Six years ago, we had an idea. 💡
A belief that women weren’t just participants in the economy—they were leaders, investors, and wealth creators. So we gathered 70 women in a Calgary kitchen, poured some wine and decided to rewrite the rules of finance.
We weren’t waiting for permission. We weren’t asking for a seat at the table. We were building the damn table!
What started as a conversation is now a movement: A 35,000-strong community, and a national force reshaping the financial landscape.
While the journey was planned, the road has been unforeseen, but the milestones speak for themselves. Here are six win to celebrate our six years 👇
1. Built a community of 35,000+ investors, founders, and allies
2. Launched a pilot early-stage investing program in partnership with Haskayne School of Business, ultimately becoming one of Movement51's flagship programs: The Financial Feminism Investing Lab
3. A platform to raise three funds: Fund I, Fund I and The51 Food & Ag Tech fund (closing at an impressive $51M)
4. Our General Partners Shelley Kuipers and Judy Fairburn were recognized as one of The Globe and Mail's 50 Changemakers in 2023
5. Launched a Founder Community and hosted events coast to coast (within 36 hours!)
6. Supporting the launch of Canada’s first professional women’s football league by facilitating investment into the Calgary Wild FC team
And we’re just getting started.
Now, we’re at a turning point in the economy. Women are set to control nearly half of Canada’s wealth by 2030 and already drive the majority of consumer spending. And yet, investment trends haven’t caught up. Women-led businesses still receive a fraction of venture capital, despite consistently building high-growth, high-impact companies.
That’s not just a gap. That’s an untapped financial opportunity. By 2030, The51 is raising the stakes: catalyzing $2.5 billion in women-led capital to fuel an economic shift. A future where women-led businesses aren’t just funded—they’re scaling, competing, and defining market growth.
The next six years? They’re about ownership.
More capital. More investors. More women driving the economy forward.
Today, we cheers to us. 🥂
Tomorrow, we build what’s next.