A new program aimed at fostering female entrepreneurship has launched, marking an important step toward diversifying the start-up ecosystem. The EXIST-Women program kicked off with its inaugural meeting on February 18, 2025, at the Westfälische Hochschule campus in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
This initiative, funded by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, is set to support ten aspiring female entrepreneurs, affectionately termed ANDERSMACHERINNEN, over the next year. The program provides these women with the necessary tools and guidance to navigate the entrepreneurial world through workshops, coaching, mentoring, and access to valuable networks.
"We are excited to support women more intensively with EXIST-Women on their entrepreneurial development. The tremendous interest, with over 25 applications, shows how important these programs are," explained Lisa Hegemann, Project Coordinator at ANDERSMACHER. Her enthusiasm reflects the program's overarching goal: to empower women and promote diversity within a sector where they remain significantly underrepresented.
Participants come from diverse academic backgrounds, including business, bionics, journalism, public relations, and computer science. They include both women with specific business ideas and those who are still developing concepts. This inclusivity is key to ensuring various perspectives are represented.
During the program, participants will engage in personalized coaching aimed at skill development. This includes intensive workshops focused on idea generation, business development, and techniques for effectively presenting their concepts. Hegemann emphasizes how programs like this can transform the entrepreneurial fabric of the region, stating, "We aim to bridge the gap and equip women with the skills they need to thrive and succeed."
Participant Miriam Springer expressed her appreciation for the program’s structure. "By being able to participate alongside full-time employment or studies, there's some security when starting this self-employment. The support with the initial steps is encouraging, as it's just different than having to go it alone," she noted. Such support can make all the difference as they venture toward independence.
Looking forward, the program will also feature notable events, including startup boot camps and workshops to define personal goals, enhancing the participants' learning and development opportunities. Just this March, these engaging sessions are already on the horizon, promising to provide even more insights and experiences to the aspiring entrepreneurs.
The EXIST-Women program stands not only as an enrichment tool for its participants but also as part of a broader initiative to shift the balance and perception of female entrepreneurs within the start-up space. Initial meetings have been marked by enthusiasm, as participants share their aspirations and plans for the future.
For women contemplating entrepreneurship or those already making strides, programs like EXIST-Women pave the way for innovation and leadership. It demonstrates a commitment to building supportive frameworks where female entrepreneurs can thrive and succeed, fostering potential breakthroughs within various industries.
More information about the EXIST-Women program and its upcoming events can be found at https://andersmacher.w-hs.de/exist-women/. Enthusiasts interested should stay updated, as new opportunities will continually emerge for these aspiring founders as they navigate their entrepreneurial journeys.