Ten Women Pioneers in Agrifood: Croatia's EWA 2024 Programme Launch
EIT Food and Smion have launched the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme, aimed at Croatian women with aspirations to innovate in the agrifood industry
On June 8, 2024, the Empowering Women in Agrifood programme officially began in Croatia with a Matchmaking event, where 10 selected mentees and 10 mentors gathered. Over an intensive six-month period, participants will engage in training covering business development, business planning, marketing, value proposition definition, customer segmentation, and other essential topics to help them develop sustainable businesses.
The launch event was held at the Bornfight company offices, where participants and mentors gathered for a Matchmaking event. This event included a lecture on intellectual property, opportunities to connect with mentors, and presentations of business ideas. Mislav Vukina, a lawyer from Vukina & Partners, delivered the lecture on intellectual property. Miro Hegedić from the innovation agency Smion, the Implementing participant of the EWA programme, opened the event with introductory remarks and introduced the programme to the participants.
After the lecture, mentors and participants introduced themselves, with each participant given a few minutes to pitch their business idea.
Meet the 10 entrepreneurs from the EWA 2024 Croatia cohort
- Tomislava Vukušić Pavičić represents the RONSense team, which is developing an innovative, environmentally friendly solution using plasma-activated water. This solution promotes plant germination and growth due to its rich nitrogen content and also possesses disinfecting properties, making it ideal for protecting plants from microbes and enhancing vertical farming methods. RONSense adheres to ecological standards and represents a sustainable alternative to harmful pesticides.
- Ekaterina Šprajc leads the Edible Thread team, which specializes in producing an edible thread used in culinary arts for tying ingredients together. This thread, made from natural materials without allergens, is available in various colors and sizes. Ekaterina has developed both a prototype and a pilot version of the machine and intends to expand production capacity and enhance features based on customer feedback, with a focus on the zero-waste principle.
- Lucija Crnković leads BAZA, specializing in the organic production of spices using sustainable, pesticide-free methods. Instead of chemical agents, they utilize plants that repel pests and employ hotel structures for insects to ensure the production of healthy, gluten-free spices. This initiative addresses the increasing demand for safe food and promotes environmentally friendly practices aimed at ensuring high quality and freshness of their products.
- Valentina Merz leads a team that provides a diverse selection of Live microgreens in containers, available in various colors and flavors. Their emphasis is on tackling distribution and transportation challenges to maintain product freshness, alongside improving marketing and sales strategies to support ongoing production.
- Marinka Franulović leads Rumarinka, which focuses on sustainable fruit product production in Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Marinka is dedicated to the traditional production of jams and intends to establish fruit processing facilities to minimize waste and enhance efficiency. This initiative aims to offer high-quality jams, marmalades, and syrups.
- Alina Jantol is developing Kupala’s Garden, an edible landscape farm that integrates consumers into the agroecosystem through thematic events and education. The farm offers unique experiences, including communal food preparation, relaxation in nature, and direct product distribution.
- Ana Matekalo operates the Family Agricultural Farm Matekalo, specializing in freeze-drying fruits and vegetables to extend their shelf life up to 25 years while preserving all nutrients. Her team intends to expand the business to include freeze-drying vegetables and producing smoothie powders to satisfy the increasing demand for healthy and concentrated food products.
- Jelena Jakus leads the family agricultural farm Plame Hvar, which focuses on sustainable production on the island of Hvar. Their plans include the production of natural pellets, the development of a small animal farm, and education about sustainable agriculture through workshops and children's camps.
- Jelena Abramović leads the family agricultural farm Bijela Murva, which offers an intimate garden experience featuring baskets of seasonal produce. The farm enriches this offering with digital educational content and phytotherapeutic counseling. Their service integrates therapeutic practices with the natural cycles of food cultivation, promoting holistic well-being.
- Ivona Blažević presented the idea of an Urban Microgreens Farm, focusing on renewable energy and educating about the nutritional benefits of microgreens. Ivona plans to deliver microgreens directly to restaurants and private customers, promoting them as a nutritious and versatile culinary choice.
Mentors in EWA 2024 Croatia:
- Filip Stipančić
- Hermes Arriaga
- Sandra Vlašić
- Dora Zane
- Helena Habdija
- Dražen Nikolić
- Dario Zorić
- Gordana Ćorić
- Marija Mažić
- Mato Mrkalj
Smion (Lean Startup Croatia)
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 Smion on their web page.
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