A new business platform will enable small, women-owned businesses to compete with large Canadian companies. Maïa was introduced on Tuesday to Montreal-area businesswomen gathered at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) headquarters.
The Quebec Business Women’s Network (RFAQ) is behind the Maïa platform. Starting in May, 750 women-owned businesses can connect to maiaconnex.com for free to access contracts from 50 major Canadian companies. Connections are facilitated by artificial intelligence.
“This tool was necessary for us because I can no longer be alone when it comes to connecting companies. “Our expertise will now benefit more women-owned businesses and integrate them into Canada’s supply chains,” explains The press Ruth Vachon, President and CEO of RFAQ, explains that an entrepreneur can be both a buyer and a seller on this platform.
And beware of large companies that want to take advantage of this to negotiate downward contracts. Ruth Vachon is categorical. “This is not a place for bargaining, we don’t have cheap women and we don’t want you to give us orders because we are a woman. »
Entrepreneurs no longer have to follow several platforms at the same time in order not to miss a tender. Everything is summarized on Maïa. It will be possible to sort calls for tenders by geographical area and focus of interest. Participants will be notified when a new offer matches their choices and will be able to submit an entry directly on the platform.
Maïa also offers other paid services, such as mentoring and training programs.
Many advantages
According to Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of the BDC, the 50 large companies, most of which have not yet been selected, will benefit from several benefits by being part of the platform.
“They will open up to suppliers they do not know and negotiate more diverse offers,” explained Isabelle Hudon, emphasizing that Maïa will be an important directory for the BDC.
“Almost every large company produces sustainability reports, but to have a credible sustainability report you have to do it [t’occupes de] this factor of diversity. This compels companies and helps them see more clearly what lies ahead,” she said.
The project received $3.9 million in funding from the Government of Canada through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) program. For Canada’s Small Business Minister Recchie Valdez, supporting women is more than just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do to support our economy.
MMe Valdez told the businesswomen gathered for the occasion that her daughter explained to her the various career options in 2024. “I share this story with you because the choices we make today will inspire generations to come,” she said.
“Investments in companies run by women achieve a relatively higher return than investments in companies founded by men,” said Patricia Lattanzio, member of the Bundestag for Saint-Léonard-Saint-Michel.
The creation of the Maïa platform was supported by organizations working with women entrepreneurs across the country, in particular the Groupe 3737 magazine Firsts in businessthe Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), the Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada (IWSCC), and the Knowledge Portal for Women in Entrepreneurship (PCFE).
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