EWA Masterclass For Women Entrepreneurs in the Agri-food Sector

ewa masterclass 2024 smion

Empowering Women in Agrifood Masterclass

As part of the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) program, an EWA Masterclass for women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector was held on July 13th at the Bornfight company office in Zagreb. With a focus on developing women’s entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector, we brought together participants and their mentors to exchange contacts, advice, best practices, and knowledge, to improve the participant’s businesses. Through practical workshops, the entrepreneurs had the opportunity to concretize and apply the acquired knowledge.

The goal of the EWA program is to support early-stage female entrepreneurs to use their capabilities to overcome obstacles and achieve success, equipping them with the appropriate knowledge and confidence for successfully starting and developing a sustainable business.

During this full-day event, the entrepreneurs had the opportunity to participate in workshops and networking sessions where they received answers to questions and learned more about tools, methods, and ways of developing their businesses. They also participated in a “speed mentoring” session through which they received valuable advice from the attending mentors.

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Interactive workshops for participants

The first workshop, titled “Business Modelling for Agrifood Startups,” was conducted by Hermes Arriaga from Impact Hub Zagreb, with an emphasis on developing a business model. Through an interactive workshop and examples, Hermes introduced the entrepreneurs to the basic structure of a business model and showcased examples of business models from some successful companies, highlighting the social impact they create.

Hermes Arriaga Business modelling for agrifood startups smion ewa masterclass

The workshop “Ideation and creativity for Agrifood startups” conducted by Dora Zane focused on business development through the adaptation of ideas using techniques of elimination, addition, adaptation, and combination of business plan elements. During this workshop, participants redefined their ideas and practiced thinking “outside of the box” of their own businesses.

Ideation and creativity for Agrifood startups dora zane smion ewa masterclass
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Dora Zane and Hermes Arriaga are successful entrepreneurs with many years of experience, participating in the program as mentors for female entrepreneurs who are just entering the entrepreneurial waters.

In addition to the workshops and mentoring sessions, Gordana Ćorić and Jelena Jakus shared their experiences from a brief visit to the Vukomerić Recycling Estate and the vegan restaurant Oaza. During their visit, they had the opportunity to learn about good entrepreneurial practices and discover new opportunities for EWA entrepreneurs.

Different Perspectives Provided by Mentors

Between the workshops and at the end of the event, mentors and participants had the opportunity for informal conversations, exchanging ideas, experiences, and advice.

This meeting provided them with a new opportunity to strengthen their entrepreneurial leadership, improve their skills, and network with women entrepreneurs within the agrifood ecosystem. Learn more about these and other events we organize at Smion.

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