Cherry Mic Biotechnology wins first prize at the EWA Türkiye 2025 Demo Day
Türkiye’s Demo Day highlighted a new wave of women-led agrifood innovation, as the 2025 cohort presented solutions developed throughout the EWA programme’s six-month journey.
The Empowering Women in Agrifood 2025 Demo Day in Türkiye brought together this year’s cohort of women entrepreneurs to share the progress they have made throughout the programme. Implemented locally by Impact Hub Istanbul as part of the EIT Food EWA initiative, the event highlighted the innovation, resilience and community built by the 2025 participants during their six-month journey.
An expanded cohort driven by the partnership with Anadolu Efes
The 2025 edition of EWA in Türkiye has been the most extensive cohort to date, thanks to the strengthened partnership between EIT Food and Anadolu Efes. This collaboration enabled the programme to support 15 women entrepreneurs instead of the usual 10, broadening both its reach and its impact.
With the involvement of Anadolu Efes, participants benefited from an expanded set of learning opportunities, tailored mentoring and direct access to the company’s innovation ecosystem. The partnership also made it possible to introduce a new series of training modules for women who applied but were not selected, ensuring that their motivation and potential remain part of a wider pipeline of future agrifood innovators.
First prize: Cherry Mic Biotechnology (€10,000)
The first prize was awarded to Cherry Mic Biotechnology, founded by Iraz Aktay. Cherry Mic is a biotechnology startup producing eco-friendly microbial fertilisers that reduce the use of synthetic chemicals in agriculture. By improving soil health and reducing environmental impact, the solution supports more sustainable and resilient farming.
Second prize: INOPOLYME (€5,000)
The second prize went to INOPOLYME, led by Simay Erbay. The startup creates smart indicators made from bio-based materials that can monitor food freshness in real time. These indicators help improve food safety and reduce waste throughout the supply chain.
Beyond the financial awards, the Demo Day celebrated the collective progress of the entire cohort. Through EWA’s tailored mentoring, expert guidance and peer learning, all participants strengthened their business models, expanded their networks and gained confidence in presenting their ideas to the agrifood ecosystem.
A warm acknowledgment was shared with all the entrepreneurs who took part in the programme, recognising their commitment to building impactful, women-led agrifood ventures in Türkiye.
Join the EWA community in Warsaw this December
Be part of Accelerating Innovation Through Women Leadership on 4 December in Warsaw, where innovators, investors and partners from across Europe will come together to connect, share insights and highlight the impact of women driving change in the agrifood sector.
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