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EWA Masterclass 2024: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Agrifood Innovation in Hungary

In an empowering gathering last week, ten enthusiastic women entrepreneurs from Hungary participated in the EWA Masterclass, the second event in the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) series. This collaborative event offered participants the chance to work closely with mentors, gaining valuable insights and networking opportunities to strengthen their businesses in the agrifood sector.

22 Oct 2024
EIT Food North & East

On October 10, the Hungarian Innovation Hub, established by the Hungarian National Bank, hosted the Hungarian EWA (Empowering Women in Agrifood) Masterclass event, organized by Pozi.io with the support of EIT Food. The aim of the event was to support female-led agrifood startups by improving their business strategies, boosting their presentation skills, and coming up with new ideas that promote sustainable agriculture and food security.

Empowering Entrepreneurs: Insights from the EWA Masterclass

In his opening speech, the event’s lead moderator, Tamás Müller, emphasized that the most effective validation of a business idea happens in the marketplace, and the practical experience of mentors can help in this process. Müller shared essential guidelines with the participants on how to handle feedback from mentors, stressing that constructive criticism can be a powerful tool for growth if it’s viewed not as personal criticism but as a resource for refining ideas and business strategies. He pointed out that openness to different perspectives and learning from experienced mentors is crucial for overcoming challenges and achieving long-term success.

The event's special guests, Eszter Czuri Nagyné, an expert from Brancs crowdfunding marketplace, and Viktor Balogh, head of innovation at Kite Zrt., provided invaluable expertise on business strategy, careful planning, and the dynamics of success and failure. Their advice greatly supported the participants in mastering the nuances of communication and presentation, ensuring that the founders are well-prepared for the November finale.

During the Masterclass, participants showcased the results of their hard work from the past months. Each entrepreneur was required to deliver a focused presentation summarizing their business models, value propositions, and growth strategies. The support and guidance from EWA and the mentors enabled participants to showcase their progress with clarity and effectiveness. These presentations not only reflected their dedication but also emphasized their presentation skills, which are crucial for success in their future careers within the industry.

A unique aspect of the EWA Masterclass is its focus on the beginning stages of entrepreneurship. The programme covered important topics like creating a value proposition, learning together as a group, building teams, and dealing with legal and financial issues. It also included lessons on sales, marketing, and communication strategies. This comprehensive training helped participants understand what it takes to succeed in the food industry.

Upcoming Event: EWA 2024 Local Pitching Event

The local Pitching Event of the EWA 2024 Hungary, set for mid-November, marks the culmination of the programme. During this event, participants will pitch their innovative agrifood projects to a panel of experts, competing for top cash awards of €10,000 and €5,000. This event presents an excellent opportunity for startups to showcase the creativity and effort they have invested in their projects over the past few months. In addition to the cash awards, the top participants will receive six months of mentorship, providing them with valuable insights to enhance their strategies and propel their ventures forward in the agrifood sector.

About Pozi Network Zrt

Pozi Network Zrt is an open innovation platform designed to assess and connect members of the startup ecosystem. POZI creates and organizes innovation events and service packages for large companies. POZI brings structure to the messy processes of finding an idea, building a team, or launching a new product. Their goal is to support startups worldwide.

Learn more about Pozi Network Zrt on their webpage.

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