1. What is WEgate?

A growing and diverse number of stakeholders are engaging to support women entrepreneurs across Europe. The European Gateway for Women’s entrepreneurship WEgate is an e-platform launched by the European Commission to support this network.

WEgate is now a non-profit association, but it started as an online gateway with useful and inspiring information, mostly presented through a short description text and useful web links, that did not provide support services or advice, nor has commercial purposes. Now, as an association, WEgate still does not have commercial purposes, but it will expand its activities to provide greater support to women entrepreneurs and organisations that also provide support to them.

2. What kind of information can I find on WEgate?

WEgate content and resources relate to women’s entrepreneurship and aims to direct you to other sources of information or inspiring contacts of other support organisations and female entrepreneurs.

Stakeholders such as public authorities, financial institutions, women networking organisations or mentors, help design the content of WEgate and share their unique expertise and experience with their peers and with female entrepreneurs.

WEgate also offers you a selection of latest news and events relating to female entrepreneurship across Europe. Another source of inspiration are success stories, sharing the successes, but also challenges and lessons learnt that women entrepreneurs from all kinds of backgrounds have encountered along their way.

3. How can I publish information about my activities on WEgate?

Success stories and news and event items are published regularly in English on WEgate.
The content is also shared via European Commission and EASME owned Social Media channels.
As the content of WEgate depends on its active community, please propose content that is related to women’s entrepreneurship.
Don’t worry – an editorial team will review the content and publish it for you.

4. How do I get information on business support in my country in the EU?

WEgate includes the possibility to filter for pan-European countries on many of its pages and directs you to other sources of information or contacts that can support you with your individual questions, for example you can find female entrepreneurship websites for advice at national level.

If you are looking for information to doing business in Europe, such as starting or growing a business, VAT, selling abroad or access to finance, please consult the Your Europe Business Portal, which is an online practical guide available in all EU languages:

https://europa.eu/youreurope/index.htm

5. How can I expand my business to other countries?

We advise you to contact your local contact point of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). The EEN helps businesses innovate and grow across Europe and beyond, in particular through international partnerships. It is the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international ambitions:

http://een.ec.europa.eu/about/branches

WEgate focuses on Europe, but includes an international perspective whenever possible. You can, for example, search for the tag ‘Worldwide’ or use the filter ‘International’ on many pages.

6. Can WEgate provide funding for female entrepreneurs?

WEgate is not a funding entity. WEgate’s content and resources aim to direct you to other sources of information or contacts that can support you with your individual questions. A section of the website relating to financing & funding will provide you with more information.