Copenhagen, Denmark – On July 4, 2025, the EXPO Capital Quest took center stage at the EBAN Congress 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark, bringing together 15 prominent women entrepreneurs from Europe and Central Asia. This flagship event was co-organized by the 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 gathering underscored the crucial role of partnerships in fostering an environment conducive to women's economic rights and business expansion.
Selected from a highly competitive pool of over 1,400 applicants, these entrepreneurs embarked on an intense journey that included bootcamps, satellite events, and mentorship. At Capital Quest, participants engaged in strategic networking opportunities, facilitating connections with investors, peers, and industry experts to share insights and establish new partnerships.
The event showcased the innovative and impactful business ideas of the 15 entrepreneurs as they presented their ventures to some of Europe’s leading investors and angel investors. Among the standout presentations, Tini Mamuchashvili, founder of Neuropilot VR from Georgia, was selected to present on the main stage of the EBAN Congress. Additionally, Liubov Lysenko, founder of Biobalance LLC from Ukraine, and Firouza Eshonova, founder of EZSpeech by Mila4AI from Uzbekistan, received special accolades for their compelling pitches. The Capital Quest highlighted the entrepreneurial talent within the region and the potential of women-led businesses to drive inclusive growth.
Participants emphasized the transformative power of women in entrepreneurship. Olesea Vascan, founder of ROCMAN System SRL from Moldova, remarked on the fresh perspectives women bring to problem-solving, asserting the significance of promoting their innovations across all platforms. Similarly, Kseniia Kluban, founder of TheaSmart from Ukraine, encouraged new founders to persist and "believe in yourself, never give up, and support each other."
In parallel with the pitches, a high-level panel discussion titled “Women in Startups and Venture Capital” was held, featuring Albania's Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Delina Ibrahimaj, alongside other sector leaders. They addressed the challenges women entrepreneurs face in securing venture funding and the necessity of policies that support gender-balanced investment portfolios. Minister Ibrahimaj stressed the strategic importance of empowering women entrepreneurs to drive sustainable innovation, stating, "Strengthening the role of women in entrepreneurship is not only a social priority but a strategic investment in our region's stability and competitiveness."
Jacopo Losso, Director General of EBAN, lauded the partnership between UN Women and EBAN in advancing women’s entrepreneurship in Europe and Central Asia. He expressed delight in hosting the UN Women EXPO Capital Quest, emphasizing the collaboration's role in encouraging entrepreneurship as a viable career path for women in the region.
Looking ahead, UN Women remains committed to advancing women's economic empowerment and rights in Europe and Central Asia. Ana Pashalishvili, Programme Specialist for Women’s Entrepreneurship Acceleration at UN Women ECARO, highlighted the significance of participation at EBAN's Annual Congress, which provides direct access to investors and valuable networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2024 is set to continue this momentum, organized in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Yıldız Holding as part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator.
