Women Entrepreneurs Festival
October 3 to 24, 2025
This October, take your entrepreneurial project to the next level, refine your ideas and build your skills alongside other women entrepreneurs.
Four themed days of workshops, inspiring talks and networking with Women in Business partners, free of charge and open to all women who want to start a business or are already growing one in Brussels.
Programme
Every Friday from 2 to 23 October, explore a different entrepreneurial theme through a networking breakfast, two parallel workshops (tailored to your stage of development), an inspiring talk and an afternoon workshop open to everyone. Each activity is organised in collaboration with a Women in Business partner supporting, training and empowering women entrepreneurs in Brussels at every stage of their journey.
The festival is completely free, and registration is fully flexible: build your own programme by selecting only the activities that interest you, across one or several festival days.
02/10 – Launch & Structure Your Business
9am – 3:30pm
Turn an idea into a concrete project, build strong foundations or step back to improve the way you run your business. This first day explores the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Whether you’re still shaping your idea or have already launched your business, you’ll leave with practical tools to structure your activity, work more efficiently and build a sustainable business.
9:00 am: Networking breakfast
Present your business, share a challenge you’re facing and leave with fresh ideas to move your project forward. In small groups, exchange experiences with fellow entrepreneurs, benefit from their perspectives and continue the conversations over coffee.
A networking session organised by Hors Norme, Women in Business partner.
10:00 am: Workshops: “Launch & Structure Your Business”
Choose the workshop that best matches your current stage: developing your business idea or already running your business. Each workshop is designed to address the specific needs and challenges of these two profiles.
Workshop – I’m developing my business idea
Discover the Business Model Canvas, a simple and effective tool to clarify your value proposition, identify your customers, define your key resources and build the foundations of your future business model. After an introduction to the tool, you will be able to apply it to your own idea or work on a practical case study.
A workshop organised by #SheDIDIT, partner of Women in Business.
Workshop – I have already launched my business
Time is your most valuable resource. Take a step back from your day-to-day business operations to identify tasks that can be streamlined, simplified or automated. You’ll leave with practical methods to better organise your business, prioritise your actions and save valuable time.
A workshop by hub.brussels and hub.info, hub.brussels’ information and guidance service.
11:30 am: Talk – Emi Sakurai
Meet Emi Sakurai, founder of Sakurai Studio, a design and branding agency in Brussels. With over 10 years of experience as a freelancer, Emi will share her journey, the challenges she has faced, and how she overcame them.
A talk hosted by the Diane Network, a partner of Women in Business.
12:30 pm: Lunch break
Take advantage of the break to continue connecting with the other participants and the partners on site. Many cafés and restaurants are located near hub.brussels, where you can buy lunch and enjoy it at the festival venue before the afternoon activities begin.
1:30 pm: Workshop: “Making Peace with Your Comfort Zone”
Building a business doesn’t mean constantly pushing yourself harder. This workshop introduces a different approach to entrepreneurship through the principles of slow entrepreneurship. You’ll explore the role of your comfort zone, identify practical ways to balance performance and well-being, and leave with ideas to build a business that reflects your values, at your own pace.
A workshop organised by La Tribu Slow, Women in Business partner.
09/10 Funding & Your Relationship with Money
9am – 3:30pm
Whether you’re just starting your entrepreneurial journey or already running your business, learn how to better understand your finances, identify the funding solutions that best fit your needs, and make informed decisions to grow your business with confidence.
9:00 am: Networking breakfast
Meet the Women in Business partners during a speed networking breakfast. A unique opportunity to discover Brussels-based organisations supporting women entrepreneurs, discuss your project, ask your questions, and connect with organisations that can support you throughout your entrepreneurial journey..
10:00 am: Workshop “Women & Financial Management”
trengthen your financial independence by exploring the specific financial challenges women face. Learn how to assess your financial situation, understand the basics of budgeting, saving and investing, and take stock of your long-term financial future, including retirement planning.
A workshop organised by Financité and MicroStart, Women in Business partners.
12:00 pm: Talk – Houda Akhal
Discover the journey of Houda Akhlal, founder of Agapé Paper, and her experience securing funding for her entrepreneurial project. She will share how the support provided by the Money Academy and the granting of an honour loan helped her reach a key milestone, launch her first production, and overcome the challenges of accessing her first sources of funding.
A talk organised by MicroStart and HighHer, Women in Business partners.
1:00 pm: Lunch break
Take advantage of the break to continue connecting with the other participants and the partners on site. Many cafés and restaurants are located near hub.brussels, where you can buy lunch and enjoy it at the festival venue before the afternoon activities begin.
2:00 pm: Workshops “Financial Management”
Choose the workshop that best matches your situation: developing your business idea or already running your business. Each workshop is designed to address the specific challenges of each stage.
Workshop – I’m developing my business idea
How will you finance your business launch? Explore the different funding options available, from business loans and public funding schemes to grants, crowdfunding and microfinance. A practical workshop to help you understand your options and build your funding strategy.
A workshop organised by MicroStart, Women in Business partner.
Workshop – I have already launched my business
Your business is up and running, but do you feel comfortable managing your finances on a daily basis? This workshop will help you better understand your company’s key financial indicators, communicate more effectively with your accountant or bank, and make informed decisions to manage your business on a solid financial foundation.
A workshop organised by Crédal, partner of Women in Business.
16/10 Leadership & Visibility
9am – 3:30pm
Build your confidence, strengthen your leadership and increase your visibility to help your business thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or already established, this day will give you the tools to step into the spotlight, showcase your expertise and grow your network.
