Women entrepreneurs from Latvia accepted into EIT Food Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme

EWA program aims to address the current gender inequality in the agriculture and food sector. By participating in the program, for five months, women gain the support of mentors, knowledge, confidence, and a network of influential partners and contacts necessary for successful business in the agricultural and food sector.

Each participant is matched with an individual mentor with extensive experience in the industry. Mentors, who will support the development of ideas and business plans are experienced entrepreneurs and professionals in their field.

The mentors of the ten participants of the program are:

1. Lāsma Bekina - chairman of the board of "Rītausma",
2. Laura Valtere - Partner at "Gateway&Partners",
3. Ieva Treija - entrepreneur and owner of "Gemoss",
4. Silva Dolmane - export manager at "Bioefekts",
5. Alma Bērziņa - manager at "Jundas",
6. Enno Ence - founder and CEO of "Milzu!",
7. Elīna Novada - owner of "Svaigi.lv",
8. Lota Plezere - Product manager at "Printify",
9. Lāsma Ozola - LLKC project manager
10. Alise Graci - founder and manager of "Felici".

During the next five months, the participants will be provided with online training, support, masterclasses on financial planning and sustainability, product positioning in the market and e-commerce, individual mentor support, and access to an international network.

The final event, where the participants will present what they have accomplished during the program, will take place on November 30 at the "Splendid Palace'' venue. Programme participants will have the opportunity to attract funding of up to 10,000 euros for further development of the business idea.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is successfully implementing the international support program for women entrepreneurs for the third year, covering 11 countries this year: the program is available in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Turkey. In Latvia, the support program is organized by the innovation management company "Helve".

Helve is an open innovation management company that works to foster success through the power of collaboration. Helve furthers partner’s growth by designing tailor-made solutions to turn their challenges into transformational change initiatives.