Ottawa, March 6, 2025 – Startup Canada is proud to announce that Kayla Isabelle, CEO of Startup Canada, has been recognized as a recipient of the prestigious DMZ Women of the Year Award. This honour celebrates several outstanding women who are shaping the future of tech and business in Canada.
Kayla’s leadership at Startup Canada has been instrumental in driving meaningful change for Canadian entrepreneurs. As the head of a national non-profit dedicated to supporting early-stage entrepreneurs, she has championed initiatives that provide founders with the tools, networks, and funding opportunities they need to succeed. Under her leadership, Startup Canada has expanded its impact, connecting thousands of entrepreneurs to critical resources and fostering a more inclusive and innovative business ecosystem.
“I am incredibly honoured to be recognized among such an inspiring group of leaders,” said Kayla Isabelle. “Supporting Canadian entrepreneurs is my passion, and this recognition reinforces the importance of the work we do at Startup Canada. We’re committed to breaking down barriers, creating opportunities, and ensuring that every entrepreneur has the resources they need to thrive and I’d like to share this recognition with the entire Startup Canada community.”
The Women of the Year Award highlights leaders who are redefining what’s possible—whether by launching groundbreaking startups, driving industry innovation, or championing impact-driven initiatives. With nominations from across the country, this year’s recipients represent the best and brightest in Canadian business and technology.
Startup Canada extends its congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients, including the 2025 DMZ Women of the Year honorees: Bobbie Racette, Founder & CEO of Virtual Gurus; Emmanuelle Coppinger, Managing Director of Front Row Ventures; Lisa Zarzeczny, Co-Founder & CEO of Elevate; Melisa Ellis, Founder & CEO of Nobellum; Noura Sakkijha, CEO & Co-Founder of Mejuri; Rachel Bartholomew, Founder of Hyivy Health and Femtech Canada; Sarah Stockdale, Founder & CEO of Growclass; Serena Nguyen, CEO & Founder of Evolve Advisory Services; and Snita Balsara, Principal at BDC, who all continue to push the boundaries of innovation and leadership. The organization also expresses its gratitude to the Women Innovation Summit Steering Committee for their commitment to ensuring a fair, inclusive, and diverse review process.
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is the gateway to Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re here to connect entrepreneurs with the support, community, and tools they need to build a successful business in Canada. Since our inception in 2012, Startup Canada has grown to support more than 130,000 entrepreneurs annually and an ever-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem support network from coast to coast to coast. Through our flagship and digital programs, we provide guidance, eliminate barriers, and champion the needs of each and every entrepreneur to private and public sector partners. Startup Canada supports entrepreneurs in starting up and scaling up to ultimately make Canada the best place to start and build a business. For more information, visit https://www.startupcan.ca/.
For media inquiries or interview requests with Kayla Isabelle, please contact:
Britney Bresciani
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
Startup Canada
press@startupcan.ca