The UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo 2026/2027 is bringing together women entrepreneurs and business partners from Europe and Central Asia for a regional platform focused on entrepreneurship development, business networking, capacity building, mentorship and investment readiness.

The Expo is designed around the principles of inclusivity, diversity and leaving no one behind. It will combine local and interregional business-building activities, networking opportunities and capacity-building workshops, giving women entrepreneurs the opportunity to strengthen their businesses, connect with peers and business partners, receive expert support and prepare for potential investment opportunities.

The programme will culminate in Expo Capital Quest, a physical event planned for Spring 2027, where selected participants will have the opportunity to take part in networking and investor pitching, subject to an additional selection process.

What Is the UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo 2026/2027?

The UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo 2026/2027 is a regional entrepreneurship initiative designed to support women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses in Europe and Central Asia.

Rather than being a single conference or exhibition, the Expo consists of several interconnected activities intended to help participating entrepreneurs develop their businesses and expand their networks.

The programme includes:

• Local business-building activities.
• Interregional networking activities.
• Capacity-building workshops.
• Business bootcamps.
• Mentorship.
• Investment-pitch preparation.
• Feedback from experts.
• Online business exhibition opportunities.
• Networking with entrepreneurs from across the region.
• Potential participation in a physical investor-focused event.

The programme is therefore particularly relevant to women entrepreneurs who are already developing a product or service and want to improve their business capabilities, visibility, networks and readiness for future growth or investment.

Key Highlights of the UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo

The Expo provides women entrepreneurs with access to several forms of business development support.

Main opportunities include:

• Online business exhibition: Participants can showcase their businesses through an online exhibition space.
• Business bootcamps: Selected entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to participate in bootcamps managed by leading companies.
• Mentorship: Participants can receive support and guidance from mentors.
• Investment preparation: Entrepreneurs can prepare their investment pitches and receive feedback.
• Regional networking: Participants can connect with entrepreneurs and peers from countries across Europe and Central Asia.
• Expo Capital Quest: Selected participants may take part in a physical event in Spring 2027 focused on networking and investor pitching.

Who Is the UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo For?

The Expo is primarily intended for women entrepreneurs and representatives of women-owned businesses.

The programme is open to women entrepreneurs working across all sectors of the economy.

Applicants are expected to provide information about themselves and their businesses, including their business ownership, location, business development stage, sector, online presence, revenue, financing history, business challenges, training needs and future growth plans.

This means the application process is designed not simply to collect basic registration information but also to help the Expo organisers understand each entrepreneur’s business needs and tailor the programme’s content accordingly.

Business Stage Requirements

One of the most important aspects of the Expo is the stage of business development.

The programme states that, to be eligible for all phases of the Expo, a woman entrepreneur or representative of a women-owned business should be at one of the following stages:

1. Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
2. Early Stage, where the business is already selling
3. Growth Stage, where the business is generating revenue

These stages indicate that the Expo is particularly focused on entrepreneurs who have moved beyond the purely conceptual stage and have something tangible to develop, sell or scale.

However, the application questionnaire also allows applicants to identify themselves as being at:

• Idea Stage
• Working on Prototype
• Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
• Early Stage
• Growth Stage
• Not applicable

The form explains that entrepreneurs who meet the applicable criteria can participate in the virtual Expo capacity-development and networking component, while virtual booths will be allocated to entrepreneurs who already have an MVP, are already selling, or are at the Growth Stage.

This distinction is important for applicants because being at an earlier stage may affect the specific elements of the Expo in which they can participate.

Countries Eligible for the UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo

The Expo focuses on Europe and Central Asia.

The application form specifically lists the following countries:

1. Albania
2. Armenia
3. Azerbaijan
4. Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Georgia
6. Kazakhstan
7. Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244)
8. Kyrgyzstan
9. Moldova
10. Montenegro
11. North Macedonia
12. Serbia
13. Tajikistan
14. Türkiye
15. Ukraine

The questionnaire also includes an “Other” option for the country where the applicant’s company is registered or operating.

The programme description refers to networking with peers from 12 countries of Europe and Central Asia, while the application questionnaire itself lists 15 named countries plus an “Other” option. Applicants should therefore carefully provide their actual country and business location when completing the form.

