Beyond Boundaries Logo

The Business
Accelerator for

Women Entrepreneurs*

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What is Beyond Boundaries?

Beyond Boundaries is a 5-week hybrid (in-person + virtual) accelerator program in Halton Region that advances women’s economic empowerment. This program supports women entrepreneurs to grow, scale-up their business and reach global markets. ​

Created to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the diversity of women who start and run businesses, the program will offer:​

  • Skills development by expert mentors in key areas including finance, technology, sales and growth​
  • Understanding and exploration of new markets and global opportunities​
  • Mentorship and advisory support​
  • Targeted connections through networking events and strategic introductions ​

Master four key areas of business development

Scale

Sales

Finance

Technology

Program Schedule (Hybrid)

Sessions will take place from 9:30AM – 11:30AM EST. The Kick-off + Think Big & Scale session will take place in-person from 10:00AM-3:00PM EST. Virtual accommodations will be arranged for those who cannot commute to TechPlace.*

Jan 24th • In-Person
Kick-off + Think Big & Scale • Workshop
Jan 26th • Virtual
Think Big & Scale • Mentorship Circle
Jan 31st • Hybrid
Sales Excellence • Workshop
Feb 2nd • Virtual
Sales Excellence • Mentorship Circle
Feb 7th • Hybrid
Financial Acumen • Workshop
Feb 9th • Virtual
Financial Acumen • 1:1 Office Hours
Feb 14th • Hybrid
Technology Strategy • Workshop
Feb 16th • Virtual
Technology Strategy • Mentorship Circle
Feb 28th • In-Person
Graduation Ceremony

*We strongly recommend attending workshops in person if possible to take advantage of the full Beyond Boundaries experience.

Experts and Workshops

Julie Ellis
Haltech Advisor
Think Big & Scale

Learn methods to grow and expand your business and revenue through potential pivoting, exploring new verticals or global markets, or methods to bring new products to market. Gain skills to build your confidence, and shift your mindset to think big and expand your business.

Karen Kelly
Haltech Advisor
Sales Excellence

Expand your approach to selling to accommodate business growth. Explore the ‘science and art of sales’ and proven sales methods including ‘selling the problem’, and strategies to drive behavioural change.

Megan Mistry
BDO Canada
Financial Acumen

Implement the right financing method to best support your business growth. Understand local and global financial considerations to encourage scaling best practices.

Reema Duggal
Haltech Advisor
Technology Strategy

Increase your ability to explore and implement the right technology to support growth and sales. Learn when, and how to tap into existing technology, and when to build your own solution to optimize your business processes.

67
Graduates

Since launching in 2019, Beyond Boundaries has seen 67 local, women-led startups from across Halton graduate from the program.

150
Women-led companies impacted

Beyond Boundaries has impacted over 150 local, women-led startups across Halton.

Ready to scale your startup?

Applications are now closed. Thank you for your interest in Beyond Boundaries.

Application Deadline: Sunday, January 15th, 2023 at 11:59PM EST. Applicants will be contacted on January 17th.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible?

Woman-identifying founders or co-founders with a product or service in market, or with a go-to-market strategy. Eligible businesses are not required to be Haltech clients and are not required to be incorporated in Canada.

Do I need to be a Haltech client to apply?

No – you do not need to be a Haltech client to apply for Beyond Boundaries.

Will the program take place physically or virtually?

The Beyond Boundaries 2023 cohort will be held in a hybrid format. See program schedule for details.

How much does the program cost?

We want to make Beyond Boundaries accessible to even more women founders.  This year we’ve cut the program cost by 50% to $199 CAD. This will be invoiced upon acceptance in January.

When do I pay for the program?

We do not charge any fee to apply for Beyond Boundaries. Instead, we invoice the program fee upon acceptance into the program. Application review will take place on January 16th, 2023, and all applicants will be notified of their acceptance the following day on January 17th, 2023.

When is the deadline to apply?

