Expansion of ING and Visa's Program for Female-led Businesses in Romania: Further Support for Women Entrepreneurs in the Country
Romania's She's Next program, a collaborative initiative between ING Bank Romania, Visa, and Impact Hub Bucharest, heads into its second edition this month. The program aims to bolster the growth of women-owned businesses through personalized mentoring, coaching, and financial grants.
Over a six-month period, starting in May, participants will be offered a series of free webinars covering diverse topics such as critical thinking for business decisions, leveraging artificial intelligence, leadership development, SME financing, and digital marketing. Experts like Radu Atanasiu, Tudor Galoș, Manuela Ciugudean, Florin Ilie, and Carmen Mihalca will lead these informative sessions.
The program offers a total of EUR 60,000 in grants, with the competition set to launch in September. Ten finalists will be selected, with the top three receiving the following awards:
- First place: EUR 30,000
- Second place: EUR 20,000
- Third place: EUR 10,000
To be eligible, applicants must have an established business and ownership majority (at least 51%) by women. The application window will be open from September 8 to October 22, 2025.
Luana Sorescu, Head of Easy Banking at ING Bank Romania, expressed optimism about the program's potential impact, stating, "We believe that innovation and entrepreneurship are inherent in women, and programs such as She's Next will foster growth in the SME sector in Romania."
Elena Ungureanu, Visa's Country Manager in Romania, emphasized the importance of supporting female entrepreneurs beyond just financial assistance. "The first She's Next program taught us the importance of mentoring, idea sharing, and community support for women in entrepreneurship. This year's edition addresses local challenges with tailored solutions," she said.
Oana Craioveanu, CEO & Co-Founder of Impact Hub Bucharest, underscored the program's role in promoting female entrepreneurship. "Only 8% of startup founders in Romania are women, while 75% are men. The She's Next program is a catalyst for female courage and initiative, enabling women to turn their ideas into impactful businesses," she explained.
The collaborative initiative, She's Next program, funded by ING Bank Romania, Visa, and Impact Hub Bucharest, is aiming to boost women-owned businesses within the health-and-wellness and science industries during its second edition. The six-month program, commencing in May, offers free webinars on critical topics such as SME financing, leadership development, and digital marketing, led by industry experts. The program provides a total of EUR 60,000 in grants, and applications, open from September 8 to October 22, 2025, are sought from women entrepreneurs with established businesses.
Elena Ungureanu, Visa's Country Manager in Romania, explained the importance of mentoring, idea sharing, and community support for women in entrepreneurship, stressing that the program will address local challenges with tailored solutions. Luana Sorescu, Head of Easy Banking at ING Bank Romania, stated that innovation and entrepreneurship are inherent in women, and programs like She's Next will foster growth in the Romanian SME sector, including the female-led health-and-wellness and science businesses.
Oana Craioveanu, CEO & Co-Founder of Impact Hub Bucharest, highlighted the role of the She's Next program in promoting female entrepreneurship, emphasizing the significant underrepresentation of women entrepreneurs in Romania compared to their male counterparts.
