15 Women Entrepreneurs from Europe and Central Asia Take Center Stage at Europe’s Premier Angel Investment Event
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On 4 July 2025, the EXPO Capital Quest convened at the EBAN Congress 2025 in Copenhagen, bringing together 15 outstanding women entrepreneurs from across Europe and Central Asia—Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo*, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Co-organized by UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (UN Women ECARO) and the European Business Angels Network (EBAN) under the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO, the flagship event underscored the critical role of partnerships in creating an enabling ecosystem for women’s economic rights and business growth.
A Strategic Platform for Growth
Selected from a competitive pool of over 1,400 applicants, the entrepreneurs had completed a rigorous journey of bootcamps, satellite events, and mentorship. At Capital Quest, each founder benefited from strategic networking opportunities, connecting with investors, peers, and sector experts to exchange insights and forge new partnerships.
Showcase of Innovation and Impact
During the Congress, fifteen women entrepreneurs pitched their ventures to Europe’s top investors and angels, showcasing innovative and impactful business ideas from turning food waste into growth, to combining neuroscience, psychology, and virtual reality for anxiety and burnout relief, and creating educational games for children. Notably, Tini Mamuchashvili, founder of Neuropilot VR from Georgia, was chosen to present on the EBAN Congress main stage, while Liubov Lysenko, founder of Biobalance LLC from Ukraine, and Firouza Eshonova, founder of EZSpeech by Mila4AI from Uzbekistan, received special recognition for their compelling pitches. The Capital Quest highlighted the region’s entrepreneurial talent and the economic potential of women-led businesses to drive inclusive growth.
Transforming Entrepreneurship
Joining the EXPO Capital Quest, Olesea Vascan, founder of ROCMAN System SRL from Moldova, highlighted: “I believe women entrepreneurs bring fresh perspectives to solving problems,” stressing the importance of promoting their solutions and products in every space they are in because partnerships can start any time.
Kseniia Kluban, founder of TheaSmart from Ukraine, encouraged new founders to keep trying and “believe in yourself, never give up, and support each other. Use new technologies, innovative materials, and social innovation while staying focused on overall development.”
Learn more about these remarkable founders in our in-depth editorial: Top 7 women-led businesses making a difference in Europe and Central Asia.
Spotlight on Women in Startups and VC
Parallel to the pitches, a high-level panel on “Women in Startups and Venture Capital” featured Albania’s Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Delina Ibrahimaj, alongside sector leaders. They discussed barriers women face in accessing venture funding, the importance of care-friendly policies, and strategies to cultivate gender-balanced investment portfolios. Minister Ibrahimaj reaffirmed her government’s commitment: “Strengthening the role of women in entrepreneurship is not only a social priority, but a strategic investment in the stability and competitiveness of our region. By building policies that empower talent and foster regional cooperation, we are laying the foundation for an economic future where inclusive innovation drives sustainable development and positions our region as a serious player on the global stage.”
Driving an Inclusive Ecosystem
Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO serves as a dynamic platform, connecting founders with mentors, investors, and peers to foster a truly inclusive ecosystem where women-led businesses can thrive. “EBAN was delighted to have hosted again the UN Women EXPO Capital Quest in Copenhagen this 4 June. Through this collaboration we are advancing entrepreneurship as a career path for women across the regions of Europe and Central Asia. The founders that joined the EXPO were great examples of women leaders and entrepreneurs. We applaud them and wish them all of the success they can have in the startup journey,” said Jacopo Losso, Director General of EBAN.
Looking Ahead
Building on these achievements, UN Women will continue to champion women’s entrepreneurship and foster the partnerships—public, private, and civic—needed to unlock investment and opportunities for women-led businesses. “Participation at EBAN’s Annual Congress opens new doors for women entrepreneurs—providing them with direct access to investors and invaluable opportunities for visibility and networking. For the finalists of our 8-month programme, it’s a powerful platform to take their ventures to the next level,” stated Ana Pashalishvili, Programme Specialist, Women’s Entrepreneurship Acceleration, UN Women ECARO.
The Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2024 is organized by the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in partnership with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Yıldız Holding as part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator.