I'm Laura, and I'm fundraising to remove financial barriers to entrepreneurial career development.

Laura
LAURA BUHLER
VFC BOARD MEMBER. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, C100

Learn more about Laura + her involvement with VFC.

Instead of seeking opportunities to innovate, today's bright, energetic entrepreneurs are forced to opt for secure roles to service insurmountable academic debt.

The SME's who employ almost 50% of Canada's workforce are in decline. They're closing at unprecedented rates while new company creation numbers mark new lows.

Instead of injecting Canada's entrepreneurial ecosystem with the energy, education, and diversity it needs to thrive, Canadian youth are unemployed in record numbers.

110,000↓

NEW BUSINESSES IN DECLINE
 
801,940 businesses were active as of January 2020, this then went down to 689,907 in May 2020.

88,000↓

VENTURES ARE CLOSING
 
Doubling from 39,190 in January to 62,560 in May, reaching a height of closures in April at 87,998.

16.7%↑

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISING
 
In 2020, 15-24 year-olds had a 16.7% unemployment rate–7.2% higher than the Canadian average of 9.5%.
 

9%↓

LOWER LIFETIME EARNINGS
 
New graduates who begin their careers in recessions earn 9 percent less than students who start their careers in a booming economy.

VFC helps recent grads land roles at startups and equips them with the entrepreneurial skills and leadership training to excel in them. The jobs expose workers to vital real-world experiences invaluable to their future entrepreneurial ventures.

Unfortunately, the risk inherent in the startup model disproportionately excludes candidates who lack financial security. Financial hardships like student debt and systemic injustices become insurmountable barriers to entry into entrepreneurial careers.

We're fundraising for scholarships to level the playing field.

90%

SATISFACTION
 
In 2020, 91% of Fellows and Alumni agreed the Fellowship had a positive impact on their career, and 90% agree that because of VFC, they've had opportunities they would not otherwise have had.
 

350%↑

DEMAND GROWTH
 
VFC Fellows foster thriving innovative communities as leaders and entrepreneurs. Our program has a growing demand with a 350% increase from 2020 to 2021 in applicants.