On the 16th of April, the RE-FEM project kicked off its first World Café event in Budapest. The professional discussion followed a World Café format, creating space for collaborative dialogue on how to strengthen the resilience and skills of women entrepreneurs.
The event brought together professionals relevant to women entrepreneurship, including directors, executives, key decision-makers, public sector representatives involved in relevant policy areas, as well as women entrepreneurs themselves — with the aim of discussing how to better support women entrepreneurs, assess the effectiveness of current policies, and explore potential new initiatives.
The event began with welcoming speeches by Gábor Balás, executive director of HÉTFA Research Institue, and Zsuzsanna Lukács Lakatosné, executive director of SEED Foundation. Katalin Oborni (HÉTFA), the RE-FEM project’s coordinator introduced the project, outlining its main objectives, key initiatives, and results.
After the opening segment of the event, participants split into small groups to discuss several key topics. The following takeaways summarize the key themes and insights that emerged from these discussions, offering a snapshot of the most relevant ideas shared during the event.
Invisible Work and Women Entrepreneurship
The table discussion engaged participants in a lively and insightful conversation about how unpaid care responsibilities — often referred to as “invisible work” — impact women’s entrepreneurial journeys. Participants found the topic highly relevant to their own experiences and expressed a strong interest in exploring both the burdens and potential of such work in shaping women’s careers.
A recurring theme was the need to make invisible work more “visible” — not only by acknowledging its value, but also by developing mechanisms that support women in balancing these responsibilities with entrepreneurship. Participants shared examples where skills developed through unpaid tasks later contributed to business success. The discussion also reflected on the COVID-19 pandemic’s dual role: while it intensified the pressure on women, it also inspired new business ventures and encouraged greater acceptance of flexible work arrangements, which benefit aspiring entrepreneurs.
The group formulated several recommendations, most notably the need for targeted government support through foundations, mentoring, and innovative solutions like service vouchers or community-based childcare assistance. These would not only ease the daily burdens of women entrepreneurs but also create new opportunities for business development in care-related services. Participants agreed that addressing invisible work through practical, policy-level interventions is essential for fostering a more supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem for women.
Challenges in Entrepreneurship for women, with a focus on Rural women
The discussion reflected on the specific challenges faced by rural women entrepreneurs in Hungary. While participants represented both rural and more urbanized areas, the focus remained on understanding the unique pressures and social dynamics that shape entrepreneurial activity in less developed regions.
Participants highlighted that for many rural women, entrepreneurship often emerges not from opportunity but from necessity, due to the limited availability of flexible or part-time jobs. While owning a business may seem to offer freedom, the reality often involves significant personal and familial burdens. A key insight was the role of community: while rural environments can be isolating and competitive, they can also offer informal support networks or word-of-mouth marketing. Participants also reflected on social stereotypes — such as “business wives” who operate ventures initiated or backed by partners — and noted a divide between established locals and newer entrepreneurial newcomers, particularly post-pandemic.
The group identified a strong need for peer networks and expert-led support structures, noting that regular, in-person or hybrid training sessions could offer practical assistance in navigating legal, financial, and digital aspects of business. Participants also emphasized the importance of more supportive, dialogic relationships with local authorities, instead of solely regulatory interactions. Awareness-raising campaigns were proposed to shift public perception and encourage entrepreneurship, especially as declining numbers of new businesses become a national concern. Platforms like podcasts were seen as especially effective in reaching rural audiences. The Confederation of Hungarian Business, Women’s Chamber (VOSZ) was mentioned as a positive example of an existing supportive structure.
Digital Transformation and AI
During the discussion participants demonstrated strong engagement with the topic of digital transformation, which they preferred to frame as “digital growth” — emphasizing proactive development over passive adaptation. Participants agreed on the growing relevance of digital tools in everyday business operations, recognizing their potential to bridge gaps between rural and urban entrepreneurs and align Hungarian business practices with broader European standards. While many already used basic digital tools, the group identified a widespread need for deeper knowledge, especially in areas like cybersecurity and the integration of digital solutions into core business functions.
