EmpoWomen Consortium Meeting in Brussels

On March 20th, 2024, a transformative gathering took place in the heart of Brussels as partners of the EmpoWomen Program convened for a consortium meeting. This meeting brought together esteemed organizations including Sploro, Business Angels Europe, Startup Wise Guys, and TechUkraine. Their mission? To reflect on the outcomes of the first open call and to tailor the upcoming acceleration program aimed at empowering women-led deep-tech startups in widening countries*.

Each partner brought their unique expertise and perspectives to the table, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and strategies. Sploro, a leading organization dedicated to fostering innovation, shared insights from the program’s initial phase. Business Angels Europe, representing a network of angel investors, brought valuable perspectives on funding and mentorship. Startup Wise Guys, renowned for their acceleration programs, contributed insights into effective startup development strategies. TechUkraine, a communication lead of the programme and a key player in Ukraine’s tech ecosystem provided a report about communication strategy and its implementation to reach the target audience.

Central to the consortium meeting was a review of the outcomes of the first open call. Through this call, the EmpoWomen Program sought to identify promising women-led deep-tech startups and provide them with tailored support, including mentorship, funding, and access to networks. The partners were pleased with the quality and diversity of applicants received.

During the first open call period, which commenced on January 8, 2024, and concluded on March 8, 2024, EmpoWomen received 169 applications from women entrepreneurs from 23 countries. Now evaluators of the programme are diligently reviewing each application, carefully considering the unique skills, experiences, and aspirations of every candidate.

The selected via evaluation process 11 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 consortium meeting concluded with a clear roadmap for the next phase of the EmpoWomen Program. Over the coming months, the partners will work closely together to finalize the details of the acceleration program, including curriculum development, mentorship matching, and outreach initiatives. Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen partnerships and collaborations within the ecosystem further, leveraging the collective expertise and resources of all stakeholders involved.

By empowering women-led deep-tech startups, the EmpoWomen Programme aims to not only drive economic growth and innovation but also to create a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial landscape. With passion, dedication, and collaboration, the partners are poised to make a meaningful impact, paving the way for a future where women entrepreneurs thrive in the world of deep-tech innovation.

* Only companies legally established in Eligible Countries (Widening Area, Outermost regions, Associated countries) are eligible. Widening Area Countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Outermost regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), Canary Islands (Spain), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France). Associated countries: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.