Third edition of EWA Programme in Bulgaria: meet women entrepreneurs selected for 2024 edition
The Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovations - Varna (RAPIV) is implementing the EWA - Empowering Women in Agrifood programme in Bulgaria for the third time.
This initiative supports motivated women with a passion for the agrifood sector, helping them to develop their business ideas. Over the course of six months, participants will receive personalized mentoring and take part in a tailored training programme designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to overcome specific challenges in the agrifood industry.
The Matchmaking event took place over two days, on June 21st and 22nd in Varna, Bulgaria.
The event started with an informal gathering, enabling EWA participants and mentors to meet in a relaxed atmosphere and initiate conversations.
On the second day, participants and mentors introduced themselves through short pitches and had the opportunity to get to know each other during five-minute "speed dating" sessions. Following these sessions, both mentors and mentees rated their preferences for the matchmaking process. The day's program also included a training session on Intellectual Property Protection, where lawyer Alexandar Tomov introduced the main concepts of IPR and answered participants' questions.
The event concluded with informal discussions, an exchange of contacts, and opportunities for further collaboration. The results, including the mentor-mentee pairs, were announced shortly after the event.
Meet the EWA 2024 Bulgaria cohort
- Valentina Milkova - Producing wine from blackcurrants using a technology that preserves the vitamins and minerals of the blackcurrants in the final product. They cultivate their own blackcurrant plantations following the methods and principles of organic farming.
- Darina Sotirova – Production and sale of natural, biodegradable chewing gums with functional health benefits, made from plant-based ingredients. The product and packaging do not pollute the environment and leave no footprint.
- Iva Kalinova - Production of functional bio drinks made from activated raw nuts and seeds, with high nutritional value, density, and digestibility, currently unmatched in the Bulgarian market.
- Ivelina Tsvyatkova - the only certified producer of gluten-free products in Bulgaria, without stabilizers and emulsifiers. Developing new and diverse products for the market, such as baked goods and pastries, which requires new equipment and knowledge. Uses eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging.
- Yoana Doneva – Establishment of a hydroponic vertical farming enterprise in Varna, utilizing a 600 sq.m area. Cultivation of vegetables and herbs with high nutritional value, using liquid bio-fertilizer from a Bokashi composter or another type that allows for liquid drainage.
- Katia Antonova - Production of pastries from eco-friendly products - fruits and vegetables. Development of educational games for children to build healthy eating habits. Creation of a Children's Sweet Maker (sweet shop), where children will make their own healthy sweets from ecologically clean products.
- Mariana Chavdarova – Development of a new technology for producing high-quality protein based on phytoplankton as source of maximum protein content.
- Petya Mihaylova – Creating an online platform where food producers and consumers can connect directly to buy and sell food products.
- Teodora Petkova – An online platform offering farm baskets with healthy and sustainably produced products for corporate gifts and company employees, as well as branded boxes with farm products for corporate gifts.
Mentors in EWA 2024 Bulgaria:
- Prof. Mariya Stanimirova Ph.D – Assoc. Prof. Head of Department of Agriculture Economics,Certified Business Accelerator of action Coach.
- Ilona Staneva – Director, Marketing and Advertising Department, First Investment Bank
- Dilian Popov – Education Director, Bulgarian Entrepreneurship Centre/ Bulgarian Business Angels Club, Varna Chapter Chair
- Mariya Hristova – Expert in strategic planning and projects development in agrifood
- Diana Georgieva – Lecturer at University of Ruse
- PhD Viktoria Nikolova – Manager of District Information Point - Varna
- Hristomir Hristov – Smart Varna Foundation/ Bulgarian Business Angels Club
- Prof. Gergana Slavova-Stefanova – Lecturer at University of Economics – Varna
- Chief Assist. Prof., PhD Damyan Kirechev – Lecturer at University of Economics – Varna
- Chief Assist. Prof. PhD Pavlina Ivanova - Lecturer at University of Economics – Varna
Next Steps:
The EWA Programme in Bulgaria will continue with training webinars and group sessions on business planning, financial planning, marketing, and agrifood-specific topics like sustainable production models. Two more main EWA events will be held in Varna this autumn: a Masterclass event in September, and a Pitching event in November where participants will compete for prizes up to 10,000 Euros to develop their business ideas.
More details are available on the website.
Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovations - Varna (RAPIV)
Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovations - Varna (RAPIV) is a non -governmental non-for-profit organization established in 2002 aiming to stimulate regional economy through the development of entrepreneurship and innovations. Its members include representatives of 4 types of organizations: central and local government, academic and scientific institutions, NGOs and businesses as well as physical persons.
Learn more about Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovations - Varna (RAPIV) on their web page.
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