Female entrepreneurship has long been an area needing greater focus and support, especially within the European Union. Breaking down the barriers that women face in the business world is not just a matter of fairness but also a way to foster economic development and innovation.
What the programme offers
The Womenture programme is a seven-week online pre-acceleration for future female entrepreneurs residing in the European Union. Women entrepreneurs will be taught important skills covering essential topics from, team and competencies, business model, product/service development /design as well as marketing/sales and finance/funding including pitch training.
The programme places a strong emphasis on collaborative learning, professional networking, and mentorship from accomplished industry figures, all tailored to the unique needs of female founders. Recognizing the specific challenges women face in the European Union, Womenture has designed the entire programme to be adaptable to various life circumstances.
Objectives
- Networking: Forge connections among various initiatives, startups, and innovation actors to build a strong community.
- Innovative Support: Boost support for female founders, who remain underrepresented in the European Union.
- Capacity Building: Facilitate knowledge transfer between incubators and accelerators and assist other institutions in launching programmes for minorities and diverse teams.
These goals have been designed with the specific aim of benefiting female entrepreneurs by offering tailored services and enabling knowledge-sharing.
Framework of the programme
Womenture will enrol 20 women in the “idea phase” in its seven-week pre-acceleration programme. The programme’s structure takes into consideration findings from a meta-analysis prepared by participating partners to address the needs and gaps within various ecosystems.
Upon completion of the pre-acceleration phase, Womenture will host four inspirational online events, to maintain engagement with the participating startups and provide further opportunities for knowledge sharing and networking. An Innovation Ecosystem Hub will also be launched, serving as a platform where stakeholders can interact and support each other.
Next year a Joint Innovation Summit will be held to showcase the results and explore further dissemination and exploitation possibilities. This summit aims to provide a platform for female entrepreneurs to interact with a broader range of stakeholders, thus widening the scope and impact of the programme.
For a more detailed timeline and additional information, visit the Womenture website.
Eligibility Criteria
People who have a residence in the European Union member states and people with residence in Horizon Europe-associated countries.
- European Union member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
- Countries associated with Horizon Europe: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom and Ukraine.
✨ Apply now to get started with your idea ✨
Mission and Vision
Womenture seeks to empower female entrepreneurs through a range of tailored services, comprehensive business support programmes, and initiatives aimed at knowledge sharing. But the project is not just about providing resources; it is about sparking dialogue, fostering inclusivity, and creating a community that advocates for women in entrepreneurship. By bringing together stakeholders from various sectors—including entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, incubators, accelerators, universities, and policymakers.
The Womenture initiative is a project funded by the European Union.
