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EmpoWomen Programme Wraps Up a Stellar First Year at Demo Day During Slush 2024

The EmpoWomen Programme marked the conclusion of its transformative first year with an extraordinary Demo Day, held as a side event at the world-renowned conference Slush 2024 in Helsinki. 

Three standout startups received the programme’s top awards:

  • Noemi Zabari & Astroteq.ai from Poland for their pioneering AI-driven earthquake forecasting system.
  • Neide Vieira, PhD & IPLEXMED from Portugal for revolutionizing healthcare accessibility with portable genetic diagnostic devices.
  • Patrícia C. Henriques & GOTECH Antimicrobial from Portugal for advancing healthcare with their cutting-edge antimicrobial technologies.

The esteemed jury — investors Wendy HL. C., Sezen Gungor, Salvatore Cavallaro, and Pasi Pohjala — faced the challenging task of selecting winners among a cohort brimming with innovation and potential. Their decisions celebrated the resilience and ingenuity of these exceptional women entrepreneurs.

Celebrating All 11 Trailblazers

The Demo Day wasn’t only about awards but also about honoring the journey of all participants. The full cohort, representing diverse sectors and cutting-edge technologies, included:

  • Gamze Karanfil Kaçmaz & GMZ Enerji Sistemleri (Turkiye): Innovating in hydrogen energy and fuel cell technology.
  • Slawa Madelska & HUGUP (Poland): Enhancing pregnancy wellness with advanced support wear.
  • Prakseda Mineikiene & INNOSENSUS (Lithuania): Personal biosensors for gluten detection.
  • Annija Emersone & P-Agro Minerals (Latvia): Sustainable solutions for phosphorus recovery from wastewater.
  • Jenny Romano & The Newsroom (Portugal): AI-powered tools combating misinformation.
  • Natalia Dernicka & Heilo (Poland): Baby stroller air-purifiers for cleaner, healthier air.
  • Aliona Levca & Pinky CyberSafe (Moldova): AI-driven cybersecurity solutions for SMEs.
  • Dorota Dardzinska & IQ Biozoom (Poland): Non-invasive health diagnostics for personal health management.

These women entrepreneurs are catalysts for change, driving technological innovation to solve critical global challenges.

 

EmpoWomen’s First-Year Milestones

The first year of the EmpoWomen Programme, launched in January 2024, brought together 11 startups through a highly competitive selection process out of 169 applications from widening Europe. The journey provided:

  • Tailored Acceleration: A 6-month program curated by Startup Wise Guys and Business Angels Europe.
  • Equity-Free Funding: €45,000 for each participating startup.
  • Comprehensive Support: Mentorship, networking, and access to resources to scale ventures.

Second Open Call Runs by December 2, 2024

EmpoWomen’s Second Open Call goes live by December 2, 2024. Women-led deep-tech startups from eligible countries are invited to apply and seize the opportunity to be part of this transformative program. All relevant documentation and submission forms will be available on the official website: https://empowomen.eu/open-call-programme-plan/.

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