Aygen Savaş: “The learnings from the EWA programme have continuously shaped how we build and scale the company”
The Co-founder and CEO of Kybele’s Garden is turning scientific innovation into real-world impact through algae biotechnology, addressing challenges ranging from soil degradation to climate resilience.
In this interview, Aygen reflects on her transition from academia to entrepreneurship, the role EWA played in shaping her founder journey, and how the programme’s learning continues to influence the way Kybele’s Garden grows today.
Aygen, could you tell us a bit about your background and what was the main challenge or barrier you were facing before joining EWA?
Before founding Kybele’s Garden, my background was primarily rooted in academia, where I worked on chemical engineering, sustainability, circular design and research-driven projects. Transitioning from an academic environment into entrepreneurship brought a significant shift in mindset. While I had a strong technical foundation, the main challenge was translating scientific knowledge into a market-oriented, scalable business. The EWA programme played an important role in helping bridge this gap, supporting not only the business side of the venture, but also my own evolution.
What are the most significant insights, skills or connections you gained during the programme, and how have they influenced you?
One of the most valuable aspects was the exposure to both strategic thinking and practical execution. We gained critical insights into how to position a deep-tech biotechnology venture in a way that is both scientifically credible and commercially compelling, enabling us to articulate what we do and why it matters. The one-to-one mentorship helped us refine our narrative, clarify our priorities, and approach decision-making more systematically. Equally important was access to a high-quality network of mentors, industry experts, and fellow entrepreneurs, which expanded our perspective beyond our immediate ecosystem.
“Being part of the EIT Food ecosystem provided a level of external validation that strengthened our credibility when engaging with investors, partners, and stakeholders”.
How did the support or guidance from EIT Food influence your entrepreneurship journey?
The support from EIT Food helped us transition from an early-stage idea into a more structured and investment-ready venture. This early guidance not only accelerated our learning curve but also enabled us to avoid common early-stage pitfalls. Importantly, being part of the EIT Food ecosystem provided a level of external validation that strengthened our credibility when engaging with investors, partners, and stakeholders.
How do you intend to use the learnings of EWA in the future?
We completed the programme in 2021 and at the same time, we formally incorporated Kybele’s Garden. Since then, the learnings from the EWA programme have continuously shaped how we build and scale the company. From defining our business model to our impact and communication strategy, many of the frameworks and approaches we developed during EWA have been actively applied throughout our journey to navigate growth, manage complexity, make strategic decisions across R&D, production, and commercialisation.
“We have also expanded internationally by establishing our UK subsidiary and strengthened our positioning through recognitions such as Women TechEU, MassChallenge Switzerland, Blue Bio Value, and our nomination to The Earthshot Prize by the Royal Academy of Engineering”.
What key achievements have you reached since the programme and how did EWA contribute to it?
Since completing the programme, we have achieved several key milestones, including the commercialisation of our agricultural products, reaching over 40 customers, expanding our team to 10+ members and raising a total of $670K across our investment rounds. We have also expanded internationally by establishing our UK subsidiary and strengthened our positioning through recognitions such as Women TechEU, MassChallenge Switzerland, Blue Bio Value, and our nomination to The Earthshot Prize by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The EWA programme contributed to these achievements by providing the foundational structure, visibility, and network that enabled us to move forward with greater clarity and credibility at an early stage.
Who would you recommend the programme to, and what would you tell them before they join?
I would strongly recommend the EWA programme to early-stage founders, particularly those working on deep-tech or impact-driven innovations who are in the process of translating ideas into businesses. Before joining, I would encourage participants to be open, proactive, and ready to challenge their own assumptions. This programme offers significant value, but the impact largely depends on how actively you engage with the mentorship, network, and learning opportunities.
About EWA - Empowering Women in Agrifood
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. The programme offers a flexible three-level journey:
- EWA Explore: Foundational online entrepreneurship training.
- EWA Grow: National cohort-based programmes with mentorship, training and Demo Days.
- EWA Advanced: A pan-European programme focused on investment readiness and scaling.
Behind every EWA journey is a founder transforming ideas into impact. Meet our EWAs:
EWA gave me the opportunity to take a step back and look at Nula with greater strategic clarity. I refined the value proposition, validated assumptions and better understood the market I was targeting. Just as valuable was the sense of community, a safe space to share challenges, find motivation and gain momentum.
- Maria Antunes (Founder of Nula) – EWA 2025 participant, Portugal