About Us

From Participation to Power

The Women’s Equity Lab started in 2017 in a living room in Victoria, BC by Stephanie Andrew and a group of 23 investors and friends. They saw that women were sitting on the sidelines of the innovation economy while the “Great Wealth Transfer” began. They realized that if women don’t direct this capital, someone else will. The WEL Playbook was born.

Moving Forward and
Bound by Shared Success

8 years and 20 funds later, WEL has a cross-Canada network of investment groups that are creating immediate impact by activating hundreds of women angel investors through a simple and repeatable investment model. With $5M invested in over 60 startups, WEL is now a driver in the innovation economy in Canada. And transforming sectors that matter to women.

The WEL Approach

We want to make money, and we want our members to learn how to make money at the same time.

WEL’s Learning On Investment”TM” (LOI) model is an investing and learning platform where women contribute as collaborators in sourcing deals, conducting due diligence, and making final investment decisions. Together they not only build a portfolio, but become confident and capable investors.

Watch Video

Benefits of Investing with WEL

Icon_Minimal Capital

Pooled minimal capital

Icon_Participation

LOITM Hands-on participation

Icon_Collaborative

Collaborative investment decisions

Icon_Networking

Networking with diverse women investors

Icon_Capital

Co-investing for added capital

Leading The Change

WEL is fueled by the collective intelligence of the women in the room. From our National Team to our local volunteer Managing Partners, our leadership brings together a diverse mix of operators and angels who are tired of the status quo. We don’t sit above the process; we are in the trenches with our members, demystifying capital markets and removing barriers. We lead differently because we have to: we are here to turn passive wealth into active power, redefining who gets to sit at the table by building a bigger table.

National Team

Stephanie Andrew

Stephanie Andrew

Board Member

Advisory Team Member

WEL National Director, WEL Victoria Managing Partner and Co-Founder

Sally Morris

Sally Morris

Board Member

Advisory Team Member

WEL Toronto Managing Partner and Co-Founder

Jane Tucker

Jane Tucker

Board Member

Advisory Team Member

WEL Toronto Managing Partner and Co-Founder

Ariel Siller

Ariel Siller

Managing Director

Nagma Dhillon

Nagma Dhillon

National Operations Manager

Atlantic

Johanna Brown

Johanna Brown

Managing Partner

in
Kathryn Lockhart

Kathryn Lockhart

Managing Partner

in
Laurie MacKeigan

Laurie MacKeigan

Managing Partner

in

Calgary

Carolyn Best

Carolyn Best

Managing Partner

in
Jennifer Kaufield

Jennifer Kaufield

Managing Partner

in
Kelly Galloway

Kelly Galloway

Managing Partner

in
Shahr Savizi-Smed

Shahr Savizi-Smed

Managing Partner

in
Shanlee Von Vegesack

Shanlee Von Vegesack

Managing Partner

in

London

Christina Fox

Christina Fox

Managing Partner

in
Erika Oakes

Erika Oakes

Advisor

in

Manitoba

Joelle Foster

Joelle Foster

Managing Partner

in
Katie Hursh

Katie Hursh

Managing Partner

in
Melanie McCreath

Melanie McCreath

Managing Partner

in
Mia Balansag

Mia Balansag

Managing Partner

in
Trudy Martens

Trudy Martens

Managing Partner

in

Montreal

Alec Leclerc

Alec Leclerc

Managing Partner

in
Kika Armata

Kika Armata

Advisor

in

Toronto

Barbara Henderson

Barbara Henderson

Managing Partner

in
Isabelle Morin

Isabelle Morin

Managing Partner

in
Jane Tucker

Jane Tucker

Managing Partner

in
Jasmine Cumberland

Jasmine Cumberland

Managing Partner

in
Sally Morris

Sally Morris

Managing Partner

in

Vancouver

Irene Dorsman

Irene Dorsman

Managing Partner

in
Janice Cheam

Janice Cheam

Managing Partner

in
Karly Cook

Karly Cook

Managing Partner

in
Lori Oliver

Lori Oliver

Managing Partner

in
Melanie Rupp

Melanie Rupp

Managing Partner

in
Stephanie Andrew

Stephanie Andrew

Managing Partner

in

Victoria

Claudia Blum

Claudia Blum

Managing Partner

in
Elizabeth Dutton

Elizabeth Dutton

Managing Partner

in
Lorna Johnson

Lorna Johnson

Managing Partner

in
Nadia Tatlow

Nadia Tatlow

Managing Partner

in
Stephanie Andrew

Stephanie Andrew

Managing Partner

in

Our Partners

It takes bold allies to shift the balance of power. We are grateful to Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) for fueling our national expansion, Osler for generously providing pro-bono legal services, BDC Thrive Lab for catalyzing our growth, and NACO for championing our place in the angel ecosystem. Together, we are building a future where women are equal architects of the innovation economy.

FAQs

Do I need a finance or investing background?
Not at all. Many WEL members join without any formal finance or investing experience. You will find teachers next to CEOs, and artists next to accountants. Our model is built on learning by doing, supported by peers and experienced leaders. Curiosity and participation matter far more than credentials.
How much time is actually required to participate?
WEL is designed to be meaningful but manageable. Most groups meet approximately every six weeks, with optional opportunities to participate more deeply in due diligence or deal sourcing. Members can engage at different levels depending on availability, while still being active participants in investment decisions.
What is my role in making investment decisions?
WEL Members are active participants, not passive observers. You will have the opportunity to review investment opportunities, contribute to group discussions, participate in due diligence, and vote on investment decisions. Decisions are made collectively. Each investor has an equal vote, and a majority threshold is required to proceed.
What happens if I lose my money?
Angel investing is high risk, and not all investments succeed. Some companies may fail or return less than expected. WEL mitigates risk through portfolio diversification, collaborative diligence, and disciplined decision-making, but risk cannot be eliminated. Members should only invest capital they can afford to lose.
Optional questions to include, and if space permits What if I’ve never invested in a startup before?
That is exactly where many of our members begin. A majority of WEL investors are first-time angel investors when they join. You are not expected to arrive as an expert. The learning happens alongside real investment decisions, with guidance and shared responsibility throughout the process.
What makes WEL different from other angel groups or syndicates?
Most angel groups rely on investment committees to make decisions. WEL is different. WEL is an accessible investing and learning environment that emphasizes hands-on participation, collaborative decision-making, and peer learning. Our model also offers co-investment opportunities.