EWA Italy 2025 concludes in Siena with a strong showcase of women shaping the future of agrifood
The EWA Italy 2025 Demo Day in Siena brought together this year’s women entrepreneurs to present the progress achieved throughout the programme, highlighting a diverse range of innovative solutions shaping the future of agrifood.
The EWA Italy 2025 Demo Day marked the conclusion of this year’s edition of the Empowering Women in Agrifood programme, an EIT Food initiative locally implemented by the Future Food Institute. Held at Santa Chiara Lab as part of Innovation Week 2025, the event brought together women entrepreneurs, mentors, researchers and representatives from the agrifood innovation ecosystem to highlight the entrepreneurial progress achieved throughout the programme.
Supporting women-led innovation in Italy’s agrifood sector
Now in its fourth Italian edition, the EWA programme continues to strengthen the role of women in agrifood innovation by combining tailored mentoring, expert guidance and a structured learning pathway. This year’s cohort of participants developed solutions addressing digitalisation, food safety, sustainable production, inclusivity and technological adoption within the agrifood sector.
During the Demo Day, the entrepreneurs presented their projects to a panel of experts evaluating innovation, market potential and broader impact on the agrifood system.
First prize: Free Eat (€10,000)
The first prize was awarded to Mariachiara Leonardi for Free Eat, a digital platform promoting high-quality artisan products within the free-from market, including gluten-free and lactose-free food options. By connecting producers and consumers across Italy through both B2C and B2B channels, Free Eat brings together inclusivity, product excellence and positive social impact.
Second prize: AgriCheck (€5,000)
The second prize went to Serena Fruttaldo for AgriCheck, developed by Genera S.r.l. AgriCheck is an innovative plug-and-play device for predictive monitoring of agricultural machinery. The solution addresses the needs of modern agriculture by improving operational efficiency, supporting sustainable practices and enabling data-driven decision making.
Expert insights and wider community engagement
The Demo Day featured a jury of recognised professionals including Marco D'Angelo (Beeco), Patrizia Marti (University of Siena) and Ludovica Polverino (Angels4Women), who evaluated the projects with expertise and commitment. The event was hosted within Innovation Week 2025 at Santa Chiara Lab and supported by Agritech 4 Open Innovation and Techstars Startup Weekend, creating a collaborative space for networking and knowledge exchange.
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.