Toronto's skyline twinkled through floor-to-ceiling windows, glasses clinked with bubbly beverages and the room buzzed with energy. This wasn’t a swanky penthouse party but EY's Women in Tech Cocktail Reception, where a group of women in tech gathered for a memorable evening.

"Despite representing 51 per cent of the population, women receive only 2.8 per cent of venture capital (VC) funding and only 15 per cent of VC fund partners are women,” said Shannon MacDonald, Partner at EY, as she addressed the attendees. “We're working to change that. If we can hyper-scale and get more women in as partners, VC funding to women will increase. Women entrepreneurs know what to do, and we’re going to build on the shoulders of corporate leaders and get that right.”

The 40th floor of EY's downtown Toronto office was the scene of a celebration of female tech prowess last night. Founders, leaders, allies and tech enthusiasts gathered for an evening of networking and some seriously delicious appetizers.

Live music set the mood while attendees mingled, swapping stories and creating connections. From founders carving their own paths to established leaders paving the way, it was a room full of inspiration.

EY’s support for tech goes beyond hosting impactful events. As a Foundational Partner of Communitech, here are a few ways EY is making a difference:

Fast Track Health

EY has been instrumental in the Communitech Fast Track Health collaborative, hosting webinars and participating as solution adjudicators. Their expertise helps shape the success of the startups involved.

Office hours

EY offers free office hours for startups, providing guidance on Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED), taxes, financing and more. This support extends to companies in the ElevateIP program delivered by Communitech in partnership with Invest Ottawa and North Forge, ensuring they get the best advice as they scale.

Good AI

On August 15, EY will host a GoodAI webinar exploring how GenAI offers transformative potential while also presenting unique challenges. The organization’s involvement is helping Communitech ramp up engagement with founders pioneering in the artificial intelligence (AI) space.

Sponsorship

EY's commitment doesn't stop there. The organization sponsors several Team True North dinners and events at Techtoberfest, further fostering community and collaboration within the tech ecosystem.

“Supporting women founders has been something that we have committed to through our Entrepreneur of the Year program as well as our Entrepreneur Winning Women program. We really believe that having diversity in entrepreneurship is different,” said Dharmesh Gandhi, Partner at EY. “In Communitech, we found a partner that has the same belief as us. Knowing Chris Albinson and the team at Communitech, we've seen the support and extra effort they put into mentoring and ensuring that women founders receive the same level of support.”