In Focus: Women's Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025

As a unique collaborative platform dedicated to nurturing the entrepreneurial landscape for women across Europe and Central Asia, the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO was launched in 2021 by the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Yıldız Holding. The EXPO has since become a cornerstone of the global Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator, supported by Mary Kay.

Since its launch, the EXPO has become a movement that spotlights the accomplishments of women in the entrepreneurial landscape across the region. It is a vibrant community of women-helping-women and supports women entrepreneurs in becoming the architects of the new global economy. The EXPO cultivates relationships, collaboration, networking, peer learning, idea generation, skills enhancement and business expansion opportunities for women entrepreneurs, investors and private sector stakeholders. It also amplifies the visibility of women-led enterprises and fosters inclusive markets and value chains that empower women entrepreneurs.

In its fifth year, EXPO 2025 hosted 10 satellite events in 10 countries across the region, including Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina Georgia, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine, bringing together hundreds of women entrepreneurs, thousands of visitors, and hundreds of local and regional partners.

EXPO 2025 Regional Virtual Event in Numbers

• Empowering masterclasses: Over 10 expert workshops and panel discussions took place, featuring successful women entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and industry experts. The sessions focused on the latest trends, strategies, and tools to accelerate women-led businesses.
• B2C & B2B networking: More than 620 entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and potential collaborators joined the virtual event, forging invaluable connections to help scale women-owned businesses.
• Inspiring success stories: EXPO alumni and business leaders shared success stories from their entrepreneurial journeys, inspiring and encouraging women founders.
• Exhibition space: 300+ women founders showcased their businesses, services and products, expanding their business networks.

The EXPO 2025 is organized by the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in partnership with the European Union, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Business Angels Network (EBAN) and Women in Tech Global.

In addition to the regional virtual event, UN Women hosts a series of satellite events in countries across the region to provide a space for women entrepreneurs, women-led businesses, investors, mentors, government officials and other partners to gather in person, network, exchange best practices and learn from national experts.