Founded in 2020, Movement51 emerged as the non-profit sister organization to The51 with its bold mission to empower women and gender-diverse individuals in their financial journeys. At the heart of this movement lies a crucial question: how can women, who make up 51 per cent of the population but receive just 22.8 per cent of the venture capital for female co-founded companies — and an even smaller 2 per cent for female-only companies—fully engage in an entrepreneurial landscape that historically doesn't invite them to the table?
Movement51 answers this challenge through education, offering programs focused on early-stage investing and entrepreneurship through a feminist lens.
The Financial Feminism Investing Lab and OCIF's Support
A flagship initiative of Movement51 is its Financial Feminism Investing Lab (FFIL), a five-week virtual program designed to introduce participants to the startup ecosystem while building their confidence as early-stage investors. The lab, which empowers women by expanding their skills terminology and confidence to activate their capital, has had a transformative impact on over 200 graduates—70 per cent of whom are based in Calgary.
A Movement51's Financial Feminism Investing Lab (FFIL) cohort
In 2021, the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) invested up to $333,000 over two years to help Movement51 graduate 155 Calgary-based women from the FFIL. This partnership aims to make Calgary a hub for investment and entrepreneurship, ensuring women are included in important economic discussions.
Shelley Kuipers, Co-CEO and Chief Growth Officer of The51, emphasized the potential of Calgary to become a Financial Feminist Capital in Canada, thanks to this support from OCIF. "The51 is thrilled OCIF has chosen to invest in Movement51 to diversify the investment and entrepreneurial ecosystem, ensuring the 51 per cent are fully participating in building the financial feminist economy," said Kuipers.
Lisa Oldridge, OCIF Director and inaugural Director of Investment of The51, said, “Women comprise 51 per cent of our population but only receive 22.8 per cent of venture capital. Women’s economic empowerment is key to our economic success, and we must fund and create policies that unlock this potential."
This crucial investment reflects a growing recognition that women’s leadership and financial empowerment need to be fostered for Calgary’s economic future to be secured.
Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy
The FFIL program has already had a profound impact on its graduates. Testimonials from alumni like Kewen Wood and Jennifer Apit underscore the transformative power of the lab.
Wood, an alum and entrepreneur, highlighted the lab’s value-aligned approach and real-world case studies, which helped her gain confidence in navigating the early-stage financial landscape.
“As Movement51 alum, the program significantly transformed my knowledge about early-stage investing,” said Wood. “I feel more confident navigating the early-stage financial landscape and grateful for the connections with the Movement51 community.”
Similarly, Apit found that the FFIL provided a safe space to learn about investing while connecting with a community of women and founders on similar financial journeys.
"While I already dabble in the private equity sector, I recognize there is a difference with startups—specifically the risks and the unavailability of information associated with them. As an advocate for innovators and an admirer of founders, I found myself deeply curious about this space. FFIL presented the perfect opportunity for me to break into this field, expand my knowledge and be more confident with my startup investment decisions,” said Apit.
Calgary: A City on the Rise
Movement51’s work is set against the backdrop of Calgary’s burgeoning tech and innovation ecosystem. The city has been rapidly diversifying its economy, transitioning with a new focus on technology, startups, and clean energy. Recent figures highlight Calgary’s emergence as a tech hub, with $8.1 billion in value generated to the Calgary economy by tech startups. This economic shift has attracted increased venture capital interest, making Calgary a fertile ground for investment and innovation.
OCIF's investment in Movement51 comes at a pivotal moment in Calgary’s transformation. The city’s blue sky thinking, and technological innovation offers immense opportunities for women and gender-diverse individuals to lead the way in shaping the future. The partnership between Movement51 and OCIF represents a crucial step in ensuring that the financial benefits of this growth are distributed equitably.
Looking Ahead: Building a Financial Feminist Future
As Calgary continues to evolve as a tech and innovation leader, Movement51’s mission to empower women through financial literacy remains more important than ever. By 2030, an estimated $30 trillion will shift into the hands of women from baby boomers, and women will control 65 per cent of the nation’s wealth. Movement51 aims to ensure that this wealth is not only activated but also used to drive innovation and advance a more equitable economy.
Movement51’s success, fueled by OCIF’s investment, represents more than just a win for women in Calgary—it is a step toward building a financial ecosystem where women can thrive as investors, entrepreneurs, and leaders. The momentum is undeniable, and Calgary is poised to become a global innovation center where women can fully participate in and shape the economy of the future.
Visit the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund page for more information on how its investments spur transformative economic development and equality in Calgary.