The gathering in Pisa brought together inspiring professionals from various fields who shared their personal journeys, challenges, and the unique opportunities women face in innovation and technology. The event also served as a key moment of connection with other European University Alliances (such as EUniwell and EELISA) and Tour4Eu (Tuscan Organisation of Universities and Research for Europe), fostering cross-border dialogue on supporting female entrepreneurship.
Researchers’ Night and Treasure Hunt
Coinciding with this, Pisa was celebrating the European Researchers' Night, with dozens and dozens of researchers gathering in the city's squares to engage citizens through demonstrations, experiments, and games all presented in an informal, engaging, and informative way.
The young women of the Women Founders Network had the chance to meet various female researchers during a lively Researcher Treasure Hunt. This dynamic activity not only introduced them to groundbreaking research, but also gave them the chance to connect with mentors and role models in their fields. Through questions like, What are the challenges of being a female innovator? Where do women stand in the fields of research and innovation? What specific difficulties do they encounter, and how do they overcome them?
Drafting a manifesto
On Saturday morning, the WFN group reconvened for the final workshop, reflecting on their motivations for joining the Women Founders Network and sharing the valuable lessons learned from the previous day’s interviews. The session culminated in drafting the first Women Founders Network Manifesto, a document that embodies values, ambitions, and goals of this new generation of women entrepreneurs. The next step will involve developing a concrete action plan, creating an educational track targeting women entrepreneurs, organizing an on-site event, and expanding the network by involving new students.
"The event has been a worthy successor to the Paris retreat. It has been truly refreshing to have young women from all across Europe come together, grow, and reflect on their roles as innovators in building the future of European society," said Viktoria Nagy (UC Louvain), program coordinator. This sense of continuity highlights the importance of sustained engagement among female innovators and entrepreneurs across borders.
You can join
For the participants, the event was an excellent opportunity for empowerment. “The Women Founders Kick-off event was an incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate with inspiring women, and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes us as we continue to develop our Female Founder Network” the students said collectively.
The women from the Women Founders Network now meet online every Saturday morning to discuss and advance their projects. Anyone interested joining the network can contact Viktória Nagy, viktoria.nagy@uclouvain.be.
