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Osnaživanje, stil i inspiracija spajaju se u svakom izdanju našeg magazina.
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June 1, 2026
Women entrepreneurs in Serbia are turning to EU funds for grants, mentorship and business growth opportunities.
Only 2% of global venture capital funding goes to women, research shows. For every €98 invested into male-led businesses, women receive just €2. In Serbia, women entrepreneurs face even greater challenges when trying to secure funding for business growth: they are less likely to take large loans, less likely to own property and less connected to investor networks. Many women launch businesses using only their personal savings. Even with strong ideas and sustainable business plans, securing initial capital remains difficult. That is exactly why European Union funds are so important for women entrepreneurs in Serbia — one of the few financing sources not based solely on how much capital you already have, who you know or what property you can offer as collateral.
Although EU funding is often perceived as something reserved for large corporations and complex projects, reality looks very different. Increasingly, small businesses, startups, creative industries and women entrepreneurs are using European support to develop products, improve operations, adopt digital tools, enter international markets and become part of global professional networks.
This became especially visible during the recent regional event EU With You, which gathered entrepreneurs, communicators, content creators and representatives of organizations from across the Western Balkans. Through real-life examples, participants demonstrated how European funds are helping small and medium-sized businesses grow — often in ways that go far beyond direct financial support.
Because EU funding rarely provides only money. It also offers mentorship, education, expert support, partnerships and visibility — resources that can open doors to opportunities many small businesses would otherwise never reach. Today, there are programs specifically designed for small and medium enterprises, women entrepreneurs, creative industries, media, innovation, digitalization, sustainability and skills development — many of them available to entrepreneurs in Serbia and the wider region.
Through the EBRD/EU Women in Business program alone, more than 4,300 women-led business ventures in Serbia have already received support.
EU funding for women entrepreneurs in Serbia is not a single program, but an entire ecosystem of grants, subsidies, mentoring programs and credit lines coming from different institutions. Funding most commonly comes through the European Union, IPA funds, the EBRD or organizations created specifically to support small businesses in the Balkans, such as WBIF.
Direct EU grants are usually intended for innovative and scalable businesses, while more traditional small businesses often receive support through EBRD programs, local EU initiatives and IPA development projects implemented via Serbian institutions.
One thing that makes EU funding different from many traditional financing models is that support does not end once equipment is purchased. EU funds can also support business model development, innovation, digitalization, international expansion and projects with social impact. Today, the EU places special emphasis on technology, sustainability, AI, digital transformation and innovative small businesses.
The EU PRO Plus program alone operates with a €40 million budget dedicated to local economic development, employment and small business support in underdeveloped regions of Serbia.
Above all, businesses with a clear idea and a structured plan. The EU supports women entrepreneurship because it sees women as an underused economic potential. Your business does not need to be perfect or fully developed. What matters most is having:
EU grants are known for strict procedures and detailed administration, which often intimidates entrepreneurs at the beginning stages. But in practice, small businesses frequently win grants when they have a strong niche and a convincing story.
One example is Women TechEU, which funds 160 women-led tech startups across Europe with grants of €75,000 each.
The first thing to understand is that most EU programs do not expect you to already own a large company. What they expect is the ability to clearly explain:
For most EU applications, you will generally need:
More serious grants may also require innovation plans, market-entry strategies, proof of previous results or investor presentations. It is also important to understand that EU grants are not “quick money.” Application processes often take months, competition is strong and administration is demanding.
One of the most important direct EU programs for women in tech and deep-tech sectors, funded through Horizon Europe.
What it offers:
A Horizon Europe initiative for women-led digital and deep-tech startups.
What it offers:
An official EU/EIT award for female innovators and startup founders.
Awards include:
A program run by the EBRD with EU support.
It provides:
One of the most underrated EU programs for beginner entrepreneurs. It allows women from Serbia to spend several months working with experienced entrepreneurs across Europe while building international business connections.
Programs focused on innovation, technology and sustainability, often offering accelerators, mentorship, networking and smaller grants.
One of Serbia’s key EU-funded local development programs, supporting:
Women entrepreneurs in Serbia can also indirectly access several WBIF-backed programs, including:
These programs support financing, digitalization, green transition projects, startup acceleration and SME growth through banks, microfinance institutions and investment partners across the region.
Some of the most important databases for EU funding opportunities include:
These platforms regularly publish active calls related to:
