The Second Edition of EIT Food EWA Empowers Women Entrepreneurs in Portugal

EIT Food, in collaboration with Building Global Innovators (BGI) is organising the last stage of the 2021 edition of EWA - Empowering Women in Agrifood.

Aiming at helping highly motivated female entrepreneurs to meet and exceed their business aspirations through the provision of knowledge and support, the EWA programme is being carried out in Portugal for the second consecutive time.

EIT Food EWA offers its participants 6 months of personalised mentorship with a business expert, as well as access to several contacts from an international network and funding opportunities up to 10,000€.

After a Matchmaking Event earlier this year, where the selected participants got to meet their mentors, and a Masterclass held in October, dedicated to support and capacitate our female entrepreneurs through workshops, pitch training sessions and success stories, EWA enters now its last stage: the Final Pitch Competition.

Final Pitch Competition:

The flagship event of the programme - Final Pitch Competition - will be held in online format, on November 30th. Our hard working entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas and win up to 10 000€ in funding.

Our amazing female entrepreneurs, respective business ideas & dedicated Mentors:

• Inés Tafoi, with Epic Humus, focuses on the production of handmade fresh organic humus, 100% vegan and preservative-free. She is metored by Laura Moreira, Founder at Tellus. 
• Fabiola Gil, with Ponto V, aims at creating a street food option for vegetarian and vegan consumers. She is mentored by Marina Duarte, Head of Marketing at Portugália Restauração. S.A.
• Irina Moreira, with Vegan Steaks, develops vegetable based products to be used as alternatives to meat steaks. She is mentored by Vera Pereira, CEO at Business Avenue. 
• Vera Almeida, With NutriKitchen, intends to create a healthy cooking school to teach how to cook for a balanced and sustainable diet. She is mentored by João Denis, Office Coordinator a EMAC - Empresa Municipal de Ambiente de Cascais.
• Ana Fonseca, with Do Bosque, develops wid snacks to be carried around and recharge people´s energy. She is mentored by Paula Dias, Head of Business Setrategy & Branding at Brandhub. 
• Teresa Ferreira, with MUKA, develops nut based artisan vegan alternatives to cheese. She is mentored by Céu Filipe, Head of Innovation Department at Associação Empresarial de Portugal. 
• Marta Felix, with Bio Cosmos, makes cosmetic products out of wine residues and waste. She is mentored by Rita Sousa, Partener at Faber Blue Pioneerds Fund. 
• Raphaële Lewi-Leveel, with MiAM, aims at making the purchase of organic and fresh products simpler through an online marketplace. She is mentored by Joana Pontes, RUMO Project Lead at Sandoz. 
• Marta Espírito Santo, with Raiz, develops controlled enviroment vertical farms in urban areas. She is mentored by Susana Pinto, Bisuness Advisor at Associação Empresarial de Portugal. 
• Arlete Marques, with NutriFoods, created snacks with innovative nutritional properties and textures that allow people to fulfill their appetite faster. She is mentored by Luis Caixinhas, Patent Engineer at Inventa International.