Learn More HERE.

Business Sectors Eligible for the Expo

Women entrepreneurs from all sectors of the economy can apply for participation in the Expo.

The application form provides a broad list of sectors, including:

• Agriculture
• Building and construction
• Media and communication
• ICT and telecommunications
• Training and education
• Clothing, fashion and textiles
• Trade, transport and logistics
• Healthcare
• Tourism and hospitality
• Finance
• Water, sanitation and waste management
• Energy
• Food products
• Retail
• Sports
• Jewellery and accessories
• Environment
• Paper products
• Electronics
• Other sectors

This broad sectoral approach means that the Expo is not restricted to technology startups or a single industry. Women building businesses in traditional industries as well as innovative, technology-driven and sustainability-focused sectors can potentially benefit.

UN Women also states that it reserves the right to exclude certain products from the Expo following careful consideration.

Benefits of Participating in the UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo

1. Showcase Your Business Online

Participants can showcase their businesses through an online exhibition space.

This provides entrepreneurs with an opportunity to increase the visibility of their products or services and present their businesses to a wider network of potential partners and other stakeholders.

For entrepreneurs looking to strengthen their digital presence, the online exhibition component can be an important opportunity to communicate their value proposition and business story.

2. Participate in Business Bootcamps

Selected women entrepreneurs will be invited to participate in business bootcamps managed by leading companies.

These bootcamps are intended to support business development and help entrepreneurs strengthen practical capabilities relevant to running and growing a business.

Participation in bootcamps will vary by country, and selected participants will receive additional information from the organisers.

3. Receive Mentorship

The Expo provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to receive support from mentors.

Mentorship can be particularly valuable for entrepreneurs dealing with challenges such as business strategy, market access, financing, marketing, technology adoption, operations and growth.

The questionnaire also asks applicants about their current levels of knowledge in areas such as financial management, marketing, networking, branding, distribution, international markets and competitiveness.

This information is intended to help the organisers better understand participants’ needs.

4. Prepare an Investment Pitch

Another major benefit is the opportunity to prepare an investment pitch and receive feedback.

Investment readiness is especially relevant for entrepreneurs who want to attract capital to expand their businesses.

Applicants are asked about their business objectives, including whether they want to find investment to move to the next phase of development and whether they want to become more attractive to investors.

The Expo therefore provides a platform for entrepreneurs to improve how they communicate their business opportunity to potential investors.

5. Build Regional Business Networks

Participants will have opportunities to network with other entrepreneurs and business partners from the Europe and Central Asia region.

Networking can help entrepreneurs identify:

• Potential business partners.
• New buyers.
• Suppliers.
• Investors.
• Mentors.
• Industry experts.
• Other entrepreneurs.
• Regional and international opportunities.

For businesses seeking to expand beyond their existing market, regional networking can be particularly valuable.

Learn More HERE.

Expo Capital Quest 2027

One of the major planned components of the programme is the Expo Capital Quest, a physical event expected to take place in Spring 2027.

The event will provide opportunities for networking and investor pitching.

However, participation in Expo Capital Quest is subject to an additional selection process. Therefore, completing the initial Expo application does not automatically guarantee participation in the physical Capital Quest event.

Entrepreneurs interested in investment should therefore treat the initial application as an opportunity to demonstrate the strength and potential of their business while recognising that additional selection may apply for the Capital Quest component.

Regional Virtual Expo 2026

The Regional Virtual Expo 2026 is scheduled to take place in November 2026.

According to the programme information, this virtual component will be open to all women entrepreneurs interested.

The virtual Expo forms part of the broader regional programme and provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to engage in online capacity development and networking.

Selected entrepreneurs may subsequently be invited to participate in country-specific bootcamps and satellite events.

Country-Specific Bootcamps and Satellite Events

The Expo is not limited to one uniform programme for every participant.

Selected women entrepreneurs will be invited to participate in Bootcamp and Satellite Events, with activities varying from country to country.

Participants who are selected for these activities will receive additional information regarding the specific opportunities available to them.

