Women Lead the Charge: EIT Food’s Next Bite Satellite Accelerates Innovation in Agrifood

           Inspire Stage 

• A blend of live and online sessions brought inspiration from every angle, hosted by Christine Gould, CEO at GIGA and Founder of Thought For Food. Participants enjoyed: 
• Keynote speeches and motivational talks from leading voices, including a welcome speech by Marja-Liisa Meurice (Director of the EIT Food North-East) and a Keynote by Analisa Winther (Leadership Coach, Host of the Future Food podcast, Co-Founder of Top 50 Farmers). 
• A “Walk of EWA Fame,” showcasing standout women-led startups like Rea Losha (BioAgroBooster), Janika Aan (Get Food ID), Julia Volobujeva (Peace by Peas), Serena Fruttaldo (Genera), Nadica Desanova (MIMIC TECH), Nina Bażela (Antyszpak), Ana Vilas-Boas (BioUpCycle), Thea Gherdan (Proon.ing), and Jelisaveta Ilic (Tisalytics Bio). 
• A Reversed Pitch, where investors like Elena Suciu (Venture Builder at RSVP Business Angel) revealed what truly captures their attention. 
• The panel on "Investing with Purpose: Gender Equity & ESG in Agrifood Innovation" featured insights from Olena Penenko (Associate Director, Senior Banker at EBRD), Vanda Alwast (Investor at Iron Wolf Capital), and Dominik Krawczyk (CEO of Cobin Angels), moderated by Christine Gould. 

• Engaging networking opportunities in a vibrant and supportive atmosphere. 

  Empower Stage (On-site only) 
   

• Designed to foster deeper conversations and meaningful exchange, the Empower Stage,  moderated by Maciej Sadowski (Co-founder at StartupHub Poland), focused on:
• Success stories from women-led agrifood ventures, including Priscila Silva Delgado (Co-Founder & CMO at Gundo) sharing her journey from idea to impact.
• Insights into investment trends and future opportunities, highlighted by Ewa Karólewska (Head of Programmes at EIT Food) presenting new data on investments in early-stage women-led startups.
• Fireside chats tackling gender balance and diversity, such as the session on "Gender Balance in Food Innovation" featuring Harinda Katugaha (Senior Strategy Advisor at FAO Office of Innovation) and Lorena van de Kolk (Managing Partner at Schuttelaar & Partners).
• Discussions on sustainable innovation and long-term transformation, including the panel "Diversity Backlash: What It Means for Competitiveness & Sustainability" with speakers like Jagoda Gregulska (Co-Founder at Greenera), Paulina Kaczmarek (Head of Sustainability at DANONE group in Poland), and Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė (CEO at AgriFood Lithuania DIH).
• A unique environment built for connection, collaboration, and professional growth. 

Together, the two stages created a holistic experience — inspiration paired with practical empowerment. 

“So much positive energy, inspiration, and empowerment!” perfectly captures the atmosphere in Warsaw. Leaders, founders, experts, and innovators all contributed to a deeply memorable event. 

For many participants, the event became more than a gathering — it served as an important moment to reflect on the kind of food future the sector is collectively working toward. 

In her opening keynote, Analisa Winther encouraged the audience to reconnect with their inner vision and direction. Her message highlighted the need for a food system rooted in inclusivity, collaboration over competition, and one where women are clearly visible at the forefront of innovation and change. 

One of the strongest messages came from Christine R. Gould, who reminded everyone that “Women are a billion-dollar opportunity.” Supporting women innovators isn’t just fair — it’s strategic. The event was living proof of this truth. 

From the investment angle, the insights were equally compelling. During the investors’ panel, Dominik Krawczyk noted that “Impact investments deliver equal and often higher returns than traditional investments.” His point underscored a growing recognition: aligning purpose with profit is not only possible but increasingly evident across the agrifood innovation landscape. 

Warm congratulations goes to all the finalists of this year’s EWA Programme. Each of them has demonstrated remarkable resilience, creativity, and determination throughout the programme. Their solutions and products reflect not only strong entrepreneurial vision but also a deep commitment to driving meaningful change in the agrifood sector.

A key takeaway from the event was the idea that the future of food will not simply unfold on its own — it must be intentionally shaped. As highlighted during several sessions, progress depends on a community built around trust, openness, shared purpose, and the willingness to challenge established norms. 

Every decision, partnership, and act of leadership plays a role in influencing the food systems of tomorrow. 

And if the Warsaw event demonstrated anything, it is that women are not only contributing to this transformation — they are leading it.