We have recently adjusted our program schedule. Our new application deadline will be Jan 15th at 11:59PM EST.

Is Beyond Boundaries a 1:1 program?

No. The Beyond Boundaries webinar series consists of four main education sessions, each of which are followed by a group mentorship session. These sessions are taught by one of our experienced mentors to the cohort of enrolled participants. Participants can however request 1:1 time with each mentor free of charge.

Do I have to be located in Halton Region?

You should be able to commute to TechPlace for in-person sessions.

Can a Co-founder or other team member join me in the program?

Absolutely! We welcome you to have any team member(s) join you in experiencing Beyond Boundaries. There is no extra cost to have other team members attend or sit in for you.

Got any other questions? Reach out to info@haltech.ca.

“

“I have participated in other similar programs that were very male dominated and it was a bit of a negative experience. Beyond Boundaries was wonderful and I would do the program again in a heartbeat!”

Rebecca FeatherstoneMusicology
“

“Beyond Boundaries is a must join if you are an entrepreneur looking for a program that helps you get those basic next steps, supports you, and provides a sense of accountability. It gives all those things and more.”

Ro FernandezNova Tools
“

“Whether you are a female entrepreneur just starting out with a solid idea or are further along in your business venture, Beyond Boundaries is chock-full of resources and support with multiple entry points to help scale your business. As a female entrepreneur, I highly recommend it.”

Sue KwiecienCube For All Inc.
“

“Laura and I wanted to thank you, and the whole team, including the behind the scenes wizards, and our fabulous team of coaches, and guest speakers for such a powerful and productive set of modules and mentorship moments that help us focus on the tasks that move us ahead.”

Donna PinsonneaultShe's Got Leggz
“

“Women helping women. Beyond Boundaries provides a unique opportunity to leverage the expertise and experiences of fellow entrepreneurs in a supportive, small group setting.”

Shann McGrailChief Executive Officer, Haltech
“

“Fabulous support from the crew at Beyond Boundaries.”

Mary BaxterBorn to Move
“

“Thanks again for all of your hard work to organize and put together the Beyond Boundaries program over the last few months! I think that everyone really enjoyed the program and found that it was applicable and beneficial to their businesses.”

Remy WarrenRemy International
“

“Thanks in large part to our participation in the ‘Beyond Boundaries’ program, we successfully launched new services, hired staff and began exploring partnership opportunities to evolve new business models and grow revenue.”

Denise BedellExecutive Director, Content Innovo

Sponsors and Supporters

client
client
Enable Education Logo
Bereskin Parr Logo
Sponsorship Opportunities

The Government of Canada is advancing women’s economic empowerment with the first ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), a $2-billion investment that seeks to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025. Doubling the number of women owned businesses requires a strong ecosystem of support, expertise and connections.

As part of WES, Haltech Regional Innovation Centre and the Halton Region Global Business Centre are pleased to introduce an accelerator program designed to unleash the power and potential of women entrepreneurs. Created with the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the diversity of women who start and run businesses.

Le gouvernement du Canada tente de promouvoir l’autonomisation économique des femmes en lançant la stratégie d’entreprenariat au féminin (Women Entrepreneurship Strategy ou WES). Cette initiative unique en son genre met à disposition deux milliards de dollars d’investissement et a pour but de doubler le nombre d’entreprises à propriété féminine d’ici 2025. Un tel objectif nécessite un solide réseau de soutien, des compétences  et l’accès à un réseau de contacts.

Haltech et le Centre de commerce international de la région de Halton sont fiers de présenter un programme qui permettra d’exploiter pleinement le potentiel de l’entrepreneuriat féminin. Mis sur pied en gardant en tête les défis uniques et les opportunités particulières auxquels font face les  femmes qui se lancent en affaires ou qui gèrent une entreprise.

*We recognize that the term “woman” may not encompass the diverse identities of our community. Please note, we welcome and strive to create an inclusive environment for all trans, non-binary, and agender persons and allies.

Highlights