Celebrating Innovation and Empowerment: The FEM-Up Academy Finale

On 18 June 2025 the DOBA Faculty hosted the grand finale of the FEM-Up Academy, an event dedicated to celebrating female entrepreneurship, creativity, and personal growth. The event, titled “Innovate. Empower. Rise.” marked the successful conclusion of a two-year Erasmus+ project designed to inspire and empower the next generation of women innovators.

The FEM-Up project (Level Up Female Entrepreneurship and STEM Skills to Foster Women Empowerment) was created to help young women aged 18–30 overcome the biggest barriers to entrepreneurship: a lack of confidence, fear of failure, and insufficient business knowledge. Through a unique blend of training, mentorship, and collaboration across six partner countries (Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Malta), the project provided a supportive ecosystem for participants to develop their entrepreneurial ideas in STEM/STEAM fields.

The event began with an inspiring opening presentation from Milena Đukanović, an award-winning designer from Montenegro who masterfully blends tradition with cutting-edge creativity. She shared her personal journey of “reinventing” herself in 2019 after purchasing the first 3D printer at the University of Montenegro. What started as a hobby to express her design passion soon blossomed into a thriving business.

She spoke about her 3D-printed jewellery, and project collaborations such as zero-waste bow ties, poetry-printed vases and children’s toys. Now, she’s looking to venture into culinary 3D design with Montenegro’s first food 3D printer. Highlighting her creative drive, she said that “For design, you need to be inspired, and you need to find something that inspires you.” She emphasised the power of diverse collaboration in entrepreneurship.

The Pitch Contest: A Showcase of Innovative Ideas

The heart of the event was the pitch contest, where six finalists took to the stage to present their business ideas. Their presentations were a testament to the power of youth-led innovation, with common themes of digital citizenship, sustainability, and profound social impact woven throughout each concept.

• Virgo Studio (Virginia Finocchiaro, Italy): A video game development studio in Catania, Sicily, designed to create an inclusive space for programmers, musicians, and artists. The studio aims to combat the “brain drain” from the region and address the gender gap in the gaming industry by creating exciting, affordable games for everyone.
• MiSintaxis (Laura Mateo, Spain): An educational app that helps students master Spanish syntax through interactive exercises and gamified learning. The platform also links to teachers, allowing them to track student progress and use the tool as part of their curriculum.
• 9 Muses Festival (Georgia Kanellopoulou, Greece): A bold, feminist festival that gives voice and visibility to emerging women artists from around the world. Using a hybrid model, each edition takes place in a different host country while maintaining a digital archive, reclaiming the image of the mythological Muses for modern female creators.
• BioChargePack (Buse Sarıkoca, Turkey): Concept for sustainable smart packaging. Fully biodegradable packaging that could potentially revolutionise product safety in the food and pharmaceutical sectors by using smart technology to monitor conditions and reduce environmental impact.
• Aesthetically Adaptive (Mirhea Vella, Malta): A business centred on integrating interior design with accessibility. The concept provides customised design solutions that create beautiful, functional, and inclusive spaces where individuals of all abilities can live and work without compromising on style.
• Cement Tiles (Maruša Weitzer, Slovenia): A project that revives the heritage of cement tile production by combining traditional craft with modern innovation and sustainability. The business aims to produce tiles that are not only aesthetically pleasing and durable but also eco-friendly, offering a unique product for the modern market.

The passion and innovative thinking of the finalists brought a dynamic energy to the event, demonstrating the real-world relevance and impact of the FEM-Up Academy. Each pitch was more than just a business idea; it was a powerful statement about the future these young entrepreneurs are determined to build.

While the finalists presented their business ideas, a parallel session was held, led by Živa Veingerl Čič and Marko Divjak. Titled “Together for the well-being and safe digital future of children and adolescents,” the session explored the role of teachers, school professionals, and parents in promoting mental health and responsible internet use. This discussion underscored the event's holistic approach, highlighting the importance of creating a supportive and resilient environment for the next generation of innovators to thrive in.

Insights from the Round Table

The round table “Fostering Innovation through Start-up Mentorship, Digital Engagement, Emotional Resilience, and Family Empowerment,” featured a diverse group of experts and professionals. The group of speakers consisted of Mariella Camilleri, President of Business and Professional Women Malta; Gordana Ćorić, consultant and entrepreneurship mentor from Croatia; Milena Đukanović, professor at the University of Montenegro, Head of the SMART Innovation Centre for 3D Printing, and entrepreneur; Matej Rus, Director of Venture Factory from Slovenia; Marina Letonja, professor of entrepreneurship and institutional manager of the BASE, Game4Change, and Ecosy4you projects; Marko Divjak, positive psychology expert and institutional manager of the ASAP project; and Živa Veingerl Čič, HR expert and coordinator of the BeWell project — all three from DOBA Business School in Slovenia. The panel discussion was moderated by Mateja Geder, Head of the Project Office and International Collaboration at DOBA Business School, and coordinator of the FEM-Up and SMART projects.

The participants explored the distinct challenges women entrepreneurs face, including lack of self-confidence, fear of failure, and societal expectations that often prioritise family over professional ambitions. The conversation highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to support women in overcoming these pressures, unlearning perfectionism and overthinking, recognising that women tend to think and work differently than men. It also acknowledged the strength of women with STEM backgrounds as valuable contributors to the start-up ecosystem.

In addition to addressing external barriers, the discussion also focused on internal strategies essential for entrepreneurial success, such as cultivating a resilient mindset and maintaining emotional well-being. Core themes included the importance of self-belief, passion, and staying authentic to one’s values as key drivers of innovation. The panel also emphasized the importance of cultivating a healthy digital presence — engaging with online platforms in a way that supports mental well-being, protects personal boundaries, and aligns with one's values. Practical tools like “learned optimism” were highlighted as ways to manage stress and protect mental health, reinforcing that personal wellness is foundational to professional achievement.

The round table offered a holistic perspective on empowering future innovators — balancing the value of external mentorship with the necessity of inner strength. It recognized the growing contribution of women with STEM backgrounds as powerful voices within the start-up ecosystem.

The discussion also underscored the value of creating synergies across diverse projects. Sharing insights across disciplines fosters collective learning, drives innovation, and strengthens the ecosystem through collaboration and shared ownership of progress.

And the Winner Is…

After careful deliberation by the jury, Maruša Weitzer from Slovenia was announced as the winner of the FEM-Up Academy pitch contest for her project, Cement Tiles.

Maruša’s innovative business idea aims to revive the heritage of cement tile production through a modern lens, focusing on sustainability, high-quality design, and skilled craftmanship. Her vision for creating a quiet revolution in the industry impressed the judges with its blend of tradition and forward-thinking.

Maruša was awarded two valuable prizes: a free visual identity consultation from Jo Consulting in Italy and a free business plan consultancy from the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development in Greece.

In her heartfelt speech, Maruša expressed her gratitude and excitement for the future: “This whole journey was so amazing. From the start, it was like a dream. Actually, from the very beginning from my childhood, I always wanted to be entrepreneurial. To start something new and to really make a difference. So, thank you for the platform, for all the tools that you gave me, and now I feel totally ready for everything. Thank you so much.”

The FEM-Up Academy finale was more than just a competition; it was a powerful demonstration of the creativity, passion, and resilience of young women entrepreneurs. By strengthening synergies between European projects and fostering a supportive community, the event successfully contributed to building a new generation of innovators ready to make a lasting impact on the world.