The 12-week hybrid program supports women-led tech startups with mentorship, training and investor readiness to drive innovation.
Earlier this month, IDEA Mississauga hosted a showcase celebrating the conclusion of EmpowHER Tech Launchpad, a 12-week program designed to help women-led tech companies grow their businesses and expand their market reach. The program is in partnership with York University’s YSpace. This is one of several initiatives the IDEA Mississauga hosts and facilitates to support local businesses in accelerating their growth path.
The event brought together founders, mentors, investors, and community partners to celebrate the entrepreneurs’ successful completion of the fall 2025 session. Over the past three months, participants received expert-led training, one-on-one mentorship, and investment readiness sessions to strengthen their strategies for long-term success.
The showcase, held at Mississauga City Hall’s C Banquets, featured inspiring pitches from companies developing solutions in B2B SaaS, Blockchain and Fintech, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) in the Food & Beverages sector and sustainability. Founders shared how the program helped them refine growth strategies, attract investors, and expand their workforce.
Success stories include LOCVM founded by Angelique Bernabe; Deal Bodies founded by Krys Lunardo and Trycycle Toys founded by Meghan Trivedi. All companies leveraged EmpowHER’s mentorship to launch solutions, pitch to investors and unlock business avenues across the GTA. Through the partnership between IDEA Mississauga and YSpace, the program helps build an inclusive tech sector rooted in innovation, resilience, and leadership.
For more details about future cohorts, program highlights, and participant stories, visit IDEA Mississauga’s EmpowHER Tech Launchpad webpage.
About IDEA Mississauga
IDEA Mississauga, powered by Invest Mississauga, brings together industry, government, education, and organizational leaders to help start-ups and scale-ups accelerate ideas and commercialize solutions. IDEA offers entrepreneurs a full suite of resources to support their growth, including tailored programs, services, and a strong network of mentors, partners, and talent. From start-up to scale-up, the IDEA team is dedicated to driving innovation and turning entrepreneurs’ ideas into reality.
About YSpace
YSpace is York University’s pan-university entrepreneurship and innovation hub supporting scale-ups, start-ups, and entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors and communities. YSpace’s programming spans from scaling innovative technologies through customer and investor capital to advancing agri-food businesses into mass retail. YSpace also focuses on diversity initiatives like ELLA powered by Desjardins for women-led businesses and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) for Black-led businesses. Additionally, through the Start-Up Visa program, YSpace is building a robust ecosystem that drives positive change and empowers entrepreneurs to shape the future.
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