BDC Thrive Lab for Women
Impact investorMontréal · Pre-Seed–Seed
Investment thesis
The Thrive Lab for Women commits $100 million in equity and equity-like investments to women-led, impact-driven businesses whose objectives align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including food security, responsible agriculture, health and well-being, education, reduced inequalities, and responsible consumption. Operating as a collaborative lab, it works with 25 co-investment partners who source, pre-qualify, and recommend companies. The initial focus is on early-stage businesses that pursue social impact while generating financial returns. Companies must be actively raising capital and be vetted by a BDC-approved co-investment partner or funded through an investment contest, with support offered through capital, resources, and mentorship.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
What they invest in
from 3 of 4 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×1Biotech ×1Circular Economy ×1Data & Infrastructure ×1Fintech ×1New Materials ×1Retail Tech ×1
HQs:Canada×3
Investments · 4 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathDevelops proprietary pet food formulations using sustainable novel ingredients such as insects, fungi, and algae to replace animal proteins, aiming for hypoallergenic, nutrient-dense, and environmentally sustainable products.
Co-investorsBDC Fund Investments (Fund-of-Funds)BDC Venture CapitalSheBoot
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) provides financing, advisory services, and educational resources to Canadian entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses.
Fintech
Co-investorsBDC Climate Tech Fund IIBDC Fund Investments (Fund-of-Funds)BDC Growth Venture FundBDC Industrial Innovation Venture FundBDC Life Sciences Venture FundBDC Seed Venture Fund+8 more
BetterCart Analytics provides price, promotion, and assortment analytics for retailers and CPG companies, drawing on what it describes as Canada's largest grocery price database.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureRetail Tech
Co-investorsCo.LabsStartup TNT
Dispersa manufactures biosurfactants derived entirely from food waste, offering a platform of biodegradable bioproducts such as its flagship PuraSurf M ingredient for home, industrial, and institutional (HI&I) formulations.
BiotechCircular EconomyNew Materials
Co-investorsFront Row VenturesNàdarra VenturesBoxOne Ventures
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
BDC Capital · betakit.com · Aug 20, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does BDC Thrive Lab for Women invest at?
- BDC Thrive Lab for Women invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What sectors does BDC Thrive Lab for Women focus on?
- BDC Thrive Lab for Women focuses on AgTech, EdTech, FemTech, FoodTech, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is BDC Thrive Lab for Women located?
- BDC Thrive Lab for Women is headquartered in Montréal, CA.
- Who does BDC Thrive Lab for Women co-invest with?
- BDC Thrive Lab for Women most often shares deals with BDC Fund Investments (Fund-of-Funds), Startup TNT, BDC Venture Capital, among 19 tracked co-investors.
Images
Similar investors
Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture firm, backed by a community of founders and operators as LPs, that writes early checks (including pre-seed) into startups across many sectors and geographies.
WakeUp Capital is an early-stage climate and impact venture capital firm based in Ireland, backing tech-driven founders working on climate resilience and social equity.
Norrsken VC is a European early-stage venture capital firm investing in technology addressing major global challenges across energy, industry and healthcare, born out of the Norrsken ecosystem for impact-focused founders.
500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) is a venture capital firm whose flagship Silicon Valley strategy backs promising technology companies from pre-seed onward across a range of sectors and geographies.
IMPAQTO Capital is an impact investment fund providing revenue-based financing to early-stage impact-driven startups in the Andean region, addressing the 'missing middle' financing gap.