IDEA Mississauga has wrapped its 2025 EmpowHER Tech Launchpad, marking a significant expansion of its flagship program supporting women led tech ventures. What began as a six week pilot last year has now evolved into a 12 week intensive designed to deepen founder support, sharpen investor readiness, and accelerate scalable technology businesses. The program is delivered in partnership with York University’s YSpace, which has supported more than 1200 women led ventures over the past seven years.
This year’s cohort brought together 10 emerging companies building across sectors such as health tech, fintech, skincare, B2B SaaS, and consumer products. The expanded format reflects a growing demand for structured, high impact programming tailored to women founders in Canada’s tech ecosystem.
With a diverse mix of founders and products, this year’s cohort showcased a range of standout innovations. Among the ten participating companies, three in particular captured strong attention for their market potential and early traction. These include LOCVM, Deal Bodies, and Trycycle Toys.
Pitch Competition Winners
LOCVM – Angélique Bernabé, Ph.D., Founder
The Canada wide health tech platform is streamlining locum staffing for physicians and clinics with tools for job postings, secure scheduling, and integrated payments. Already active in Ontario, the company is gearing up for national expansion.
Deal Bodies – Krys Deal Lunardo, Founder
A clinically driven skincare startup creating waterless, concentrated body care products. With a focus on clean formulations and reusable eco conscious packaging, the company is positioning itself as a sustainability forward alternative in personal care.
Trycycle Toys – Meghan Trivedi, Founder
A subscription based toy rental service that delivers curated, theme based toy chests for preschoolers. Families swap chests every two months, reducing household clutter and promoting sustainable play through guided learning experiences.
A Program Built for Scale
The 2025 Launchpad offered up to $200,000 in business resources per company, covering mentorship, strategic growth planning, and investor preparation. With its expanded curriculum, the initiative aims to equip founders with the tools needed to compete in an increasingly sophisticated tech landscape.
“EmpowHER Tech Launchpad is more than a program, it’s a platform for women entrepreneurs to lead in technology driven industries,” said Sneha Punwani, Supervisor at IDEA Innovation Hub and program lead. “This year’s expanded program reflects our commitment to fostering innovation and creating pathways for women led businesses to thrive while the founders leverage a peer community.”
With its largest iteration to date now complete, IDEA Mississauga is signaling a strong push toward cultivating the next wave of women led innovation, both within the city and across Canada’s growing tech sector.
