AWAKEN
Accelerating Women’s Advancement through Knowledge, Entrepreneurship & Networking
Empowering 120 female entrepreneurs and 60 educators across 6 European countries with the skills, tools, and networks to break barriers and build thriving businesses.
Programme Overview
AWAKEN is a European innovation programme that tackles the persistent gender gap in entrepreneurship head-on. Across six countries, we are building a movement of women who don’t just start businesses, they lead innovation ecosystems.
Through 12 cutting-edge MOOCs, hands-on workshops, and the creation of 6 regional Innovation Clusters, AWAKEN equips female entrepreneurs with digital skills, business strategy, and peer networks. At the same time, we train the educators and mentors who support them, creating a multiplier effect that outlasts the programme itself.
The Challenge:
Women represent only 34.4% of self-employed workers in the EU, and female-led startups receive a fraction of available venture capital. AWAKEN exists to change these numbers by building both the skills and the ecosystems that women entrepreneurs need to succeed.
Who Is It For
- Women Founders: Female entrepreneurs at any stage — from idea to scaling — who want to sharpen their digital and business skills while connecting with a European peer network
- Educators & Mentors: Teachers, trainers, and business advisors who support women in entrepreneurship and want access to cutting-edge curriculum and teaching methodologies
- Innovation Ecosystem Builders: Hubs, accelerators, and regional agencies looking to build stronger innovation ecosystems for women-led businesses
- Gender Equality Advocates: Organisations and advisors focused on closing the gender gap in business and technology
What you get
- 12 professionally developed MOOCs on digital skills, business strategy, and innovation for women entrepreneurs
- Hands-on workshops and peer learning sessions across 6 European countries
- Access to a dedicated Innovation Cluster in your region, connecting you with mentors, investors, and fellow founders
- A tested Entrepreneurial Competence Framework designed specifically for women in business
- Training-of-trainers resources for educators supporting female entrepreneurship
- Cross-border networking with entrepreneurs and educators across Spain, Ireland, Malta, Bulgaria, Sweden, and Greece
Duration
Consortium
Outputs
Approach
Impact Numbers
Female entrepreneurs trained across Europe
Educators equipped with new methodologies
MOOCs developed and freely accessible
Innovation Clusters established in partner countries
European countries connected
Funding Acknowledgement
This project is funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme (KA220-ADU). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
About our initiatives
Impact Consulting
Together we work on reaching your sustainability goals by applying innovation tools and latest frameworks. We empower you with know-how and connect you to the relevant network, so you can keep making progress. Besides, we make sure that the people who matter most are involved, because sustainability is all about the community.
