Ottawa, Ontario – October 16, 2024: SheBoot, the national non-profit corporation focused on preparing women-identifying founders to pitch their businesses and secure investment, is proud to announce the appointment of Mandy Potter to its Board of Directors. Potter is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Misfit Ventures, Canada’s first LGBT+ venture capital fund, and an award-winning entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in venture capital-backed startups.
The addition of Potter to the SheBoot board represents a significant milestone as the organization continues to expand its reach and influence across Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. With her deep connections to the Western Canadian market and her passion for inclusivity in venture capital and entrepreneurship, Potter will play a key role in helping SheBoot support founders nationwide.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mandy Potter to our board,” said Julia Elvidge, Co-Founder and Chair of SheBoot. “Mandy’s extensive venture capital experience and dedication to championing marginalized voices in the entrepreneurial ecosystem aligns perfectly with SheBoot’s mission. Her insights and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to scale our impact and help more women founders across Canada secure the investment and support they need to succeed.”
Potter’s background includes serving as an executive and founder in various sectors, including B2B SaaS, marketplaces, consumer packaged goods, and regulated industries like cannabis and healthcare. A queer woman entrepreneur, Potter has long been an advocate for fostering inclusivity within the venture capital and founder ecosystem.
“Joining the SheBoot Board of Directors is an exciting opportunity for me to help drive change in Canada’s entrepreneurial community,” said Mandy Potter. “I’m passionate about ensuring that all founders, particularly those from marginalized groups, have the resources, mentorship, and investment they need to grow and scale their businesses. I look forward to working with the SheBoot team to support women-identifying and non-binary entrepreneurs across Canada and elevate the next generation of leaders.”
SheBoot has made significant strides since its founding in 2020, helping over 50 women-led startups secure more than $25 million in new investments and empowering women angel investors. As the organization continues to grow, the addition of leaders like Potter ensures that SheBoot will remain at the forefront of fostering a more inclusive and equitable investment landscape.
About SheBoot
SheBoot, a national non-profit corporation headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, prepares women-identifying founders across Canada to pitch their business and secure investment. Founded by Julia Elvidge, Jennifer Francis, and Sonya Shorey and built together with the Capital Angel Network and Invest Ottawa in early 2020, this organization aims to help address the funding gap facing women entrepreneurs by increasing the number of women making and receiving investment.
Designed and delivered by women investors and entrepreneurs, SheBoot’s annual training program arms technology and technology-enabled startups with investment-readiness skills paired with support services that prepare entrepreneurs to secure investment. The bootcamp portion of the program starts in the fall and culminates in a pitch competition for a minimum of $300,000 in equity-based capital. This investment is made by women investors committed to fueling the next generation of women-owned and led firms.
SheBoot is grateful to receive funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) and Welch LLP, and to partner with BDC’s Thrive Lab, Mistral Venture Partners, Gowling WLG and Numbercrunch to accelerate progress towards its goals. The organization also benefits from previous investments through the ScaleUp platform supported by FedDev Ontario and delivered by Invest Ottawa.
For more information, visit www.sheboot.ca.
Media contact
Katie LeClair
Program & Marketing Manager
SheBoot