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Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Support tools and networks for women

The European online platform for women entrepreneurs WEgate

The WEgate platform is a one-stop shop for women of all ages who want to start, run and grow a business. Launched in September 2016, it provides information and links on access to training, mentoring, advice and business networking opportunities.

The European Community of Women Business Angels and women entrepreneurs

The goal of this initiative – funded by the European Parliament - is to support women entrepreneurs in accessing alternative sources of funding. It will do so by raising the awareness of business angels, training women who would like to become business angels and helping women entrepreneurs to present their business ideas to potential investors. The network was created in 2017, by means of 4 projects covering 14 EU countries.

The European network to promote women's entrepreneurship (WES)

The WES is a policy network with members from 31 European nations (the EU countries, Iceland, Norway, and Turkey). The delegates represent national governments and institutions. They are responsible for promoting and supporting female entrepreneurship at national level. WES members provide advice, support, information, and contacts regarding existing support measures for female entrepreneurs. They also help identify good practices.

The European network of female entrepreneurship ambassadors

The European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors was inaugurated in 2009. It is made up of around 270 entrepreneurs from 22 European countries. The aim of the ambassadors is to act as role models by telling their story to raise awareness and encourage entrepreneurship as a career option for women of all ages. Many of the ambassadors have gone beyond this, having also become actively involved in supporting the establishment of new businesses. The Network has been very successful and exceeded its objectives in terms of events organised and audience reached. Over 650 national meetings have been organised, reaching more than 61,000 would-be women entrepreneurs. The ambassadors have supported the creation of more than 250 new women-led enterprises and created 22 networking and business support clubs for women.

List of Ambassadors in the European Network of Female Entrepreneurship

The European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs

The European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs was inaugurated in 2011. Seventeen European countries belong to the Mentors Network: Albania, Belgium, Cyprus, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The Mentors Network provides advice and support to women entrepreneurs on the start-up, management and growth of their businesses in the early phases (from the second to the fourth year of existence of a new woman-run and owned enterprise).

List of national contacts and mentors in the European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs