EmpoWomen Programme Concludes First Open Call with Overwhelming Response

EmpoWomen, an initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in widening countries, has announced the successful conclusion of its first Open Call for applications. The response from women entrepreneurs has been nothing short of remarkable, underscoring the program’s significance and impact on supporting women’s entrepreneurship.

During the Open Call period, which commenced on January 8, 2024,  and concluded on March 8, 2024, EmpoWomen received 169 applications from women entrepreneurs from emerging market countries in the wider Europe. 

This enthusiastic participation reflects the global resonance of EmpoWomen’s mission to support and nurture female-led deep-tech businesses across borders.

Speaking about the overwhelming response,María Elena Martínez Hernández, Project Coordinator of EmpoWomen at SPLORO, expressed the gratitude and excitement, stating, “We are thrilled by the immense interest and engagement we have witnessed during the first open call for EmpoWomen. The sheer number of applications from diverse corners of the globe underscores the universal demand for initiatives dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs. We are deeply inspired by the innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by the applicants.”

The EmpoWomen programme, launched by SPLORO, an innovation consultancy based in Spain, together with TechUkraine, the Startup Wise Guys accelerator, and Business Angels Europe, was designed to provide women entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities, and aims to break down barriers and create a more inclusive ecosystem for female-led businesses. Through a rigorous selection process, a cohort of promising entrepreneurs will be chosen to participate in the programme, where they will receive tailored support to scale their ventures and drive sustainable growth.

The selected via evaluation process women-led businesses will each have access to a 6-month programme consisting of a dedicated acceleration and investment readiness support service by SWG, webinars and events, together with specialist training and mentoring from Business Angels, combined with Demo days and direct connections with both Angel Investors and VCs, offering the potential to access investment.

The second Open Call is planned for December 2024.