Deadline Date: April 26, 2026
The EIT Food Grow Programme supports women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector by providing training, mentorship, networking, and funding opportunities to help them start or scale sustainable businesses.
The programme focuses on strengthening leadership skills such as team management, public speaking, negotiations, and time management, while also building business capabilities including financial management, legal and IP knowledge, data management, and market strategies. It further emphasizes agrifood expertise covering sector trends, EU regulations like the Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy, food security, and supply chains, alongside self-development areas such as emotional intelligence and personal growth, and practical business functions like marketing, logistics, and finance.
The Empowering Women in Agrifood Grow Programme is part of a broader initiative designed to address gender gaps in the agrifood sector and unlock opportunities for women entrepreneurs. It is implemented across multiple European countries, targeting early-stage female founders and women with innovative agrifood business ideas. The programme runs for six months and provides tailored support to help participants overcome barriers and build sustainable ventures.
Participants receive structured training, personalized mentorship, and access to a strong innovation ecosystem. The programme also facilitates networking with investors, industry experts, and peers, enabling women entrepreneurs to refine their ideas and scale their businesses effectively.
Selected participants are eligible for financial support of up to €1,000 to cover participation-related costs such as travel and accommodation for programme activities. This funding is disbursed in instalments based on participation and completion of programme deliverables.
Additionally, participants compete in a Demo Day event where top performers can win prizes of €10,000 and €5,000 to further support their business development and growth.
The programme is open to women residing in eligible European countries who are either in the early stages of building a startup or have a business registered for less than three years, with limited prior investment. Applications must be submitted through the designated platform within the specified deadline.
For more information, visit EIT Food.
