EWA Masterclass in Croatia: driving female leadership in the agrifood sector
Ten participants of the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme attended the second offline event, the EWA Masterclass. This Masterclass aimed to foster the development of women's entrepreneurship in the agrifood industry by bringing together participants and their mentors for an enriching exchange of contacts, advice, best practices, and knowledge.
As part of the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme, 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, they brought together participants and their mentors to exchange contacts, advice, best practices, and knowledge to improve the participants' businesses. Through practical workshops, the entrepreneurs had the opportunity to concretize and apply the acquired knowledge.
The goal of the EWA programme 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.
Entrepreneurs engaged in interactive workshops
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.
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.
Dora Zane and Hermes Arriaga are successful entrepreneurs with many years of experience, participating in the programme 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.
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 valuable opportunity to strengthen their entrepreneurial leadership, improve their skills, and network with women entrepreneurs within the agrifood ecosystem.
About Lean Startup Croatia (Smion)
Lean Startup Croatia, now transitioning to Smion, empowers entrepreneurs and cultivates innovative ecosystems that fuel growth. Specializing in developing tools, resources, and programmes for early-stage startup development, from idea validation to market access, Smion fosters collaboration, nurtures talent, and unlocks potential.
Learn more about Lean Startup Croatia (Smion) on their web page.
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