s innovation hub, YSpace. This program is specifically designed for women entrepreneurs who are in the post-revenue phase and are looking to grow and scale their businesses. It runs for four months and provides a carefully structured combination of mentorship, peer-to-peer engagement, expert-led workshops, and strategic advisory sessions. The program’s mission is to support women entrepreneurs who are building strong, scalable businesses and to close the gender gap in entrepreneurship. The program is tailored to meet the unique needs of women entrepreneurs, focusing on refining business models, developing growth strategies, and increasing market reach. It encourages participants to challenge their comfort zones and engage in collaborative learning environments, surrounded by like-minded peers and successful business leaders. ELLA Ascend also gives participants access to a network of advisors, investors, and ecosystem players critical to business scaling. In addition to programming, ELLA provides accountability structures and one-on-one mentorship with entrepreneurs-in-residence and industry experts. The program is fully virtual and free to attend, allowing participation from across Canada. Past participants have reported substantial revenue growth and new strategic partnerships as a result of their involvement.

Benefits of the ELLA Ascend program:

• 4-month structured program with curated content and personalized growth planning
• Weekly goal-setting and accountability sessions
• Bi-weekly workshops led by subject-matter experts
• One-on-one mentorship with entrepreneurs-in-residence
• Access to a network of advisors, funders, investors, and ecosystem partners
• Peer support and collaboration with other high-potential women entrepreneurs
• Virtual participationaccessible from anywhere in Canada
• Free to attendno program fees required

Eligibility criteria of the ELLA Ascend program:

• To qualify for ELLA Ascend, applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Business must be at post-revenue stage (already generating consistent revenue)
• Women-led: The business must be at least 50% women-owned and have a woman in a leadership role
• Canadian-based: The founder and business must be located in Canada
• Commitment: Participants must be willing to engage actively and consistently throughout the 4-month program
• Industry-agnostic: Open to both product-based and service-based businesses across various sectors