As part of the first Croatian Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) program, we held two online group sessions for 10 agrifood entrepreneurs. The EWA program focuses on the development of female entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector. The program brought together participants and their mentors to encourage networking, as well as the exchange of ideas, advice, and best practices.
The goal of the online sessions is to develop specific skills in the participants and further educate them in areas related to the development of entrepreneurial ideas. Additionally, through the EWA program, we aim to motivate early-stage entrepreneurs to use their abilities for success and overcome any challenges. The program provides entrepreneurs with the appropriate knowledge and confidence for successful operation, enabling them to launch and develop sustainable businesses.
First Online Session
The EWA program continued its activities with the first group online session, where we hosted mentor Dora Zane. Dora is a strategist for digital and non-digital products in various industries, from fintech to the cultural sector. Having recognized the importance of building a startup ecosystem during her seven years in the Netherlands, she decided to contribute by mentoring participants in the EWA program.
Dora conducted a workshop on the topic “Idea Validation and Value Proposition Development.” After the workshop, we facilitated a Q&A session so that each participant could have the opportunity to ask questions or seek help with challenges they were facing.
The participants expressed great satisfaction with the event, agreeing that it was well-organized and valuable. One participant highlighted how interactive the workshop was, despite being online. Other participants agreed and added that they thought everyone wanting to have a startup should attend this topic. They also agreed that Dora explained everything using real-life examples, making it easy for them to understand everything she shared.
Second Online Session
The second group online session was held with our mentor, Helena Habdija (H2 Consulting). Mentoring and sharing knowledge with others have always been her main personal drivers, and the opportunity to combine education with entrepreneurship arose through the EWA program. For the past ten years, she has collaborated with entrepreneurial centers and startup accelerators across Europe, which has allowed her to gain a deeper understanding of the startup scene.
Helena held a workshop on “Sources of Funding for Business Ideas,” followed by a Q&A session. During this session, we discussed several funding sources, including bootstrapping, loans, equity sales, and crowdfunding. Helena emphasized the importance of good and thorough preparation, especially for a crowdfunding campaign. She also reflected on successful crowdfunding projects in Croatia.
Once again, the participants agreed that the lecture was engaging and that the advice provided was extremely useful. They highlighted how Helena is exceptional at teaching and is full of knowledge she wants to share. In conclusion, the participants received numerous tips and suggestions from the mentor on tools they could use in their entrepreneurial journey. We look forward to seeing the development of these entrepreneurial ideas throughout the program!
About the EIT Food initiative
EIT Food is the world’s largest and most active food innovation community. It strongly supports innovations aimed at building a food system that will produce healthy and sustainable food.
Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an EU body, the EIT Food initiative invests in projects, organizations, and individuals who share its goals for a healthy and sustainable food system. At the same time, it enables innovation potential in businesses and universities, encouraging agrifood startups to develop new technologies and products. Entrepreneurs and professionals are equipped with the skills needed to transform the food system, while consumers are placed at the center of their work, helping to build trust in the origins of their food.
EIT Food is one of nine innovation communities established by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body founded in 2008 to foster innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.
Find out more at www.eitfood.eu or follow them on social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube i Instagram.