This structure allows the programme to respond to different business environments, sectors and needs across the participating countries.

What Information Do Applicants Need to Provide?

The application questionnaire is comprehensive and asks applicants to provide detailed information about themselves and their businesses.

Applicants should be prepared to provide information covering several areas.

Personal and Contact Information

The form requests:

• First name
• Surname
• Contact phone number
• Country and city, town or village
• Email address
• Gender
• Age category
• Geographic location

Applicants are asked to provide a full telephone number with the country code, and the programme indicates that having a number available on WhatsApp is preferable.

Business Ownership and Location

Applicants will be asked whether they:

• Own or co-own the registered business.
• Have participated in a previous Expo.
• Operate or have a company registered in a particular country.

The form asks applicants to identify the country where their company is registered or operating.

Online Business Presence

Applicants are also asked whether they currently sell products or services online.

The available responses distinguish between:

• Businesses that operate entirely online.
• Businesses that sell some products or services online.
• Businesses that do not currently sell products or services online.

This information helps the organisers understand participants’ current level of digital business activity.

Business Description

Applicants must provide a description of their company in fewer than 150 words.

The description should explain:

• What the business offers.
• Who the customers are.
• What traction the business has achieved.
• What the entrepreneur wants to accomplish through the business.
• Links to any existing articles about the company, where applicable.

Entrepreneurs should therefore prepare a concise but compelling description before starting the application.

Business Size

Applicants will also be asked to indicate the size of their business:

• Solo entrepreneur or micro business: 1–10 employees
• Small business: 11–50 employees
• Medium business: 51–250 employees

This enables the organisers to understand the scale of participating enterprises.

Annual Business Revenue

Applicants are asked to identify their approximate average annual revenue in US dollars.

The available categories are:

• Less than US$50,000
• US$50,000–100,000
• US$100,000–500,000
• More than US$500,000

This information can help the programme assess the different stages and financial profiles of participating businesses.

Business Challenges

Applicants are asked to identify up to three of the biggest challenges they experienced when starting their businesses.

Potential challenges include:

1. Accessing financing
2. Getting support from family
3. Finding a suitable business location
4. Finding information about starting a business
5. Registration and regulatory requirements
6. Knowing where to obtain business advice
7. Finding suppliers
8. Getting customers
9. Family and childcare responsibilities
10. Other challenges

This section is particularly relevant because it allows the Expo organisers to identify common barriers facing women entrepreneurs and tailor support accordingly.

Business Financing

The application asks entrepreneurs about the sources of financing they used when starting their businesses.

Possible sources include:

• Personal savings
• Sale of an asset
• Bank loans
• Private investors
• Government programmes
• Family and friends
• Microfinance institutions
• International donor-funded projects
• Other sources

Applicants are also asked whether they have attempted to obtain a business loan within the previous year.

Barriers to Accessing Business Loans

Entrepreneurs who have experience seeking financing can identify the challenges they face when trying to obtain a loan from a bank or microfinance institution.

Possible barriers include:

• High collateral requirements
• High interest rates
• Loan amounts being too small
• Short repayment periods
• Personal guarantee requirements
• Co-signer requirements
• Difficulty preparing business plans and financial statements
• Perceived lack of seriousness toward women entrepreneurs by loan officers
• Other barriers

This section provides the Expo with insight into the financing constraints affecting participating women-owned businesses.

Business Networks and Associations

Applicants are asked whether they belong to business-related organisations, such as:

• Chambers of commerce or industry
• Business associations
• Women’s business or women entrepreneurs’ associations
• Industry-specific associations
• Employers’ associations
• Other business organisations

Participation in such organisations can contribute to networking, market access and knowledge sharing.

Sources of Business Information

The application also asks entrepreneurs where they normally obtain most of their business-related information.

Possible sources include:

• Newspapers
• Government publications
• Chambers of commerce
• Business associations
• Lawyers
• Accountants
• Business development or enterprise centres
• Professional business advisers
• Other male business owners
• Other female business owners
• Mentors
• Family, friends and neighbours
• Internet
• Television
• Radio

Applicants are asked to identify no more than three of their most important sources.

