Deadline: August 29, 2025
The She’s Next Hackathon 2025 is here—an exciting, fully virtual innovation sprint that offers aspiring and established female entrepreneurs a chance to turn their ideas into impactful ventures. Organised by Visa in partnership with Reinvantage and Emerging Europe, the hackathon is part of the global She’s Next Empowered by Visa initiative, designed to support women-led businesses in emerging regions.
Whether you’re a solo founder or part of a startup team, this opportunity brings together funding, mentorship, visibility, and international recognition—no coding skills required.
What Is She’s Next Hackathon 2025?
She’s Next Hackathon 2025 is a virtual innovation challenge tailored for women entrepreneurs from 17 countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Western Balkans. It’s not a tech-heavy competition—participants are evaluated on business strategy, creativity, and solution-building skills. The goal is to empower women to scale their ideas into sustainable enterprises.
With a total prize pool of US $20,000, expert-led training, and access to a dynamic digital community, this programme stands out as one of the most inclusive and impact-focused hackathons of the year.
Who Can Apply?
The hackathon is open to:
- Women aged 18+ from any of the following countries:
- Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
- Female-led teams of up to 5 people. Mixed-gender teams are allowed, but women must take leadership roles.
- Startups and aspiring entrepreneurs at any stage of business development.
Why Participate?
Participants benefit from:
- A US $20,000 prize pool:
- Main Winner: $10,000
- Most Innovative Idea: $5,000
- Best Social Impact: $5,000
- No coding required: Focus is on creativity, innovation, and problem-solving.
- Mentorship: At least 3 tailored sessions with experienced business leaders.
- Learning opportunities: 4 expert-led educational webinars covering core entrepreneurial and business topics.
- Networking: Access to the She’s Next digital community, including entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and support organisations.
- Visibility: Exposure across Visa and Reinvantage media platforms and the broader business ecosystem.
Important Dates to Remember
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Deadline | 29 August 2025 |
| Educational Webinars (4 sessions) | 3–12 September 2025 |
| Team Confirmation & Matching | 16 September 2025 |
| Hackathon Duration | 18 September – 1 October 2025 |
| Virtual Pitch Day & Grand Finale | 3 October 2025 |
Organisers & Partners
This initiative is part of Visa’s She’s Next Empowered by Visa, a global programme that supports female-led enterprises through funding and business resources. Key partners include:
- Visa
- Reinvantage
- Emerging Europe
Together, these organisations aim to create inclusive, sustainable innovation ecosystems for women-led businesses across underserved regions.
How to Apply
If you’re a female entrepreneur ready to scale your vision or explore innovative ideas in a supportive environment, don’t miss this opportunity.
📖 Click here to read more about the programme
Final Note
The She’s Next Hackathon 2025 is more than a competition—it’s a catalyst for innovation, empowerment, and international visibility for women entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your existing business, this is your chance to grow with the support of industry leaders and global organisations.
Contact grantsdatabase.org for proposal drafting, refining, and review.