The discussion highlighted online marketing as the most common area of digital tool use, while other business functions remain less digitized. Participants expressed a clear demand for practical training programs to improve digital literacy and boost confidence in using digital platforms more effectively. They also stressed the importance of accessible, hybrid learning opportunities and professional networks where women entrepreneurs could exchange knowledge, access expert support, and collaborate on digital solutions. Importantly, the idea of a “digital state” — with a fully modernized legal and administrative framework — emerged as a key recommendation to streamline bureaucratic processes and better support digital business operations.
To implement these changes, participants identified the government, NGOs, and business associations as key stakeholders. They recommended the expansion of existing entrepreneurial networks like the Confederation of Hungarian Business, Women’s Chamber (VOSZ) to include digital support services. While participants had varying levels of digital experience, all agreed that digital growth is not only essential for business competitiveness but also a strategic opportunity to promote inclusivity and innovation across sectors.
Women-Led Businesses and Education
The discussion explored the intersection of education and women’s entrepreneurship. The conversation unfolded along three central themes: the kind of support women entrepreneurs truly need; the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills; and the structural changes necessary to foster inclusive, resilient entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Participants emphasized that while formal education plays a role, it is far from sufficient. Emotional resilience, community support, and mentorship were repeatedly identified as critical needs—often more impactful than traditional training. The group called for practice-oriented, flexible learning formats tailored to women’s varied life stages and contexts. The discussion also highlighted how many women enter entrepreneurship gradually, often through hobbies or informal activities, underscoring the importance of early awareness and mindset development, even at the secondary school level.
Beyond education, participants advocated for a broader cultural and institutional shift. Recommendations included peer mentoring networks, localized support hubs led by NGOs, and inclusive media portrayals of entrepreneurship that move beyond elite success stories. Several best practices were cited—from the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs and Junior Achievement programs to government-led initiatives like the Hungarian Startup University Program and the GINOP Plus grant scheme. However, participants noted a lack of systematic evaluation and follow-up on these efforts. Overall, the group strongly endorsed a holistic, segmented, and socially embedded approach to entrepreneurship education that empowers women not only with knowledge, but also with confidence and community.
Investment and Business Growth:
This topic highlighted how deeply entrenched both structural and psychological barriers are for women entrepreneurs seeking to access capital. While participants were highly engaged, the 30-minute session proved too short to fully explore such a broad and complex topic. Still, the conversation surfaced key issues including internalized self-doubt, low financial literacy, and systemic discrimination from financial institutions. Women often feel unprepared to pitch to investors or apply for loans, with many deterred by the perception that external funding entails losing control of their business.
Participants emphasized that growth-oriented support must consider women’s specific entrepreneurial motivations, which often prioritize autonomy and balance over scale. This reality calls for tailored, modular training programs and gradual pathways toward investment-readiness — starting with full-time self-employment and progressing through stages such as hiring and strategic expansion. Suggestions included giving women-led enterprises preference in public procurement and fostering female-led cooperatives. Participants also raised concerns about exclusion from current funding schemes and a lack of transparency in program outcomes. The group expressed interest in platforms that centralize information about mentoring, funding, and training, and proposed reviving past guarantee programs to support businesses lacking collateral.
The conversation also included a pointed exchange between participants and government representatives. While entrepreneurs voiced frustration about bureaucracy and inadequate policy support, state actors highlighted existing programs, such as SEED’s forthcoming mentoring initiative under GINOP Plus and the Széchenyi Card system. However, the consensus was clear: these efforts must be more visible, coordinated, and tailored to the realities of women entrepreneurs. A key takeaway was the need for systemic thinking — addressing interconnected issues like sectoral disparities, care responsibilities, and rural disadvantage — to truly unlock the growth potential of women-led businesses.
Based on these impactful conversations, the RE-FEM World Café event provided meaningful insights into the challenges and opportunities facing women entrepreneurs. We sincerely thank all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions, which will help guide future steps of the project.
We look forward to building on these dialogues in the coming months and supporting the RE-FEM project as it moves toward its next milestones. Stay up to date with RE-FEM’s latest initiatives, events, and resources by subscribing to our newsletter here, and following us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn!