Grow Now Defence Pathways – Applications Open

What is it?

Grow Now- Defence Pathways is a 12-week, virtual orientation program (Fall 2026 pilot cohort, delivered by the Centre for Women in Business) for women-led ventures deciding whether defence is their next market. Over three arcs — Defence Orientation, Capability Translation, and Ecosystem Navigation — founders learn how procurement actually works, how to describe their existing technology in defence language, and how to get an honest, evidence-based read on fit. Every founder leaves with a capability statement, a sector-fit assessment, and a 90-day action plan, regardless of which way that assessment points.

Program Details:

• Format: Virtual, national cohort

• Duration: 12 weeks (September 25 – December 11, 2026)

• Time commitment: Approximately 5 hours per week

• Cost: Complimentary — free to accepted founders

Who’s it for?

We’re looking for founders who fit this pattern:

• Woman-led company with a validated commercial technology

• Paying customers or contracts already in hand — not a pre-revenue idea

• Someone (a customer, an event, an advisor) has floated the idea that her technology might be dual-use — and she has no real way to evaluate that on her own

• No prior defence engagement — she’s at the decision point, not past it

Apply to join our new program on August 5th!