Erasmus+ program aiming to support female entrepreneurs in Romania open for applications
CAPSULE, the Erasmus+ program that aims to support women in developing their entrepreneurial spirit, is now open for applications from young female entrepreneurs from Romania, Croatia, and Hungary.
The application deadline is August 30 and participation in the program is free.
The program supports young women between the ages of 18 and 28 to discover and develop their entrepreneurial spirit by creating an international community of female entrepreneurs. Over a period of 18 months, the 35 participants from Romania will undergo an intensive program of education, mentoring and coaching sessions, and skill development, and will participate in international events.
CAPSULE is a European program organized by Impact Hub Bucharest, Impact Hub Budapest, Impact Hub Zagreb, and Career Shift. The initiative focuses on the mental and emotional development of women as future entrepreneurs, providing them with all the necessary resources to reach their potential, overcome obstacles, and develop their business ideas through comprehensive training, mentoring, and practical work program.
"By developing entrepreneurial skills, women become capable of taking control of their financial independence, making decisions, leveraging their economic potential, developing professionally, and pursuing their entrepreneurial aspirations in an environment that has traditionally been dominated by men. When women have access to resources, training, and support to develop their businesses, they bring innovation, creativity, and new ideas to the economy. This can lead to the creation of new jobs, stimulate innovation, and contribute to community development. Lastly, women entrepreneurs can inspire and encourage other women to pursue their dreams and develop their entrepreneurial skills. This cycle of mentoring and inspiration can continue to bring positive changes to society in the long term," said Vlad Craioveanu, CEO and co-founder of Impact Hub Bucharest.
CAPSULE encourages the participation of young mothers who want to develop their own businesses and women from disadvantaged categories such as migrants, refugees, or those who have left their homes. However, applications are open to any young woman from the European Union who wants to become an entrepreneur and doesn't know the steps to start.
"We believe that every entrepreneur should know themselves better. Among the challenges that entrepreneurs face is over-identification with their role, increased stress, chronic fatigue, and burnout. These effects are more pronounced for women entrepreneurs and especially before the age of 30. From our observations, the pressure felt by women entrepreneurs is higher than the general average, which is why we believe that a learning journey like Self Leadership within the program is beneficial in building a long-term business and considering personal balance," said Mihai Zânt, business coach and co-founder of CareerShift.ro.
The CAPSULE program offers a comprehensive educational experience through five online courses. Ten participants from the three countries in the program will take part in an international boot camp to be held in Bucharest in 2024. Lastly, young entrepreneurs will be part of an active and dynamic community of professionals and will have the chance to participate in mastermind sessions.
To better understand the benefits and value that the program brings to participants, four applied webinars will be organized during the application period. Any young woman interested in the CAPSULE opportunity, as well as the development of applied entrepreneurial skills such as leadership or career development, can participate in the webinars. The first webinar will take place on June 22.
Applications are open for three months, and at the beginning of September, 35 participants from each partner country (Romania, Croatia, and Hungary) will be selected. The program will take place between September 15, 2023, and February 14, 2025.
(Photo source: ImpactHub)
