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Our programs

The Thrive Project | Women in Tech

Explore your power
Discover your leadership impact
Activate your network

VLAIO Startit Accelerate label 2023

The Thrive Project is a trailblazing program supporting female founders on their road to innovative entrepreneurship.

  • Your investment: 450,- (excl. VAT)
  • Capacity: only 15 participants will be selected, creating a valuable community
  • Application deadline: TBA
  • Duration: 6 days spread over 2 months

In addition to this program, Women in Tech offers free motivational and informative webinars featuring female entrepreneurs.

Ready to chase your tech dreams with a vengeance by joining the next edition? Leave your details and we'll keep you posted!

The Thrive Project - Leadership journey

A powerful support network accelerating the success of female leaders.

Why apply?

Break down barriers that stand in the way of establishing, growing and scaling your company.

Explore your power

Discover your leadership impact with the help of inspiring role models who advise you on how to overcome challenges and help you achieve your goals. Build a successful career and company while staying true to your own boundaries and personality.

Find your tribe

Female founders don’t need more ambition or know-how, but they do need each other. Activate a powerful network of dynamic, innovative female entrepreneurs to create more visibility, connection and community.

Develop new skills

Tackle obstacles standing in the way of your success with the support of our coaches. Learn effective strategies for getting financing, pitching to investors, building sales and proactively planning for growth.

Timeline | The program dissected

Kickoff01.03 | 18h - 21hA time of fabulous women (Finding your Thrive Tribe)
Day 108.03 | 9h00 - 17h00Women in the workplace, Your strengths & superpower, Panel conversation with Alumni
Day 215.03 | 9h00 - 17h00Leading with insights part one and two, Spotlight session #1 with 5 candidates
Day 322.03 | 9h00 - 17h00Politics in the workplace, Pitch Ninja & Design thinking, Spotlight session #2 with 5 candidates
Day 429.03 | 9h00 - 17h00The art of storytelling, Strengths & Storytelling hands on, Spotlight session #3 with 5 candidates
Day 526.04 | 9h00 - 20h00Adaptive leadership, Neuroscience & winning conversations, Final Commitment ceremony
Mentoring sessionsDates to be announcedFollow up mentoring sessions are included in the program in order to preserve to long term value.

Meet our experts

Catherine MagillCatherine MagillCatherine Magill

Catherine Magill

Co-Founder of TribeL

Finance, Risk and Taxation expert and Consultant with passion for people and growth

Malanee HuttonMalanee HuttonMalanee Hutton

Malanee Hutton

Head of Venture Design at Founders Factory

Venture Designer, Strategy, Tech Startup & Corporate Innovation specialist

Niven PostmaNiven PostmaNiven Postma

Niven Postma

Author and Lecturer | Strategy & Culture Consultant

Strategy, Culture & Leadership Expert & Author of “If you don’t do Politics, Politics will do you” HBR and Inc. Africa Contributor | Author and Lecturer on Office Politics | Facilitator on Women's Leadership Programmes | PhD Candidate

Kerry BarendseKerry BarendseKerry Barendse

Kerry Barendse

Content production lead at Bru Textiles

Brand, marketing and communication specialist with extensive experience in personal and brand positioning

Graduates 2022

Our 9 Women in Tech graduated from the challenging and inspiring six-month program on June 8th! Thanks to the Women in Tech team and our amazing mentors for making this edition a huge success.

What our participants are saying

The world should not be male or female. We have to try to find a balance. The input of women entrepreneurs through the Women in Tech program can ultimately lead to a better balance and provide new perspectives.

Rebekka Van Acker
Rebekka Van Acker (OQuila)

The start-up world is still a man's world, so it's nice to meet like-minded women thanks to Women in Tech. Everyone is at a different stage of their entrepreneurial journey, so we learn a lot from each other.

Zoe Vets
Zoë Vets (Live The World)

Male and female entrepreneurs often approach things in very different ways. Thanks to the Women in Tech program, I can now appreciate the balance between my male co-founders and myself, and I'm convinced that we complement each other perfectly.

Alice Tranchant
Alice Tranchant (huapii)

Meet some of our graduates

Startit jun WIT graduation SarahStartit jun WIT graduation SarahStartit jun WIT graduation Sarah

Sarah Van de Velde

COLEVATOR
Startit jun WIT graduation tessaStartit jun WIT graduation tessaStartit jun WIT graduation tessa

Tessa Wardenburg

AIFSA
Startit jun WIT graduation jolienStartit jun WIT graduation jolienStartit jun WIT graduation jolien

Jolien Demeyer

Jelloow
Startit jun WIT graduation LiesbethStartit jun WIT graduation LiesbethStartit jun WIT graduation Liesbeth

Liesbeth Van Oeffelen

BiosenSource
Startit jun WIT graduation johannaStartit jun WIT graduation johannaStartit jun WIT graduation johanna

Johanna Huylenbroeck

Claire CO2

About Women in Tech

Partnership with VLAIO: Together for strong, ambitious entrepreneurship

Flanders could be a bit more ambitious when it comes to entrepreneurship. We need more starters, more stayers, and more growers. That is why the Agency for Innovation and Enterprise (VLAIO) wants to set up projects that encourage, support or guide entrepreneurs in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Together with the VLAIO partners, we are bundling our strengths and resources. Start it Accelerate Women in Tech is part of a network of initiatives that entrepreneurs can use to thrive. Together for #strongentrepreneurship.

Thrive Project Faces

FAQ

The modules are between 2-3 hours long and are usually bundled together to take up an entire day. For the benefit of all participants, attendance is mandatory.

There are very few additional formal work requirements, but we do encourage you to take time to reflect on the sessions in order to maximise your benefit.

Women in Tech offers X contact moments, spread out over 15 weeks. Thanks to our collaboration with Netwerk Ondernemen & Vlaams Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen, we're able to offer our program at the discounted price of 450,- EUR (excl. VAT). In addition to this program, we regularly host free webinars featuring leading female entrepreneurs on a host of topics.

The full amount is due before the start of the program. Registration is complete upon payment in full.

We will select 15 motivated female entrepreneurs who fit the following criteria:

  • Entrepreneur
  • (Co-) Founder (or shares)
  • Innovative growth company
  • Registered office in Flanders

The Thrive Project has a hybrid format, including physical meetups in our Antwerp Hub and online sessions via Zoom.