About the project
In the European Union (EU), women account for about 73% of the total number of “missing” entrepreneurs (OECD & European Commission (2023) - Report on Missing Entrepreneurs). There could be an additional 5.5 million women starting and managing new businesses in the European Union, if everyone had an equal opportunity to transform their ideas into a business and if women participated in early-stage entrepreneurship at the same rate as 30-49 year old men (idem). Women consistently outnumber men in university degrees, but they are underrepresented in ESTEAM (ESTEAM stands for entrepreneurship, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.) disciplines like entrepreneurship, science, technology, engineering, digital arts and mathematics.
Because of this gap, the European Commission is committed to supporting women and girls to pursue their interests, motivations and choices more easily, and achieve their full potential. This policy is underlined in the EU SME Strategy for a Sustainable and Digital Europe, the SME Relief Package, the New Skills Agenda, the Digital Education Action Plan, and the Gender Equality Strategy 2020‑2025.
This project aims to address two main challenges, namely the lack of data on women entrepreneurs and the low number of role models that can inspire girls and women to study and pursue careers in the ESTEAM areas.
As such, it serves a dual purpose: to take stock of the current state of women’s entrepreneurship in Europe and to showcase the remarkable work of girls and women who are active in entrepreneurship, science and technology and can inspire girls and women to follow suit.
The state of women’s entrepreneurship in Europe
The first objective is to gather and systematically analyse the latest data on women entrepreneurs in Europe, including:
- The number of women entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurship rate in various countries
- Types of entrepreneurship and sectors of activity
- Key barriers faced by women in starting and growing their businesses
- Existing policy measures and initiatives designed to support women entrepreneurs
This exhaustive data collection will serve as a foundation for developing evidence-based policies and actionable strategies that foster an enabling environment for women in entrepreneurship.
Showcasing role models in ESTEAM
The second objective is to initiate a compelling media campaign that highlights female role models who can motivate and inspire women and girls to pursue careers in entrepreneurship, science, and technology. Girls and women from different ages, backgrounds, geographic regions and business sectors will share their entrepreneurial journeys and the lessons they have learned along the way. These stories will serve as sources of inspiration for becoming more entrepreneurial.
Role models
We are thrilled to present the five remarkable entrepreneurs who will serve as role models in the first year of our campaign. Coming from diverse backgrounds, geographic regions, and business sectors, they showcase different paths to unlocking one’s entrepreneurial spirit. From starting one’s own business as a teenager to making it in a male-dominated field, their journeys bring valuable lessons, insights and inspiration. Discover their inspiring stories below:
Webinars
Second webinar
In the September edition of the Supporting Women Entrepreneurs webinar series, we were joined by Oliwia Myczkowska and Hulya Gunay, who offered two unique perspectives on embracing the entrepreneurial mindset and building something meaningful.
Oliwia is a young social activist and co-founder of Bee Healthy Honey, a venture she launched with her grandfather to help protect bee populations. Hulya is an experienced financial coach and mentor, passionate about empowering women through financial literacy and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
Discover what inspired them to take bold steps toward entrepreneurship, how they overcame challenges, and what they have learned along the way. Whether you are just starting out or looking to grow, their stories offer valuable insights and encouragement for every stage of the journey.
You can watch the recording below:
First webinar
For our first webinar, we were joined by Johanna Baare and Mariia Alipatova, to hear two different perspectives on unlocking your entrepreneurial potential to build a successful business in Europe. Johanna is the co-founder of the Hamburg-based bioeconomy company Traceless which develops biodegradable alternatives to plastic. Mariia is a Ukrainian deep-tech entrepreneur and founder of Tova Industries, a climate-tech company developing innovative energy solutions. Discover what led them to ESTEAM and what they learned on their journey to success.
Did you miss the first webinar? You can watch the recording below: