Six industry and achievement categories, one signature storytelling award, and the flagship honour that closes the evening. The panel places nominees where they are strongest, but a well chosen category makes for a stronger entry.
| # | Award | Tier | What it represents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Startup of the Year | Business Achievement | An early stage business, roughly under three years old, showing real traction and a clear runway to grow. |
| 02 | Women in STEM & Technology Award | Industry & Innovation | Founders building in technology, AI, engineering, science, fintech, cybersecurity or health tech. |
| 03 | Sustainable Business & Social Impact Award | Industry & Innovation | A commercially viable business built around meaningful environmental or social impact, where the impact and the business model are the same thing. |
| 04 | Hospitality, Food & Tourism Entrepreneur Award | Industry & Innovation | Restaurants, catering, food brands, hotels, travel and tourism businesses, the industries where culture becomes commerce. |
| 05 | Health, Wellness, Beauty & Aesthetics Entrepreneur Award | Industry & Innovation | Healthcare practices, wellness and fitness businesses, salons, skincare brands and medical aesthetics clinics. |
| 06 | Professional Services & Business Award | Industry & Innovation | Consulting, finance, legal, HR, real estate, education, manufacturing and other B2B or professional service firms. |
| 07 | Global Roots, Canadian Success Award | Signature Award | The storytelling award: the immigrant journey behind the business built in Canada. |
| 08 | IWEC Immigrant Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 | Flagship Honour | The evening's top honour, chosen from finalists across all categories as the closing award of the night. |
| # | Award | Tier | What it represents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Startup of the Year | Business Achievement | Any business in any industry, roughly under three years old, showing real traction (customers, revenue, growth) and a clear runway to scale. Product, service, online or brick-and-mortar all qualify. |
| 02 | Women in STEM & Technology Award | Industry & Innovation | Software, SaaS and apps, AI and machine learning, IT and managed IT services, web and app development, cybersecurity, fintech, health tech and medical devices, edtech, proptech, agritech, clean tech, engineering firms, biotech and life sciences, research labs, data and analytics, robotics, hardware and electronics. |
| 03 | Sustainable Business & Social Impact Award | Industry & Innovation | Commercially viable businesses where the impact is the business model: social enterprises, eco-friendly and zero-waste products, sustainable fashion, recycling and upcycling, renewable energy, ethical sourcing and fair trade, organic and plant-based brands, B Corps, newcomer and community employment ventures, accessibility services, and businesses serving underserved communities. |
| 04 | Hospitality, Food & Tourism Entrepreneur Award | Industry & Innovation | Restaurants, cafés, bakeries, food trucks, catering, home-based food businesses, packaged food and beverage brands, specialty grocery, sweets and mithai shops, breweries and alcobev brands, hotels, B&Bs and short-term rentals, travel agencies and tour operators, banquet halls and event venues, event and wedding planners, décor, florists and party rentals. |
| 05 | Health, Wellness, Beauty & Aesthetics Entrepreneur Award | Industry & Innovation | Medical, dental and physiotherapy clinics, chiropractic, pharmacies, home care and senior care, mental health and counselling practices, naturopathy and holistic health, nutrition and dietitians, gyms, fitness and personal training, yoga and pilates studios, dance studios, martial arts, salons, barbers, spas, nail and lash studios, makeup artists, henna and bridal beauty, skincare and cosmetics brands, and medical aesthetics clinics. |
| 06 | Professional Services & Business Award | Industry & Innovation | Consulting, accounting, bookkeeping and tax, financial planning, insurance, mortgage, legal and paralegal, immigration consulting, HR and recruitment, real estate, marketing and advertising agencies, translation, education, tutoring and training academies, daycare and childcare, cleaning and janitorial, home services and trades (renovation, HVAC, plumbing, landscaping), logistics, trucking and courier, manufacturing, import and export, wholesale and distribution. |
| 07 | Global Roots, Canadian Success Award | Signature Award | Open to every industry. The storytelling award: the immigrant journey behind the business built in Canada. |
| 08 | IWEC Immigrant Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 | Flagship Honour | The evening's top honour, chosen from finalists across all categories as the closing award of the night. |
Not sure where you fit? Choose the category closest to where most of your revenue comes from. Still unsure? Email us and we'll place you in the right one.
An early stage business, roughly under three years old, showing real traction and a clear runway to grow.
Criteria & entryFounders building in technology, AI, engineering, science, fintech, cybersecurity or health tech.
Criteria & entryA commercially viable business built around meaningful environmental or social impact, where the impact and the business model are the same thing.
Criteria & entryRestaurants, catering, food brands, hotels, travel and tourism businesses, the industries where culture becomes commerce.
Criteria & entryHealthcare practices, wellness and fitness businesses, salons, skincare brands and medical aesthetics clinics.
Criteria & entryConsulting, finance, legal, HR, real estate, education, manufacturing and other B2B or professional service firms.
Criteria & entryThe storytelling award: the immigrant journey behind the business built in Canada.
Criteria & entryThe evening's top honour, chosen from finalists across all categories as the closing award of the night.
Criteria & entrySomeone you know has built something remarkable and has never once been asked to tell the story. Take fifteen minutes and put her forward.
