The European Institute for Innovations and Technologies in Food  - EIT Food announces the launch of programme „Empowering Women in Agrifood” 2024, which aims to improve the entrepreneurial skills of women, willing to start their own business or are in the initial phase of developing their own business in the agrifood sector. 

Within 6 months, 10 women - entrepreneurs will be included in a comprehensive educational programme, within which they will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills to deal with certain challenges in the agrifood sector. 

Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovation - Varna (RAPIV), partner of EIT Food for the implementation of the program on the territory of Bulgaria, is looking for motivated and experienced experts, entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and managers (m/f) to join the Program as mentors.

 

What are EWA's objectives?

The aim of  EWA programme is to provide comprehensive support and to motivate women entrepreneurs at an early stage of development to strengthen their potential, to understand their innate ability to succeed and overcome any obstacles, provide them with the right knowledge, confidence and networks to succeed in starting and developing a sustainable business in the egrifood sector.

How we will do it?

Services, provided to EWA participants, include:

- Training: 6 months of free online and/or offline trainings as well as face-to-face trainings, access to resources to improve their hard and soft skills.

- Mentoring/continuous support: personalized mentoring from highly qualified mentors (business, entrepreneurship, agrifood).

- Community building: participation in entrepreneurial formats and networking with high-level stakeholders and direct access to over 100 mentors and women entrepreneurs in the agrifood ecosystem.

- Access to funding: beneficiaries will have the opportunity to receive up to €10,000 gross, discover other EIT Food programs and access funding, investors and corporations to take their business to the next level.

What do we offer you?

-        Networking with female entrepreneurs and other mentors in the sector.

-        Access to the EIT Food network and list of mentors.

-        Covering mentoring costs (remuneration, travel and accommodation costs)

-        Participation in entrepreneurial networking events.

-        Providing access to EWA's one-of-a-kind online platform with access to resources and opportunities.

Note: All mentors' expenses are covered by the organization running the EWA program. Final arrangements should be made between the representatives of the organization and the mentors. No additional funds are foreseen.

 What do we offer you?

We are glad that you are interested in participating as a mentor in EWA. For this program we expect you to:

- approximately 1.5 hours per week from June to December of mentoring, to be in the form of online and/or offline consultations, feedback and review of the business idea and model, based on your area of competence. Mentoring should be based on the principles of active listening, building trust, defining goals and current reality, and providing feedback.

- participation in 3 networking events:

1. Matchmaking – 21- 22 June 2024, Varna: an on site event with the aim of creating mentor couples. Getting to know the mentee, their needs and how you can support them during the program.

2. Master class – 26 -27 September 2024, Varna: online or on site: providing guidance on how to present the mentee's business idea, guidance on how to produce, sell or distribute her product/service. The location will be announced further.

3. Pitching – 16 November 2024, Varna: one-day on site event, open to the general public. The mentees will present their business ideas to a jury, professionals and investors. The two best ideas will be awarded gross prizes of EUR 10,000 and EUR 5,000 respectively. You will have the opportunity to participate and give final advice to your mentee before her presentation. The location will be announced further..

-        to participate in EWA's virtual platform to connect with your mentee, but also to post interesting resources/news/opportunities and to promote your professional profile.

Application Deadline  - 24 May 2024 (23:59)

How to apply: online, by filling The application form.

Important notice:

The participants of the EWA program are a very specific target group of women entrepreneurs at an early stage of development, for some of them this may be the first and big step into the business world. This is often associated with a lot of uncertainty, moments of weakness and lack of self-confidence. A very important task of the mentor is also to support the mentee to go boldly through the entire program, discover their potential and strengthen their self-confidence, critical thinking and problem solving.