BDC, the bank exclusively devoted to Canadian entrepreneurs, has won the Mercuriades Award in the category of Development of a Web or Mobile Technology Presented by TELUS–Large Business.
Now in it’s 39th year, the Mercuriades Awards celebrate innovation, ambition and entrepreneurship in Québec’s business community, along with those company’s contributions to the community. The Mercuriades also celebrates female entrepreneurs. The contest is open to small, medium and large businesses and corporations.
BDC’s award is for, according to a recent press release, “technological innovation [that] recognizes an initiative to develop or integrate a digital platform for improving a business process, service or product. BDC has set itself apart through its innovative business solutions, interactivity, technological creativity, adaptive design and deployment strategy.”
“BDC is always seeking innovative ways to support entrepreneurs. Express Loan is a good example of the work our team is doing to facilitate access to financing for our clients. We are proud to have found a solution to this major technological challenge. One year after launching Express Loan, more than 2,000 loans had been granted,” said Stéphane Bilodeau, chief information officer at BDC.
One of the bank’s current focuses is a commitment to increasing and developing its online presence while continuing to invest in better mobile capabilities. The overarching aim in this aligns with the BDC’s core aim: to help entrepreneurs succeed by providing fast and affordable financing. The Express Loan application, which demonstrates the tech developed by BDC in support of this goal, allows account managers to leverage iPads to authorize loans, in less than 30 minutes and in a single visit, of up to $750,000.
Outside of the recent recognition of the Mercuriades Award, BDC is happy to report that BDC Capital’s Women in Technology (WIT) Venture Fund nearly tripled to $200 million during its first year of investments. A list of companies WIT has invested in so far can be seen at www.bdc.ca/womenintech.
“Our mandate is to support and grow great women leaders in tech and in venture, and lead by example so other funds follow,” noted Michelle Scarborough, managing director, strategic investments, BDC Capital in a press release. “In the past year, we reviewed more than 1,000 women-led tech companies. What it reinforces to me is that the number of women choosing entrepreneurship in technology and innovation is growing in Canada and we are just seeing the beginning of women playing strong leadership roles in tech enterprise.”
WIT is not BDC’s only initiative devoted to female entrepreneurship. The bank has also earmarked $1.4 billion in lending for women-led businesses.
BDC’s focus on promoting and supporting Canadian entrepreneurs has not gone unnoticed by the business community, or those that seek to grow their businesses with BDC financing. With a commitment to women in business and to embracing the tech that is increasingly driving industry, BDC continues to make a difference for Canadians in all areas of commerce.
Learn more about BDC at bdc.ca.
