On 14 October 2026, the GLOW-CE project will bring together young women entrepreneurs from four Central European regions for a transnational online focus group: the Empow(H)ER Co-Lab: Connect & Shape Your Future! The session will connect students, early-stage founders and aspiring business owners from Hungary, Croatia, Italy and Czechia, with a particular focus on women based in rural and peripheral areas.
The event opens with a shared overview of the Central European strategy for building a stronger, gender-equal business support ecosystem, followed by regional pitches from each partner showcasing their local pilot programmes. Using live voting and an open roundtable discussion, participants will engage directly in shaping the training programme that is currently being developed for them.
What to Expect
Participants will be introduced to six draft training modules covering marketing, digital and AI tools, the green transition, and self-management and soft skills — the core building blocks of the upcoming “Empow(H)ER” training programme. Rather than simply receiving information, attendees will actively prioritise which modules, formats (live webinars, one-on-one coaching, or peer circles) and tools best fit their entrepreneurial journey.
Why It Matters
Across Central Europe, young women entrepreneurs — particularly those outside major regional centres — continue to face barriers such as geographic isolation, limited access to networks, and business support services that are difficult to navigate. By listening directly to this target group before finalising the curriculum, GLOW-CE aims to ensure its future training offer reflects real, lived experience rather than assumptions.
The event is coordinated by lead partner STRIA (Hungary), in cooperation with project partners Wondernature (Croatia), JAIP (Czechia) and RAISE (Italy). Confirmed participants from each region will additionally gain early-bird access to free local pilot training programmes launching in 2027.