CanWIN Summit in Toronto on March 28, 2025

We are thrilled to spotlight the CanWIN Summit, (Canadian Women’s International Network) — a dynamic gathering of global change makers dedicated to advancing inclusive innovation and equitable development.

This year, Reach Alliance sent a delegation of Reach alumni – Sydney Piggott, Thaisa SantAna, Alazne Qaisar, Zoha Sojoudi and Pritika Vij – to attend the summit. With a focus on expanding into international markets, particularly the Asia-Pacific region, the discussions highlighted key themes including navigating regulatory landscapes, securing funding, fostering meaningful partnerships, and driving innovation. 

The Health Tech breakout session explored navigating regulation, commercialization, and funding across the Asia-Pacific region. Entrepreneurs highlighted the crucial role of government-affiliated accelerators in overcoming regulatory challenges and emphasized the importance of partnerships with pharmaceutical companies for scaling. The session also discussed the far-reaching impacts of funding cuts due to shifting macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. Foundations and public-private partnerships, especially at the municipal and provincial levels, emerged as promising sources of support for early-stage ventures. The session concluded with a shared sentiment that strong relationships are key to entrepreneurial success—“people invest in people”—with participants exchanging contact information and words of gratitude.

The Clean Tech & Green Transitions session featured leading women entrepreneurs discussing the challenges of Canada’s regulatory environment alongside the opportunity of expanding into Asia’s dynamic markets. While Canada’s regulatory landscape often slows innovation, entrepreneurs are finding more success in countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea, which offer supportive frameworks for technology development and commercialization. “Asia is not just open, it’s ready,” one participant noted. The session emphasized that local partnerships are critical to success in Asia—beyond just market entry, they enable market integration through mutual trust and co-development.

In the ICT breakout session, entrepreneurs from various sectors, including AgriTech, pharmaceuticals, and social impact, shared lessons on creating partnerships in the Asia-Pacific. Key insights included navigating cultural and gender dynamics, identifying high-opportunity markets like Vietnam and Singapore, and leveraging government support from agencies like BDC and EDC. A major takeaway was the need for a centralized platform to help entrepreneurs grow internationally amid shifting trade alliances, blending practical advice with optimism for future opportunities.

The summit concluded with a panel moderated by Joseph Wong, U of T Vice-President, International Affairs, Professor, Department of Political Science & Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy (and founder of The Reach Alliance) which focused on geopolitical risk and supply chain uncertainty. Panelists highlighted global diversification as a strategy for both risk management and growth, stressing the importance of proactive engagement in new markets to build trust and stronger relationships. Trusted partners, like the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, were seen as vital in navigating these challenges. Additionally, Canadian companies can leverage Canada’s reputation for diversity and inclusion as a global advantage.The CanWIN Global Summit highlighted the transformative power of equipping women entrepreneurs with the right networks, knowledge, and resources.

Key takeaways from the summit emphasized the importance of culturally sensitive strategies when expanding into Asia-Pacific markets, the value of mission-aligned local partnerships, and how global diversification can drive sustainable growth. As Canadian women entrepreneurs continue to break new ground, events like CanWIN offer crucial spaces for reflection, innovation, and action, helping to shape a more inclusive and connected global future.

A special thank you to Reach Alliance alumni Sydney Piggott, Thaisa SantAna, Alazne Qaisar, Zoha Sojoudi, and Pritika Vij for their invaluable participation and insights.