The Business Development Bank of Canada has started rolling out the first tranche of its $100-million fund for pre-seed companies led by women. The federal Crown corporation also unveiled a roster of 25 partners—including incubators and accelerators, angel investors and family offices—that will identify startups to fund and co-invest alongside BDC. (The Logic)

Talking point: Thrive Lab is part of BDC’s $500-million fund for women announced last year, aimed at addressing funding challenges for women-led startups. Thrive Lab partners, which include MaRS Discovery District, Front Row Ventures and The Firehood, will recommend companies to fund and help with due diligence. BDC will provide an average of $250,000 to each startup, with partners kicking in additional capital and offering support like coaching. “It’s our partners who will be more responsible for the day-to-day relationship with the entrepreneur,” said Thrive Lab managing director Sévrine Labelle. Qualifying companies need a woman founder or owner, or a woman in another prominent leadership position, and their businesses must offer positive social impacts tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.