Female Future: International Roundtable for Female Founders on 7th March 2025 Part 2
KAIT is the incubator & accelerator of the FH JOANNEUM, University of applied sciences that wants to inspire people to start their business. “International by design”, KAIT contributes to the International Women’s Day with the International Round Table for Female Founders. This online event took place for the fourth time already. It is organized by Sabine Proßnegg, FH JOANNEUM, with all its partners, especially with Yasar University in Turkey. To find out more, please go to: kait.at.
This year’s key note talk was given by Dr. Emma Ives from the Bright Red Triangle, part of the Napier University (UK) Edinburgh, Scotland. She introduced their latest venture, the SDG5 Living Lab. If you want to read more about that talk, please go to part 1.
At this year’s discussion round, moderated again by Huryie Toker, Yasar University, there were three female founders: Kasia Wypiorczyk, Axé Boom Boom, Anna Häfele, Equidamus, and Arinc Adivar, Medusa Textile.
Kasia Wypiorczyk is co-founder of the company Axé Boom Boom. This social enterprise based in Edinburgh aims to tackle child inactivity in Scotland. The enterprise focuses on the practice of Capoeira and Djembe drumming to offer young people an alternative way of staying active. If you want to read more about that company or Kasia, please go to: Social entrepreneurs behind the enterprises: Kasia Wypiorczyk, Axé Boom Boom – Firstport.
Kasia pointed out that in the social sector there are far more female than male founders. Her focus is also not on money, but on her passion for a better life, especially for children. Her advice is to stay focused and to implement your own solutions. Get support, like she got from the Napier University of Edinbourgh and should problems arise, and they do, stay solution oriented and get creative.
Also very sporty is the founder of equidamus, a Latin espression meaming “Let’s ride”, Anna Häfele. Anna has been working in the horse industry for over 15 years. As a rider, horse owner and trainer, she knows all about the challenges and uncertainties of training what she is passionate about. That inspired her to digitalize the business and to create a platform that answers exactly these questions as well as offering a network to the community. To find out more please go to: equidamus.at.
Anna stresses the importance of entrepreneurial thinking especially in difficult times. To start a business, you should think about your passion first, what problem do you want to solve? Also, listening to your customers helps a lot. She appreciates the supportive network which she found in Graz and Styria and wants to encourage every founder to believe in their strenghts.
In quite a different sector active is Arinc Adivar, who established Medusa Textile in Izmir, Turkey. Medusa produces ready-to-wear-clothing for babies, kids and adults. They design their own cuttings, samplings and also produce themselves in a very sustainable way. What started as a small family business employs now about 50 people, for more please see medusatekstil.com.
Arinc taked about her problems as a young entrepreneur but it is important, not to give up. Even if you can just take small steps at the beginning, keep on going until you are where you wanted to be. Her advise was also to take help, she got lunch boxes from her mother which sounds small but was just great support in difficult times.
To sum up the discussion, all three founders advise women to be passionate about whatever they do. Work is such a big part in an adult life that you should enjoy it. Stay flexible while staying focused, because you have to be able to adapt to new circumstances or difficulties. Don’t hesitate to ask for and accept help. Take some time for yourself, away from business, family and whatever work you have got to do, some “me time”. If you want to see the whole event, please go to: kait.at.
To read part 1, go to the Blog: International Round Table for Female Founders on 7 March 2025, Part 1.
See you at next year’s event!
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