An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants
Open, continuous intake Partly repayable

Waubetek Indigenous Women's Entrepreneurship Program

by Waubetek Business Development Corporation

Also known as: Indigenous Women Entrepreneur Micro-Loan Fund · Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund · IWE (Waubetek)

Waubetek runs two funds for Indigenous women entrepreneurs in North-Eastern Ontario: a Micro-Loan Fund up to $20,000 (45% non-repayable, 50% repayable, 5% cash equity) and a Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund up to $50,000 (fully repayable; total financing package capped at $100,000). Interest is prime plus up to 4% based on risk, with 3-5 year terms. A mentorship stream adds up to $3,000 for mentees over six months. Intake is continuous.

Amount
Up to $50,000 Micro-Loan Fund: up to $20,000 (45% non-repayable). Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund: up to $50,000, fully repayable, total financing package must not exceed $100,000. Mentorship: up to $3,000 mentee grant over 6 months ($1,000 mentor honorarium). Interest: prime plus up to 4% based on risk; terms 3-5 years This award range, $50,000, against every tracked amount from $1,000 to $500,000,000, on a logarithmic scale.

Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.

waubetek.com · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

$50,000. Total financing package must not exceed $100,000

Instrument
Mixed instruments
Status
Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
Your share
5% matching required 5% cash equity required under both funds

waubetek.com · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Who qualifies
Businesses 51%+ Indigenous ownership
  • sole-proprietorship
  • partnership
  • corporation
  • Indigenous women 18+; First Nations and Inuit with documentation
  • Micro-Loan Fund requires 51% ownership by the applicant; Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund requires 50%+ Indigenous women ownership
  • Service area is North-Eastern Ontario; district mapping approximate, confirm with Waubetek

waubetek.com · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Where
Greater Sudbury (single-tier census division) · Sudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury) · Manitoulin District · Nipissing District · Algoma District · Timiskaming District · Cochrane District · Parry Sound District8 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program.Algoma District: eligibleCochrane District: eligibleGreater Sudbury (single-tier census division): eligibleKenora District: not eligibleManitoulin District: eligibleNipissing District: eligibleParry Sound District: eligibleRainy River District: not eligibleSudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury): eligibleThunder Bay District: not eligibleTimiskaming District: eligible

8 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.

Built for
Indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses Startups & new entrepreneurs Small business, expansion

Do you have to pay this back?

Micro Loan Fund: Max $20,000: 50% repayable, 45% non-repayable, 5% cash equity. Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund: Max $50,000, fully repayable, no forgivable portion or grant.

waubetek.com · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

How conditional contributions and repayable splits work

How do you apply?

Call first. This funder expects contact with a program officer before you apply.

  1. Contact Waubetek (1-705-285-4275 / waubetek@waubetek.com)
  2. Prepare business plan with a Business Development Officer
  3. Submit application
  4. Loan/contribution package approved and disbursed

waubetek.com · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Common questions

Which Waubetek women's fund includes a grant portion?

Only the Micro-Loan Fund (max $20,000): 45% is a non-repayable contribution, 50% repayable, plus 5% cash equity. The larger Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (max $50,000) has no forgivable portion.

What interest rate does Waubetek charge?

Prime rate plus up to 4% depending on risk, with repayment over 3 to 5 years (5 years under the Loan Fund).

Who is eligible?

First Nations and Inuit women 18+ in North-Eastern Ontario. The Micro-Loan Fund requires 51% ownership; the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund requires the business be at least 50% owned by Indigenous women.

Is there a mentorship option?

Yes, mentees can receive up to $3,000 over 6 months and mentors a $1,000 honorarium over the same period.

Other streams of NACCA Indigenous Women's Entrepreneurship (IWE) initiative

Funders publish these as one program with several streams. The terms differ by stream.

Where else could this money come from?

Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.

  • Waubetek Business Financing Program Open, continuous intake
    same funder (Waubetek Business Development Corporation); both for indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses and startups & new entrepreneurs; waubetek — Up to $99,999
  • MVDF Business Financing Open, continuous intake
    both for indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses and startups & new entrepreneurs; loan — Up to $1,500,000
  • Tourism Excellence North Open, continuous intake
    both for small business, expansion; mentorship — Not published

Guides that cover this program

Notes on this record

Verified from the official page 2026-08-17. Waubetek delivers this under the national NACCA-coordinated Indigenous Women's Entrepreneurship initiative; NADF delivers the equivalent in NADF's service area (see nadf-indigenous-women).

Apply

Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there:

www.waubetek.com