The Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) Grow Programme is a flagship initiative led by EIT Food, dedicated to equipping women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector with the tools and networks they need to succeed. Now in its 7th year, the 2026 edition welcomes female founders from 12 countries across Europe and its neighbourhood.
The 6-month programme (June–December 2026) offers a comprehensive suite of support, including expert-led training sessions, personalised one-to-one mentoring, business coaching, and curated networking opportunities. Participants develop their entrepreneurial skills through structured modules covering business model development, financial planning, marketing strategy, and pitching. The programme culminates in a final international event in December where participants pitch their ventures for prizes of up to €10,000.
EWA Grow targets women at the early stage of their entrepreneurial journey — those with innovative ideas or recently launched businesses in the agrifood sector (registered for a maximum of 3 years, with less than €60,000 in prior investment). The programme operates in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, and Ukraine, making it one of the most geographically inclusive women’s entrepreneurship programmes in Europe.
More information: https://www.eitfood.eu/projects/ewa-empowering-women-in-agrifood