AWE
Academy for Women Entrepreneurs in Hungary
Program: November 2023 – May 2024
Application deadline: 29th of October, 2023
Q&A Session: 10th of October, 2023 (Facebook link)
About the Program
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is a female entrepreneurship promotion program that provides women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools and network they need to create and grow your businesses. It enables women from all over the world to deepen your entrepreneurial skills and build your business model, through a facilitated online education program in English and ongoing mentorship.
In 2021 Hungary joined AWE’s global network for the first time through the US Embassy in Budapest in partnership with The Foundation for Sustainable Enterprises, a team that works alongside Impact Hub Budapest.
In 2023 AWE Hungary continues to build its business development framework on the global experience, but the 7-month program is adapted to the local context to best serve the needs of the target group of Hungarian female entrepreneurs, and is supplemented with networking and mentorship opportunities.
Who can participate?
AWE Hungary is looking for women with unrealized enterprise ideas or whose business is in a very early stage and who are motivated to launch or further build your enterprise.
We intend to recruit 20 women in total from the countryside. (Budapest and Pest county are excluded)
We are looking for you, if you
- have a business idea or a running business with less than a total of 1 million HUF revenue;
- are dedicated to commit a total of 7-10 hours per week in a flexible setup to improve your entrepreneurial skills, to develop/fine-tune your business model and to connect with mentors and other would-be entrepreneurs;
- live and plan to realize the business in both rural and urban areas of Hungary outside of Budapest;
- are between 25 and 55 years old;
- have a good understanding of written and spoken English to be able to complete the online course;
- have access to a computer/tablet.
You can be on your own or part of a team around the business idea. In the later case, the person leading the team needs to apply and fulfill all the eligibility criteria.
What are the benefits of the program?
Online Learning Platform
Access to the online business planning platform Dreambuilder
Mentoring
A dedicated one-on-one mentor to support you in your business planning process
Networking
Access to a community of female entrepreneurs with opportunities for peer-to-peer inspiration and learning
Pitching
The opportunity to pitch your business idea in front of a prominent jury
Award
The chance to get funding to launch or consolidate your business
A total of 15.000 USD will be distributed as a non-refundable grant among the 3 most promising entrepreneurs based on your submitted business plans and presentations.
How to apply?
You can apply to AWE Hungary in two steps:
Download the My Business Idea Form. Take your time to fill it out.
Go to this online application form, fill out some basic data and at the end attach the filled document.
Optional: you can include a link to a maximum 2-minute long video about yourself and your business idea.
Application deadline: 29th of October (midnight)
What are the selection criteria?
Eligible applications will be assessed towards the following criteria by the organizing partners:
- Motivation and commitment to participate in the program
- Viability and innovation of the business idea proposed
- Preference may be given for business ideas with a positive social or environmental impact
- There is added value in the program for the participant.
Contact information
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at:
There will be an online Q & A session soon in 10th of October at 6:00 PM CET. Follow our Facebook Page for all the details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply as part of a team?
Can I apply if I already have an enterprise running?
Can I apply if I don't have any experience?
I have an idea, but it is not yet fully developed, will the program help me to understand if it is viable?
Does my idea have to have a social and environmental impact?
How much time do I need to spend on the program?
I don't have a computer or tablet or I don't have access to the internet, can I still participate in this program?
I live in Budapest/ Pest county, but I have a business idea that would be implemented in the countryside. Can I still apply?
AWE Hungary is for women living outside of Budapest and Pest country. However, if the business will be implemented in Hungary outside of Budapest, please contact us and explain your situation.
I do not have a language certificate in English. Can I still apply?
I do not speak or write in English. Can I still apply?
I do not speak Business English. Can I still apply?
I do not live in Hungary. Can I still apply?
