We had our first Women Founders Investment Preparedness session this week. The session centred on how personal lived experience shapes entrepreneurship, with Gurbeen Bhasin, sharing how her journey as a refugee informs the way she builds and leads.
There was a strong emphasis on purpose-driven business, where founders align their “why” with both social impact and sustainable growth.
The conversation highlighted the role of social enterprises, access to funding through grants and social services, and the importance of engaging communities through tools like focus groups.
The concept of a circular economy was introduced as a way to rethink how businesses create value while minimizing waste and supporting long-term impact.
Key Takeaways
- Your background and lived experience shape the foundation upon which to build your business.
- Purpose matters, but it needs to be paired with a clear and practical “how” to be sustainable.
- Social enterprises offer multiple pathways to funding, including grants and public support systems. We will be discussing alternatives to investment on the May 19th session with guest panellists from different financial organizations.
- Engaging your community through focus groups and feedback is critical to building something meaningful and relevant.
- A circular economy challenges founders to think beyond profit and consider long-term environmental and social impact.
- Strong businesses balance people, planet, profit, and purpose in a way that is intentional and measurable.
At the end of the day, this work is about building from who we are, being intentional about our impact, and creating businesses that actually reflect the kind of world we want to live in. I’m looking forward to the upcoming sessions, where we can get to know more about the founders behind the businesses.
Inclusive Entrepreneurship 