Aurora.hr is an online platform that gathers all the resources and information making it available to female entrepreneurs, no matter in which phase on the entrepreneur journey they are.
Tell us in short about Aurora.hr.
Aurora.hr was created two years ago, it’s an online platform led by Impact Hub Zagreb and supported by the US Embassy in Zagreb. Its aim is to offer female entrepreneurs the latest news on events that might interest them and hold all the relevant information one entrepreneur might need. Of course, its core aim is to boost and promote female entrepreneurship. Besides being a platform, Aurora is a community of entrepreneurs – up until now we hosted numerous meetups and mentoring groups throughout Croatia.
What is Aurora #rastem, Aurora’s newest addition?
Aurora #rastem is a program supported by the US Embassy in Zagreb and developed in collaboration with Impact Hub Zagreb, PwC Hrvatska, Zagreb Stock exchange and Funderbeam SEE. The goal of the #rastem program is to support women, founders and co-founders that are in the growth phase and are ready for funding. Through arranged activities the program aims to engage support and promote female founders and help them prepare the necessary funding through the Funderbeam Platform.
Since the start of the program we organized four local #rastem promotional events in cooperation with local partners in four cities: Bjelovar, Zagreb, Rijeka and Osijek, with one still in preparation – in Split. The purpose of these events is to facilitate direct communication with various local actors working with female founders. They can also identify those who need support in investor access.
What do Aurora #rastem partners have to say?
Ivana Gazić, President of the Management Board of Zagreb Stock Exchange “Zagreb Stock Exchange has initiated this project to increase the presence of women in entrepreneurship. Until now, Funderbeam SEE has successfully funded 9 companies and none of them had female founders. This gives the wrong picture on the overall activity and potential of female founders and entrepreneurs in Croatia – as there are already many businesses which are contributing successfully to Croatian economy. We want to change this. We want to be there for women who want to step out in front of investors and expand their businesses.”
Tamara Macasović, Partner at PwC “Based on my experience, women entrepreneurs face both external and self-imposed barriers in finding funding opportunities. This project is important to help remove external barriers by providing opportunities and positive examples on the market, but just as importantly, supporting women to be more confident in the area of financing. For each woman in the program the journey to grow themselves and their business is just as important as the end result of securing funding and market validation. PwC, and myself, are proud to help make their journey of growth smoother.”
Until when can interested female entrepreneurs apply?
The call is on until 20th January and we are inviting all female founders and cofounders to apply and get the chance to win individual mentoring activities and workshop with experienced mentors and coaches from Impact Hub Zagreb, Funderbeam SEE and Zagreb Stock Exchange.
