Happy Holidays from New Power Labs

1 min read · December 19, 2025
New Power Labs

This year, we found ourselves returning again and again to the idea of keys: the choices, collaborations, and catalytic moves that unlock capital for underfunded and overlooked leaders across Canada. Reflecting on 2025, we’re reminded that we already hold these keys. What comes next is to continue to use them with courage to transform the future of capital.

Across our strategic pillars, these were the keys we pressed together in 2025:

Mobilize Capital

• New Power Labs launched Fund Canada, a national campaign co-designed with our members to unlock philanthropic and investment capital for underfunded leaders and founders. In a climate where many institutions are stepping away, early commitments – $334.9M from 16 asset owners and $148M from 6 asset managers – show that a powerful movement is choosing courage and opportunity over retreat to invest in the breadth of Canada's talent and innovation. Join the movement.

• With our partners, we advanced two fund prototypes which offer tailored solutions for underfunded communities.

  • The Awqaf London Community Fund is a community-led fund that will invest in Muslim entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking alternatives to interest-based financing. Inspired by the Boston Impact Initiative, the fund utilizes integrated capital built on Islamic Finance principles. This project is a partnership between New Power Labs and Awqaf London, supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. 

  • The Entrepreneur Mothers with Lived Experiences Fund supports entrepreneurial mothers across Canada who have faced life-changing challenges, such as housing instability, substance use, and trauma, and experience barriers accessing business financing. The fund will pair flexible financing with partner programs that provide mentorship, business training, and family support services, ensuring we invest in these women's businesses and families. We are developing this project in partnership with Urban Matters. Learn more here.

Accelerate Collaboration

New Power Labs continues to lead a bold, solutions-driven network of 28 funders and investors focused on unlocking capital for those too often overlooked. This year, New Power Network members engaged in deep dives, workshops, and gatherings that strengthened shared understanding and joint action. Fund Canada stands as one of the concrete expressions of this collaboration, a sector-wide initiative to move philanthropic and investment dollars to diverse-led organizations.

The Capital Unlocked 2025 Summit, New Power Labs’ flagship event, brought together leaders from across philanthropy, finance, community, and policy to meet the moment we’re in, and to chart what’s next for unlocking capital in Canada. We surfaced bold ideas, practical strategies, and a shared commitment to shift how decisions are made and who benefits. Read our full recap here.

Drive Insights 

• Through our newsletter Equity Shots, webinar series New Power Talks, and speaking engagements across the country, we shared insights on unlocking capital for diverse leaders and communities. 

• We published research reports and tools for funders, investors, and other stakeholders:

  • From Barriers to Breakthroughs: Innovation in Credit Risk Assessment for Immigrants in Canada examines systemic gaps in credit access for newcomers and the opportunities for institutions, policymakers, and investors to ensure true financial inclusion. This research project is funded by World Education Services (WES). 

  • Levelling the Field: Expanding Access to Venture Capital for Women and Gender-Diverse Entrepreneurs dissects the systemic barriers across networks, investment processes, and investment norms that exclude women and gender-diverse entrepreneurs. The report provides actionable recommendations to close the gender capital gap. This is a research project in partnership with the WIN-VC Canada network. 
    As the key research and knowledge lead of WIN-VC, we have also published a series of research insights into systemic barriers faced by women and non-binary entrepreneurs and potential solutions. 

  • The Diversity Geomap Dashboard is a tool to help funders, impact investors, and community organizations to compare community diversity metrics with their capital allocation targets, identify investment priority areas, and support strategic planning. This is a project in partnership with Definity Foundation. 

And the momentum doesn’t stop here. In 2026, we’ll spotlight the bold work of New Power Network members and Fund Canada pledgers who are showing what it looks like to unlock capital for underfunded leaders and founders. We’re bringing you fresh New Power Talks with leading practitioners and thinkers, more Equity Shots to give you a weekly spark, and a new slate of workshops and gatherings designed to develop practical solutions and drive sector-wide change. We can’t wait to build this next chapter with you!

Here’s to a season of renewal, shared purpose, and bold possibilities. 

Narinder
New Power Labs

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