Previous Trade Fair and Exhibition Experience

Applicants will be asked whether they have participated in:

• Local trade fairs
• National trade fairs
• Regional trade fairs
• International trade fairs
• No trade fairs or exhibitions

This information helps the organisers understand applicants’ previous experience with showcasing their businesses and interacting with potential customers and partners.

Previous Training and Business Support

The questionnaire asks whether applicants have received business or skills training through organisations or companies.

They can indicate whether they have received:

• Training from UN Women
• Training from other organisations
• No business or skills training

Applicants are also asked whether they have previously participated in programmes specifically supporting women entrepreneurs.

These may include:

• Loan programmes for women entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship or self-employment training
• Women’s business support or enterprise centres
• Government procurement programmes targeting women-owned businesses
• Women’s trade fairs or exhibitions
• Business counselling or mentoring
• Other women-focused business support programmes

Digital and ICT Skills

The application assesses applicants’ understanding of how technology can support their businesses.

Applicants are asked to assess their awareness of how they can use:

• Smartphones for business
• Computers for business
• The Internet for business

This information can help the programme understand participants’ existing digital capabilities and potential training needs.

Business Growth Plans for the Next 12 Months

Applicants are asked how they intend to develop or improve their businesses over the following 12 months.

Potential plans include:

• Investing in new equipment or technology
• Increasing the number of employees
• Reducing the number of employees
• Expanding products or services
• Reducing products or services
• Developing a website to increase online sales
• Joining an e-commerce platform
• Moving to larger premises
• Integrating information technology into business operations and marketing
• Adopting more environmentally responsible practices
• Other growth plans

These questions encourage applicants to think strategically about where they want their businesses to be in the near future.

International Expansion

Entrepreneurs are also asked whether they intend to expand or establish their businesses in other locations.

This is particularly relevant to women entrepreneurs seeking regional or international market expansion.

The Expo’s networking and business-building components may be useful for entrepreneurs interested in establishing partnerships beyond their current markets.

Business Targets

Applicants are asked to identify the targets they have defined for their businesses during the year.

These may include:

• Increasing the number of customers
• Increasing revenue
• Finding investment to move to the next phase
• Improving the business model
• Diversifying the business model
• Revising the business model
• Building partnerships nationally, regionally or globally
• Conducting due diligence
• Working with sector experts
• Increasing technical capabilities
• Becoming more attractive to investors
• Other targets

This section provides applicants with an opportunity to demonstrate their ambitions and priorities.

Areas Where Applicants May Need Training

The application asks entrepreneurs to identify up to three areas in which they would like training for themselves or their staff.

Potential areas include:

1. General management and strategic planning
2. Understanding markets
3. Inventory management
4. Sources of finance and access to loans
5. Financial management
6. ICT adoption
7. Efficiency and productivity
8. Product development
9. Supplier relationships
10. Buyer relationships
11. E-commerce marketing and sales
12. Crisis management

Applicants can therefore use the questionnaire to communicate the specific skills and knowledge gaps they want the Expo to help address.

Technical Assistance Available Through the Programme

In addition to training, applicants are asked whether they could benefit from technical assistance during the next two years.

Possible areas include:

• Establishing market links with new buyers
• Establishing market links with new suppliers
• Access to finance
• Productivity improvements
• Other technical assistance

This reinforces the Expo’s broader objective of providing practical business development support rather than simply creating a networking event.

Innovative, Technology and Green Businesses

The questionnaire asks entrepreneurs whether their businesses are:

• Technology startups
• Related to innovative products or services
• Related to green or sustainable products or services

Women entrepreneurs working in these areas can therefore identify the innovative or sustainability-related nature of their businesses as part of the application.

Information Sharing and Data Protection

The application includes an information-sharing consent section.

Applicants are informed that personal identifying information will be kept confidential and used exclusively for the purposes of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Expo.

The information will be stored according to UN Women data protection standards.

Applicants can indicate whether they agree to their information being shared with Expo organisers and partners in accordance with the stated data protection standards.

The form also explains that consent is voluntary and can be withdrawn.

