EIT Food EWA

A six-month support program for female entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector in Croatia.

EWA 2024
EIT Food EWA Co-founded by the European Union logo

In partnership with the EIT Food Knowledge and Innovation Community, Smion implements the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) program, offering personalized mentorship, specialized workshops, and networking opportunities to help female entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful business ventures. This program empowers 10 Croatian women with innovative ideas aimed at improving the agrifood sector.

What does the EWA program include?

A broad range of support on both local and international levels.

Online trainings

Entrepreneurs participate in a 6-month entrepreneurial education program and have access to learning resources.

Mentorship / ongoing support

More than 20 hours of personalized mentorship from industry experts, along with access to the free EIT Food Startup Manual.

Strength of the Community

Sustainable food systems

All participants of the program will have access to the EWA community, which brings together over 650 mentors and female entrepreneurs within the agri-food ecosystem.

Funding Opportunities

Participants will have the opportunity to win a cash prize of up to €10,000, discover other EIT Food programs, and gain access to investors, business angels, and companies operating in the agri-food sector.

Program duration

The program runs from June to November 2024, offering a six-month training that includes online sessions, live workshops, and networking events. Key dates include:

May 24th, 2024.
Application deadline
ewa-empowering-women-in-agrifood-sudionice
June 8th, 2024.
Matchmaking event
empowering-women-in-agrifood-matchmaking-smion
July 13th, 2024.
Masterclass event
Smion - Miro Hegedić s EWA programa
November 21st, 2024.
Final Pitch - Demo Day
EIT Food EWA 2024

The final presentation of solutions by participants in the EWA 2024 program will be held on November 21, 2024. year

Program news

Read the latest news related to the EWA program.

Photo gallery

Check out the atmosphere from our events.

Get in touch

If you would like to learn more about the program, get involved, or support the participants, feel free to contact us directly through

savjetovanje o razvoju ekosustava

About the EIT Food Knowledge and Innovation Community

EIT Food is the world’s largest and most dynamic food innovation community. It drives innovation to build a future-fit food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for everyone.

a body of the European Union, invests in projects, organizations, and individuals who share its goals for a healthy and sustainable food system. It unlocks innovation potential in businesses and universities, creating and developing startups in the agri-food sector to bring new technologies and products to the market. It equips entrepreneurs and professionals with the skills needed to transform the food system, placing consumers at the center of its work by helping rebuild trust through reconnection with the sources of their food.

EIT Food is one of the nine innovation communities established by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body founded in 2008 to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.