Visa has launched the inaugural She’s Next Hackathon for women across Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, including Ukraine in partnership with Reinvantage. As part of the global She’s Next Empowered by Visa initiative, the hackathon offers female entrepreneurs an opportunity to gain expert guidance, grow visibility for their ventures, and compete for a prize pool of $20,000.
Unlike traditional hackathons, this one will not involve coding. Instead, it focuses on business strategy, creative problem-solving, and entrepreneurial innovation. Participants will tackle issues including financial resilience, business adaptation, market expansion, and forecasting emerging trends.
The programme includes multiple phases:
- June 30 – August 29: Applications open
- September 3 – 12: Educational phase
- September 16: Confirmation and team-matching
- September 18 – October 1: Hackathon phase
All sessions will be conducted online and in English.
The event will conclude with a high-profile virtual Grand Finale on 3 October, open to the wider She’s Next community. Attendees can expect live business pitches from participants, keynote speeches, a business quiz, and interactive discussions led by senior entrepreneurs and Visa executives.
Participants will gain access to four in-depth webinars hosted by established business experts. Those advancing to the main hackathon phase will receive a minimum of three tailored mentorship sessions from industry leaders and innovation specialists. Entrepreneurs will also benefit from networking opportunities via the She’s Next digital community platform, which connects female founders from across the region.
Three awards will be presented at the end of the hackathon:
- Main Winner: $10,000
- Most Innovative: $5,000
- Best Social Impact: $5,000
In addition to the financial support, winning teams will benefit from three months of mentorship with sector experts, increased media visibility across Visa and Reinvantage platforms, invitations to future She’s Next events, and inclusion in an official press release circulated regionally.
Cristina Doros, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, spoke about the significance of the event. “As a long-standing supporter of female leadership and entrepreneurship, Visa believes in the power of women to drive inclusive economic growth,” she said. “With the She’s Next Empowered by Visa initiative successfully growing across our region for over five years, the She’s Next Hackathon represents a new milestone in our mission to empower women. We are proud to team up with Reinvantage on this initiative, building on our joint efforts that began with the 2022 regional survey on female entrepreneurship and led to the launch of the She’s Next digital community platform a year later. The She’s Next Hackathon is not just a competition – it is a launchpad for bold ideas and empowered leadership. I am excited to see how this program will elevate new entrepreneurial talents.”
Participation is open to women at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey, from aspiring founders to seasoned business leaders. Applicants can register individually or in teams of up to five members. Mixed-gender teams are permitted, provided they are women-led.
Andrew Wrobel, Chief Reinvention Officer at Reinvantage, emphasised the importance of adaptability in business. “Reinvention isn’t just a response to disruption and uncertainty—it’s a mindset that allows businesses to create solutions the future is already asking for,” he said. “The She’s Next Hackathon is designed to nurture that mindset in a new generation of women entrepreneurs, equipping them not only with strategies, but with the confidence to lead with purpose, agility and vision. This is about more than entrepreneurship—it’s about shaping the future of inclusive, resilient business.”
