She STARTS – Krakow • Lviv • Frankfurt
Our project coordinator Marion Käfer (KompassFrankfurt) traveled to Krakow with Julie Cazenave-Modley from the Department of International Affairs of the City of Frankfurt am Main to accompany the four female participants from Frankfurt in the first program module.
Why This Program Matters
She STARTS is the professional offshoot of the former youth project OBYWATELKI and brings together the startup ecosystems of Krakow, Lviv, and Frankfurt. Fifteen female students (19 – 26 years old) develop viable business models in mixed teams, gain access to experts, and build an international network. The program thus fills a gap: in Europe, less than 20% of all startups are founded by women – a lack of contacts, capital, and role models still holds them back. She STARTS addresses precisely this issue, turning city partnerships into a springboard for female entrepreneurial power.
In four intensive days:
- the teams tested cash flow and pricing strategies in the business simulation game “Biznes na medal”,
- they visualized their sustainability levers with LEGO® Serious Play®,
- they discussed smart funding and tech scaling paths with Women in Tech Role Models at Krakow Technology Park,
- they learned from established Krakow entrepreneurs and a motivating keynote by PR expert Kandaka Dua at the Zabłocie 20.22 cluster,
- they worked on initial prototypes with laser and 3D printing at FabLab Małopolska and gathered historical inspiration on the evening “Women of Krakow” route
The result: three international project groups that know exactly where they’re headed – and have a clear summer assignment in their pocket.
Summer Mission: Concept Becomes Pitch
By the end of August, a pitch deck will be created through self-organized peer sessions and customer interviews, bringing together problem, solution, market potential, and impact on a few concise slides. Each founder will also perfect her presentation: facts to the point, story under control.
Outlook: Frankfurt in September
From September 24 to 27, 2025, all teams will gather in Frankfurt. Workshops in finance, sales, pitch training, and much more are planned. The program concludes with a jury pitch where the founders will demonstrate how far they have developed their ideas since Krakow – and what next steps they will take.
She STARTS shows how three cities can jointly create an environment where young women confidently shape their entrepreneurial future – and sustainably enrich Europe’s innovation landscape.
