The tech sector’s gender gap is more than a statistic—it’s a barrier to innovation and economic growth. In Canada, women hold just a quarter of roles in the industry, and the cleantech space is no exception. To drive real progress and build a sustainable economy, we need to champion women in leadership.

Web Summit offers a powerful case study: When the event launched in 2015, the event organizers acknowledged the underrepresentation of women in tech and, in response, launched initiatives to address this imbalance. Fast-forward to Vancouver 2025, an impressive 44% of participating startups had a woman founder, proving diversity is achievable. By learning from these efforts, we can unlock the full potential of women innovators and leaders, driving Canada towards a cleaner, more prosperous, and equitable future. 

Women supporting women: The role of ecosystem builders

What did Web Summit do to increase the number of women entrepreneurs at the conference? First, they levelled the economic playing field by distributing 10,000 free tickets to women entrepreneurs for their 2016 events. They also launched the Women in Tech program, a global network that offers women founders access to mentors, investors, networking opportunities, and exclusive events. Over the years, the proportion of women founders at Web Summit has risen steadily—with a little more momentum, we could break through the 50% mark next year.

Canada is home to a vibrant ecosystem of organizations that champion women entrepreneurs and help them gain access to the resources they need. Every founder benefits from early-stage champions—mentors, investors, or partners who help turn an idea into impact. Founders and leaders who are women often face steeper climbs, from funding gaps to limited access to networks, making these resources invaluable. 

Many of the organizations leading this work in Canada are women-led, including Foresight Canada, NorthX, Invest Vancouver, Alacrity, Digital Supercluster, Ocean Supercluster, and the Ocean Startup Project. All of these organizations were present at Web Summit Vancouver, amplifying their networks, elevating women founders, and demonstrating what’s possible when women support women.

BC women leaders are making waves around the world

British Columbia is home to a growing community of women founders and tech leaders, and many of them seized the opportunity to take the stage at Web Summit to share their ideas, showcase cutting-edge technologies, and represent the strength of BC’s innovation ecosystem.

As part of the Climate Innovation Zone at Web Summit Vancouver, Foresight Canada, NorthX, Alacrity, Innovation UBC, and the Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) created a platform for exchange by hosting several women leaders and founders, including:

• Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight Canada

• Jacquie Griffiths, President at Invest Vancouver 

• Kiersten Enemark, Director of BC Affairs at Council of Canadian Innovators

• Sze-Mei Yeung, Partner at Richards Buell Sutton LLP 

• Claire Neale, Water Market Lead, Western Canada at AtkinsRéalis

• Heidi Horlacher, Senior Environmental Geoscientist at City of Vancouver

• Sabrina Scott, CEO of Cement Cycle

• Brittany Courvoisier-Nicol, Co-Founder and Head of Product at CRWN.ai

• Milana Trifkovic, CCO and Co-Founder of EnviCore Inc.

• Melanie Anne Bitner, CMO and Co-Founder of FireSwarm Solutions

• Sarah Meimanat Soleimanifar, Co-Founder and Director at InnoCast Concrete

• Ranah Chavoshi, CEO and Co-Founder of PhyCo Technologies

• Annie Dahan, Founder and Bio-based Material Designer at Seacork Studio Inc

All emphasized that this is not a time for quiet excellence, but a time to position Canada as a world leader in the clean economy.

Web Summit also launched its own PITCH session, and the final three companies were all founded or co-founded by women based in Vancouver. The trophy went to Lite-1, a sustainable dye developer on a mission to replace toxic, synthetic dyes with sustainable, regenerative pigments.

The strength of women in leadership at Web Summit made one thing abundantly clear: women are at the forefront of developing critical, diverse climate solutions for a sustainable future economy. The conference provided them with a platform to showcase their incredible work.

Women in tech: Strategies for representation

Gender parity is possible, but it doesn’t happen by accident. As with supporting all underrepresented groups, it takes decisive action to make it a reality. Here's how we increase women in tech: Invest in women-led startups; increase visibility of successful women in tech as role models; and build inclusive networks of mentors, peers, and decision makers.

Conferences like Web Summit play an important role in amplifying the visibility of women as founders and leaders, actively carving out space for women in tech to be seen, heard, and celebrated on the global stage. Parity and diversity strengthen our net zero progress. As one of the most successful tennis players and now investor, Serena Williams once said: “We are strongest when we cheer each other on.”

Nina Bader is the Manager of Water at Foresight Canada.