EWA - Empowering Women in Agrifood
Supporting women to turn bold ideas into successful agrifood businesses - building a more inclusive and innovative food system.
Applications for EWA Explore and EWA Advanced 2026 are open!
Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) is a pioneering programme led by EIT Food, dedicated to equipping women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector with the tools they need to thrive.
In its 7th year EWA is evolving: from one single-track programme to a flexible, three-module structure designed to meet women entrepreneurs exactly where they are. With the new model, women can now join the programme at the level that best matches their needs, allowing for an even more tailored approach to founders.
EWA Explore
A self-paced online course providing foundational entrepreneurship knowledge and practical tools to explore, develop and validate agrifood business ideas integrating women’s perspectives and experiences.
EWA Grow
A national, cohort-based programme delivered in the local language, combining live Matchmaking, expert-led Masterclasses, tailored online trainings and 1:1 mentorship, culminating in a pitching competition during a Demo Day.
EWA Advanced
A pan-European cohort for high-potential women founders, focused on investment readiness, scaling strategies and expanded access to international ecosystems and investors.
Why a project for women entrepreneurs?
The gender gap in the European agrifood sector remains persistent and deeply structural.
- Only 1 in 3 business owners in the EU is a woman. Gender imbalance persists in entrepreneurship across the continent (EU COMMISSION/EUROSTAT)
- Women-founded companies have raised only around 13% of total agrifood VC in Europe since 2021 (DEALROOM 2025)
- Only 19% of EU agrifood policies include gender-specific targets. Structural support for women in agrifood is still limited (FAO 2023)
- Women manage only 29% of farms in the EU. Female leadership in agrifood remains significantly underrepresented (EURACTIV 2023)
Through the Empowering Women in Agrifood programme, EIT Food is actively working to close this gap.
Check out our lates report on The State of Women-Led Agrifood Companies in Europe 2025, in collaboration with Dealroom.
EWA's IMPACT
Join us in revolutionising the food system and become part of a global community driving change in the agrifood industry.
Meet our EWA team
FAQ
Who can participate in EWA?
See each EWA Module page to learn more about specific requirements
How long is the EWA programme?
EWA Explore: Approximately 20 hours online self-paced course
EWA Grow: 6 months, from May to October
EWA Advanced: 4 months, from September to December
What are the benefits of participating in EWA?
Depending on the module, participating in the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme offers numerous benefits, including:
- Access to trainings focused on entrepreneurial fundamentals, sector-specific knowledge, and women’s empowerment perspectives.
- Tailored mentoring and training sessions designed to enhance entrepreneurial skills and business knowledge according to your venture stage.
- Networking opportunities with industry experts, fellow entrepreneurs, and potential investors.
- Access to potential funding opportunities to support business growth and development.
- Exposure to a supportive community of like-minded women in the agrifood sector.
- Participation in pitching events and international showcases to present business ideas on a global stage.
- Guidance and support to navigate challenges and successfully launch and scale an agrifood business.
How are participants selected for the programme?
EWA Explore is an open self-pace online course and participants do not pass through a selection process. The selection process for EWA Grow and EWA Advance participants involves evaluating applications by an external panel of evaluators, as well as representatives from EIT Food. Applications are assessed against the eligibility and quality criteria and ranked using a five-star scale across five key areas.