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

Eight years and 20 funds later, WEL has grown into a cross-Canada network of investment groups creating immediate impact by activating hundreds of women angel investors through a simple and repeatable investment model.

With $6.2M+ invested in over 65+ portfolio companies, WEL is helping shape Canada’s innovation economy and supporting sectors that matter to women.

The WEL Approach

We Want Our Members to Build Wealth and Learn How Capital Works

WEL’s Learning on Investmentᵀᴹ (LOI) model is an investing and learning platform where women participate directly in the investment process. Members collaborate in sourcing deals, conducting due diligence, and making final investment decisions. Together, they build more than a portfolio. They become confident, capable investors.

Benefits of Investing with WEL

Pooled Capital

Pooled Capital

Members contribute a smaller amount into a pooled fund, making angel investing more accessible.

Hands-On Learning

Hands-On Learning

Members learn by doing, with opportunities to participate directly in the investment process.

Collaborative Decisions

Collaborative Decisions

Investment decisions are made collectively, with members contributing their perspectives, expertise, and votes.

Diverse Network

Diverse Network

WEL brings together women from different industries, backgrounds, and levels of investing experience.

Co-Investing Opportunities

Co-Investing Opportunities

Members may have opportunities to invest additional capital alongside WEL funds, where available.

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.

WEL 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

WEL Managing Partners

Across Canada, WEL investment groups are led by local volunteer Managing Partners who support member engagement, founder connections, deal flow, due diligence, and group decision-making.

WEL Atlantic

Johanna Brown

Johanna Brown

Managing Partner

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Kathryn Lockhart

Kathryn Lockhart

Managing Partner

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Laurie MacKeigan

Laurie MacKeigan

Managing Partner

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WEL Calgary

Carolyn Best

Carolyn Best

Managing Partner

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Jennifer Kaufield

Jennifer Kaufield

Managing Partner

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Kelly Galloway

Kelly Galloway

Managing Partner

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Shahr Savizi-Smed

Shahr Savizi-Smed

Managing Partner

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Shanlee Von Vegesack

Shanlee Von Vegesack

Managing Partner

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WEL London

Christina Fox

Christina Fox

Managing Partner

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Erika Oakes

Erika Oakes

Advisor

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WEL Manitoba

Joelle Foster

Joelle Foster

Managing Partner

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Katie Hursh

Katie Hursh

Managing Partner

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Melanie McCreath

Melanie McCreath

Managing Partner

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Mia Balansag

Mia Balansag

Managing Partner

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Trudy Martens

Trudy Martens

Managing Partner

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WEL Montreal

Alec Leclerc

Alec Leclerc

Managing Partner

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Kika Armata

Kika Armata

Advisor

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WEL Toronto

Barbara Henderson

Barbara Henderson

Managing Partner

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Isabelle Morin

Isabelle Morin

Managing Partner

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Jane Tucker

Jane Tucker

Managing Partner

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Jasmine Cumberland

Jasmine Cumberland

Managing Partner

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Sally Morris

Sally Morris

Managing Partner

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WEL Vancouver

Irene Dorsman

Irene Dorsman

Managing Partner

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Janice Cheam

Janice Cheam

Managing Partner

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Karly Cook

Karly Cook

Managing Partner

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Lori Oliver

Lori Oliver

Managing Partner

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Melanie Rupp

Melanie Rupp

Managing Partner

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Stephanie Andrew

Stephanie Andrew

Managing Partner

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WEL Victoria

Claudia Blum

Claudia Blum

Managing Partner

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Elizabeth Dutton

Elizabeth Dutton

Managing Partner

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Lorna Johnson

Lorna Johnson

Managing Partner

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Nadia Tatlow

Nadia Tatlow

Managing Partner

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Stephanie Andrew

Stephanie Andrew

Managing Partner

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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.
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.