9:00 am: Networking breakfast
Meet the Women in Business partners during a speed networking breakfast. A unique opportunity to discover Brussels-based organisations supporting women entrepreneurs, discuss your project, ask your questions, and connect with organisations that can support you throughout your entrepreneurial journey.
10:00 am: Workshops “Confidence, Visibility & Leadership”
Choose the workshop that best matches your situation: developing your business idea or already running your business. Each workshop is designed to address the specific challenges of each stage.
Workshop – I’m developing my business idea
Challenge common beliefs about failure and discover 10 keys to developing more resilient leadership. Through concrete examples, discussions and practical tools, learn how to bounce back from setbacks, rebuild your confidence and keep moving forward when things don’t go as planned.
A workshop organised by Belgian Entreprenoires, Women in Business partner.
Workshop – I have already launched my business
Build your confidence and strengthen your leadership to become more visible. Through practical exercises, discussions and reflection, explore the connection between self-image, leadership and communication to better showcase your expertise, your business and your personality.
A workshop organised by Artemis, Women in Business partner.
11:30 am: Talk – Candice Palmer & Rebecca Kalenga Mandefu
Discover the journeys of Candice Palmer and Rebecca Mandefu, who chose professional paths that were far from traditional. They will share key moments from their journeys, the stereotypes they had to challenge and the resources that helped them find their place in environments where they were not always expected.
A talk hosted by Belgian Entreprenoires, Women in Business partner.
12:30 pm : Lunch break
Take advantage of the break to continue connecting with the other participants and the partners on site. Many cafés and restaurants are located near hub.brussels, where you can buy lunch and enjoy it at the festival venue before the afternoon activities begin.
1:30 pm: Workshop “Networking: A Strategic Lever for Growing Your Business”
Build a professional network that becomes a real asset for your business. Learn how to identify the right contacts, create authentic professional relationships, network with confidence and maintain meaningful connections that generate new opportunities over time.
A workshop organised by Womanly, Women in Business partner.
23/10 Growth & Scaling
9am – 3:30pm
Grow your business, identify new opportunities and discover practical tools to take your business to the next level. This final festival day will help you connect with other entrepreneurs, hear inspiring success stories and explore strategies to accelerate your growth.
9:00 am: Networking breakfast
Meet the Women in Business partners during a speed networking breakfast. A unique opportunity to discover Brussels-based organisations supporting women entrepreneurs, discuss your project, ask your questions, and connect with organisations that can support you throughout your entrepreneurial journey..
10:00 am: Workshop “Women & Financial Management”
trengthen your financial independence by exploring the specific financial challenges women face. Learn how to assess your financial situation, understand the basics of budgeting, saving and investing, and take stock of your long-term financial future, including retirement planning.
A workshop organised by Financité and MicroStart, Women in Business partners.
11:30 am: Talk – Charlotte Creplet, Valérie Zapico & Laure Santolini
Discover how three women entrepreneurs from the BeCentral ecosystem use digital technologies to build ambitious businesses from Brussels. Charlotte Creplet (Clyde and Bonnie), Valérie Zapico (VALKUREN) and Laure Santolini (Josie) will share their journeys, key growth milestones and how data, AI and digital technologies enable them to innovate and scale their businesses.
A talk organised by MicroStart and HighHer, Women in Business partners.
12:30 pm: Lunch break
Take advantage of the break to continue connecting with the other participants and the partners on site. Many cafés and restaurants are located near hub.brussels, where you can buy lunch and enjoy it at the festival venue before the afternoon activities begin.
1:30 pm: Workshops “Growing Your Business”
Choose the workshop that best matches your situation: developing your business idea or already running your business. Each workshop is designed to address the specific challenges of each stage.
Workshop – I’m developing my business idea
Discover the opportunities and key considerations related to the international expansion of your (future) business. This workshop will help you better understand the key steps involved in importing, exporting, or expanding into new markets, and make the right decisions to grow your (future) business.
A workshop organized and led by OWIT, a partner of Women in Business.
Workshop – I have already launched my business
Identify the most time-consuming tasks in your business and discover how artificial intelligence and automation can help you save time every day. Through concrete examples and hands-on exercises, learn how to build effective workflows while identifying the strategic tasks that must remain subject to human approval and oversight.
A workshop organised by Le Techspace, Women in Business partner.
And after the festival?
Continue discovering feminine tech in Brussels in November with FoTif Week 2025, organized by our partner The Future of Tech is Female.
Fotif Week 2025
- 16 to 23 october
- At BeCentral
- By The Future of Tech is Female
Join a week filled with workshops ranging from coding to UX design, exciting testimonials and captivating talks. Immerse yourself in the world of tech, get inspired and find your way!
Women in business all year round
Support and guidance with hub.brussels
hub.brussels, the Brussels public agency for entrepreneurship, provides free support, whatever your project and whatever stage it’s at.
Its information service, hub.info, offers guidance and advice all year round.
Questions about running your own business? Where to start? What are the formalities? Need advice?
Events
Activities, events, networking, training and entrepreneurial support designed specifically for women in Brussels don’t just happen in October. Check out our partners’ year-round activities in our calendar.
Don’t miss a thing – our newsletter will keep you up to date!
About
The Women Entrepreneurs Festival is an initiative of hub.brussels, the Brussels Agency for Entrepreneurship, through Women in Business, its hub for female entrepreneurship, and co-organized with its network of partners.