Applicants who have questions or wish to withdraw their consent are directed to contact contact.expo@unwomen.org.

Applicants can additionally indicate whether they would like to receive future updates from UN Women.

Application Deadline

A specific application deadline is not provided in the information supplied for the UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo 2026/2027.

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that the November 2026 Regional Virtual Expo date is the application deadline.

The information provided states that:

• The Regional Virtual Expo 2026 will take place in November 2026.
• The Expo Capital Quest is planned for Spring 2027, subject to additional selection.
• Selected women entrepreneurs will receive further information about Bootcamps and Satellite Events.

Because no specific closing date is included in the supplied application information, applicants should check the official Expo application platform and UN Women announcements for the current application deadline before submitting.

Click HERE to Apply!

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Women entrepreneurs interested in participating should prepare their information before completing the questionnaire.

A strong application should clearly communicate:

1. What your business does — Explain your product or service clearly.
2. Who your customers are — Identify your target market.
3. Your traction — Highlight sales, revenue, customers, partnerships or other evidence of progress.
4. Your business stage — Clearly indicate whether you are at MVP, Early Stage or Growth Stage.
5. Your growth objectives — Explain what you want to achieve over the next 12 months.
6. Your financing needs — Be clear about whether you are seeking investment or other forms of financial support.
7. Your training needs — Select areas where the programme could provide meaningful value.
8. Your expansion plans — Explain whether you intend to enter new markets or locations.
9. Your investment ambitions — If relevant, explain how investment would help your business move to its next phase.
10. Your online presence — Provide relevant websites, social media pages or articles about your business where appropriate.

Why Women Entrepreneurs Should Consider the Expo

The UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo 2026/2027 offers a combination of business visibility, entrepreneurship training, mentorship, networking and investment preparation.

For women entrepreneurs who have already developed an MVP, started selling or reached the revenue-generating stage, the programme could provide an opportunity to move their businesses toward greater visibility and growth.

It may be particularly useful for entrepreneurs who want to:

• Strengthen their business model.
• Improve financial management.
• Develop stronger branding.
• Expand their customer base.
• Find new buyers.
• Develop supplier relationships.
• Access finance.
• Prepare for investors.
• Improve their digital presence.
• Enter international markets.
• Connect with other women entrepreneurs.
• Receive mentorship.
• Build regional partnerships.
• Develop more sustainable business practices.

The questionnaire itself demonstrates the broad range of business-development needs the programme is designed to understand and potentially address.

Pro Tip for Applicants

Do not treat the application as merely a registration form. Use it as an opportunity to clearly present the strength, traction, challenges and future potential of your business.

Before applying, prepare a concise business description of fewer than 150 words, gather information about your revenue and business size, identify your biggest business challenges and training needs, and clearly define what you want to accomplish over the next 12 months.

If you are already at the MVP, Early or Growth Stage, clearly demonstrate your progress and explain how participation in the Expo could help you scale, access markets, build partnerships or become more investment-ready.

Conclusion

The UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo 2026/2027 provides a comprehensive platform for women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses in Europe and Central Asia to strengthen their enterprises, build networks and prepare for future growth.

The programme goes beyond a conventional business exhibition by combining online showcasing, capacity-building workshops, business bootcamps, mentorship, investment-pitch preparation, expert feedback and regional networking.

Women entrepreneurs can use the opportunity to identify their business challenges, improve their skills, develop connections with potential buyers and partners, explore financing opportunities and prepare their businesses for expansion.

The planned Regional Virtual Expo in November 2026 will provide a major online networking and capacity-building opportunity, while selected entrepreneurs may subsequently participate in country-specific Bootcamps and Satellite Events. A further selection process may also lead to participation in Expo Capital Quest, a physical networking and investor-pitching event planned for Spring 2027.

Because the supplied application information does not state a specific application deadline, prospective applicants should monitor the official UN Women Entrepreneurship Expo channels and application platform for the latest submission instructions and closing date.

Overall, the Expo is particularly relevant to women entrepreneurs who already have a tangible business, product or service and want to strengthen their capabilities, increase visibility, connect with regional peers and business partners, and position their businesses for future investment and expansion.

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