Female entrepreneurship
Join the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform on 12 November 2024 from 14:00 to 15:30 for a webinar on female entrepreneurship.
Women comprise 52% of the European population but only 34.4% of the self-employed and 30% of start-up entrepreneurs. Encouraging women to become entrepreneurs is not only needed to make economies fairer but can also increase economic development by bringing more bright ideas to the market.
According to the the OECD, female entrepreneurs are an untapped source of economic growth. They create new jobs for themselves and others. They provide society with different solutions to management, organisation and business problems as well as to the exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities. But this added value is not very much promoted.
This webinar aims to highlight the importance of female entrepreneurship with European initiatives.
What to expect
Keynote speech
- Keynote speech by Eva Merloni, co-founder of WeGate, Partnership and international relations manager, Brussels/pan-EU, about the WeGate network
WEgate is a Belgian non-profit association established by a COSME-funded initiative to support women entrepreneurs. It serves as a platform that unites initiatives to address the needs of women in starting, financing, and managing their businesses. It connects women entrepreneurs with local, regional, national, and European support organisations to enhance access to mentoring and business networks.
Interreg Europe good practices
- Presentation by Carla Oulid Aissa Hauser from Grand Est region, France on Elles Osent en Grand Est (DEBUTING project)
The initiative offers dedicated support for individual empowerment and network expansion rather than focusing on companies. It collaborates with the Quebec Chamber of Commerce and Industry Leadership Summit to provide fresh perspectives and international connections. Combining small group coaching and professional missions abroad, the approach has a high replication potential.
- Presentation by Stacey Phelan from Carlow County Council, Ireland on Gender based business supports to encourage engagement – Powerhouse Women in Business Network (InnoCom project)
The network empowers female entrepreneurs through personal and professional development by promoting personal and professional development. Its success, marked by significant participation and impactful events, highlights the value of structured peer support and skill development. This model promotes women's entrepreneurship, facilitates knowledge exchange, and contributes to regional economic growth and gender equality.