EWA Demo Day in Croatia: The Winners of the EWA Programme Are Finally Revealed
The EWA programme ended with a successful Demo Day, marking the completion of six months of growth for ten women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector. The Pitching event, held before a full audience, started with an introduction to EIT Food and a summary of the programme. Over the past months, the participants developed their business ideas with the guidance of mentors and helpful workshops.
On November 21, 2024, the Empowering Women in Agrifood programme concluded with a successful Demo Day event. The venue was packed with attendees who came to learn about the results of a six-month journey for ten talented women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector.
The Pitching event started with an introduction to EIT Food and the EWA programme, giving the audience an overview of how the programme supported these entrepreneurs over the past several months. During this time, the participants received expert guidance and attended workshops that helped them grow and develop their business ideas. Through mentorship and training, these women were able to refine their ventures and build skills to make a bigger impact in the agrifood sector.
Highlights from the Pitching Event Panel Discussions
The Pitching event of the programme was also marked by two panel discussions. In the panel discussion “Innovation and Support for the Development of the Agrifood Sector”, the speakers included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jana Šic Žlabur from the Faculty of Agriculture; Blanka Kovač Walaitis from the Velika Gorica Development Agency and an EU project professional; and Lana Bačura, Head of Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, with the session moderated by Mato Mrkalj, Executive Director at RDP Technology.
After gaining insight into various perspectives on the development of the agrifood sector as a whole, they turned the focus to startups. In the second panel, “Investments and Startup Development in the Agrifood Sector”, participants were able to get a positive impression of the startup trajectory in the food and agriculture industries. The discussion featured Stevica Kuharski, a partner at the venture capital fund Fil Rouge Capital, and Manuela Panić, the director of the startup NADES Design and the winner of the 2022 EWA programme, with moderation by Petar Starčević, an associate on the EWA programme at Smion.
Pitch presentations of the participants
Tomislava Vukušić Pavičić developed the concept of plasma-activated water (RONSense) in the programme, while Ekaterina Šprajc presented her innovative edible thread. Valentina Merz and Ivona Blažević showcased microgreens cultivation. Marinka Franulović proposed the idea of opening a fruit processing plant. Alina Jantol focused on sensory tourism at the Kupalni Garden, and Jelena Jakus started the business OPG Plamea Vita on the island of Hvar through the programme. Ana Matekalo worked on producing freeze-dried fruit, and Jelena Abramović connected gestalt therapy with the White Mulberry Garden.
Before announcing the winners, Petra Mlinarić, the second-place winner of the 2022 EWA programme, shared her inspiring story of starting OPG Mlinarić at the age of 22.
The expert jury, consisting of Stevica Kuharski, partner at the venture capital fund Fil Rouge Capital; Krešo Gotovac, partner and director of operations at the venture capital fund Silicon Gardens; Božidar Pavlović, partner at the venture capital fund AYMO Ventures; and Tajana Barančić, founder and CEO of Astra Business Engineering, made the final decision on selecting the winner.
Announcing the Winners of the EWA programme in Croatia
Ekaterina Šprajc won first place with her innovative edible thread, strong sales potential, creativity, and comprehensive market research. Her impressive presentation earned her a prize of 10,000 euros.
Second place went to Ana Matekalo, who is already producing and selling freeze-dried fruit with a focus on B2B sales. Her business plan, product, and idea also met the jury’s criteria, earning her a prize of 5,000 euros to encourage further business development.
The EWA Croatia Pitching Event highlighted the positive impact of the EIT Food EWA programme on women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector. While the winners were recognized, all participants demonstrated significant growth in refining their ideas, business plans, and their capacity to provide sustainable solutions for the industry.
This event showcased the EWA programme's dedication to helping female entrepreneurs by providing them with the tools and recognition they need to grow and innovate in the agrifood industry. With the new opportunities and knowledge, they have gained, these startups are now ready to make a real difference in Croatia’s agrifood sector.
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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