EWA 2025 Launches in Poland with Ten Entrepreneurs Women Transforming the Agrifood Sector
Ten women entrepreneurs from Poland’s agrifood sector have begun a six-month journey with the EWA 2025 Programme, a collaborative effort by EIT Food and Startup Hub Poland. Supported by expert mentors, these participants will develop innovative solutions aimed at shaping the future of food and agriculture.
On June 17, 2025, the EWA Matchmaking event, held at the law firm Domański Zakrzewski Palinka in Warsaw, officially launched the mentorship phase of the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme. Organized by Startup Hub Poland and supported by EIT Food, the event marked the beginning of a six-month journey for ten promising women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector. With the support of expert mentors, each participant will develop an innovative project aimed at transforming the food and agriculture landscape. The EWA programme offers a tailored support system including personalized mentoring, access to business training, networking opportunities, a €1,000 grant, and the chance to compete for grants of €10,000 and €5,000.
EWA 2025 Mentorship Begins
The 2025 EWA Matchmaking event set the stage for exciting new mentor–mentee collaborations. Mentors and mentees were matched through a detailed process that considered both the project’s focus and the mentor’s background. The aim is to accelerate the development of disruptive solutions in sustainability, nutrition, agri-tech, and food innovation—all led by women.
"Mentorship is one of EWA’s greatest strengths. For years, the agrifood sector was not a natural space for female leadership. This is changing. With the support of experienced mentors, our participants are not only growing their businesses but gaining the confidence to become changemakers in a sector that needs fresh perspectives."
Meet the 10 women entrepreneurs selected for the EWA programme in Poland:
- Danuta Kruszewska – Creator of Biopowłoka, a natural protective coating for fruits and vegetables that prolongs freshness without chemicals
- Katarzyna Jaworska – Developer of an innovative sunflower root tea with functional health benefits.
- Hanna Gajda – Founder of a sustainable mushroom farm operating under circular economy principles
- Nina Bażela – Designer of Antyszpak, an AI-powered crop protection system using laser technology
- Agnieszka Orzeł – Innovator in soil-free urban farming of colorful, nutrient-rich raspberries.
- Marcelina Maciejewska – Creator of fermented vegetable chips from food scraps, rich in fiber and postbiotics
- Daria Latała – Founder of a kombucha brand using herbs and flowers from her own sustainable farm.
- Justyna Górniak – Developer of high-nutrient products from garlic flower stalks.
- Katarzyna Stempniak – Working on a protein-rich food alternative based on Wolffia globosa, a microscopic aquatic plant.
- Renata Osóbka – Creator of SweetVeggie, healthy vegetable snacks enriched with grains and plant-based proteins for vegans and allergen-sensitive consumers.
Mentors in EWA 2025 Poland:
- Magdalena Adamczuk-Rysiak, expert in business model financing and scaling
- Maciej Sadowski, specialist in R&D commercialization and investor relations.
- Paulina Brym-Ciuba, innovation management and startup acceleration expert.
- Monika Borowiecka, venture capital and agri-sales strategist
- Anna Mościcka, branding, communication, and leadership advisor.
- Urszula Tomaszek, service design and smart strategy consultant
- Sylwia Piskorska, expert in R&D project management and science-business collaboration.
- Maria Sikorska, founder of the Women Leaders in Innovation Association.
- Anna Magiera, investor and tech-sector process strategist.
- Krzysztof Kondratowicz, agro-sector commercialization and tech transfer expert.
What’s Next for EWA’s Polish Participants?
The next key step in the programme will be the EWA Masterclass, taking place on October 1, 2025, in Warsaw. This intensive workshop will focus on strengthening participants’ business strategies, pitching skills, and market readiness. Following the Masterclass, the programme will culminate in the EWA Local Pitching Event, scheduled for mid-November 2025, where participants will present their refined projects to a panel of experts for a chance to secure funding and broaden their impact.
About StartUp Hub Poland
StartUp Hub Poland (SHP) is a non-profit organization based in Warsaw with 12 years of experience supporting high-tech startups in Central-Eastern Europe. SHP helps early-stage startups (pre-seed to early Series A) develop their technology, build teams, protect IP, and access funding, grants, and relevant programmes in Poland. The organization connects startups with investors, corporations, and a global network, providing equity-free support through various acceleration and incubation formats. SHP's mission is to build a regional innovation hub, create high-tech brands, and promote Poland as an innovative destination for global commerce.
Learn more about StartUp Hub Poland on their webpage.
