The Flexi-loan Fund for Women, whose pilot project ends on March 31, 2026, provided financial assistance in the form of loans to help part-time women entrepreneurs (flexipreneurs) carry out their business acquisition, succession, start-up, and growth projects. The program also offered free support and tailored activities designed to meet the specific needs of flexipreneurs.

Conclusive results

In total, $1.6 million was invested in 94 businesses led by flexipreneurs, in addition to generating $9.2 million in additional investments.

Thanks to the mobilization of 11 CFDCs and BDCs across Quebec, 178 women benefited from personalized support and received advice adapted to their realities. 162 people participated in the program’s 19 webinars, and 543 took part in networking activities.

Measured impacts

Throughout the project, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in order to identify findings and develop recommendations to help remove the barriers faced by flexipreneurs throughout their entrepreneurial journey. The results of this research, conducted by the Institute for Research on SMEs, will be released at a later date.

Participating CFDCs and BDCs

The project was made possible thanks to the commitment of the 11 participating CFDCs and BDCs: CAE Haute-Yamaska et région, CAE Montmagny–L’Islet, SADC Charlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré–Île d’Orléans, SADC Chibougamau-Chapais, SADC Côte-Nord, SADC Lac-Saint-Jean-Ouest, SADC de la Neigette, SADC des Îles-de-la-Madeleine, SADC Maskinongé, SADC Shawinigan, and SADC Vallée de la Batiscan.