Empowering Women in Agrifood: Interview with Ekaterina Šprajc, founder of Edible Thread

Editor’s Note: This article was developed in partnership with and with financial backing from EIT Food.

The Empowering Women in Agrifood ( EWA) program by EIT Food offers an exceptional system for women business owners to drive development in developing a lasting food system. Sustained by the European Institute of Advancement and Innovation (EIT), a body of the European Union, this campaign champs females in farming by furnishing them with the devices, abilities, and networks required to prosper. Female’s payments to lasting food systems and country neighborhoods are very useful, yet commonly ignored, and this program looks for to connect that void by cultivating management, self-confidence, and company acumen amongst individuals.

The 2024 version of the EWA program noted its 5th effective year, involving 120 women business owners from 12 nations, consisting of Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine. Throughout 6 months, individuals gained from a thorough collection of mentoring, company training, and networking chances, along with been experts training used in regional languages. Incredibly, the campaign has actually brought about the production of 35 start-ups and the raising of EUR13 million in financing, showing its transformative effect on the field.

As component of this collection, we will certainly include meetings with 3 amazing victors from the 2024 EWA program. Each meeting will certainly provide a distinct glance right into the methods this program encourages females to drive significant modification in the agri-food field. Allow’s solve into it!

Meeting with Ekaterina Šprajc, creator of Edible String

Today, we are enjoyed meeting Ekaterina Šprajc, the creator of Edible String which is experts in generating an edible string made use of in cookeries for linking active ingredients with each other. This string, made from all-natural products without irritants, is offered in different shades and dimensions. Ekaterina has actually created both a model and a pilot variation of the device and plans to increase manufacturing capability and improve functions based upon consumer responses, with a concentrate on the zero-waste concept

Thanks to her innovative ideas, Ekaterina took home the grand prize of  €10,000! In this meeting, we intend to dig much deeper right into her trip, her revolutionary operate in the agri-food field, and exactly how the EWA program played an essential function in her business development.

Can you begin by informing us concerning the ideas behind Edible String and exactly how your trip right into the agrifood field started?

The ideas behind Edible String came a couple of years ago when I was considering exactly how to change existing not fit to eat services for binding active ingredients. Seeing the huge quantities of single-use kitchen area items that are made use of and disposed of everyday inspired me to locate a lasting choice that decreases waste and brings development to the cooking globe.

My trip right into the agri-food field started after finishing from the Professors of Food Innovation and Biotechnology, where I got a wide range of understanding and experience in the food sector and R&D, which motivated me to seek entrepreneurship.

What inspired you to be experts in FMCG and Edible String, and exactly how do you believe these items add to a lasting food system?

My inspiration originates from an enthusiasm for development and a wish to produce lasting items. Edible strings dramatically add to a lasting food system by decreasing waste as they are totally palatable. In addition, they give cooks and lovers with brand-new opportunities in developing and providing meals, which better urges creative thinking and sustainability in the cooking area.

What were the largest difficulties you encountered while establishing the model and pilot variation of the Edible String device, and exactly how did you conquer them to guarantee the item straightens with the zero-waste concept?

The largest obstacle was making and establishing a completely brand-new product/prototype and pilot device for Edible String, because of this an item does not feed on the marketplace. The procedure needed lots of versions and modifications. I needed to explore the area of mechanical design to communicate exact directions to our companions for the advancement of the pilot device.

Preserving the zero-waste concept was attained via making use of all-natural active ingredients and innovation that lessens waste and reuses all product residues.

What were a few of the largest difficulties you encountered while establishing your company?

Throughout the advancement of business, I encountered difficulties such as safeguarding financing, improving understanding in locations like financing, sales, and regulation, and locating optimum services for manufacturing. In addition, constructing an assistance network and determining market chances were substantial difficulties.

When did you initially find out about the EWA program, and why did you make a decision to take part in it?

I initially read about the EWA program via sector associates that advised it as an outstanding advancement possibility. I chose to take part in the program to get extra understanding, abilities, and financial backing required for the additional advancement of my company. The program likewise enabled me to establish my company and connect with various other business owners, which was very valuable.

Just how did the mentorship and training throughout the EWA program affect your technique to Edible String? What would certainly you claim are the 3 important things you have drawn from this program?

The mentorship and training throughout the EWA program gave me with useful understandings and assistance in establishing my item.

The 3 primary takeaways from the program are: improving company techniques, connecting with various other women business owners and coaches, and accessibility to sources that have actually aided me additional establish Edible String.

As you intend to increase manufacturing capability, what techniques are you carrying out to guarantee the edible string continues to be obtainable to varied cooking markets while preserving its allergen-free and green qualities?

After finishing the advancement of Edible String in real-world problems, our strategy is to establish a device for generating edible strings for instance straight in dining establishments to raise scalability and permit everybody to make the strings. This will certainly decrease monetary prices and raise ease of access. Approaches consist of purchasing innovative innovations and optimizing manufacturing procedures, close partnership with popular dining establishments and cooking colleges, and establishing brand-new items that will certainly fulfill different market demands.

The concentrate on all-natural and allergen-free active ingredients continues to be crucial.

Sustainability and making use of all-natural products are core worths of Edible String. Just how do you guarantee your items and procedures line up with this dedication?

We guarantee that our items and procedures line up with sustainability concepts via stringent quality assurance, making use of all-natural active ingredients, and reducing waste in any way phases of manufacturing. Every action in our procedure is created with a concentrate on ecological kindness and sustainability.

Just how has consumer responses affected the style and functions of the edible string, and what future improvements are you prioritising to fulfill advancing demands in the cookeries?

Client responses has actually been vital fit the style and functions of Edible String. Based upon their ideas, we are servicing boosting item versatility, increasing the series of shades and tastes, and improving performance.

Our concern is the additional advancement of edible string straight in dining establishments with cooks, i.e., in real-world problems, to fulfill the progressively advanced demands in the cooking area.

In conclusion this meeting, what suggestions would certainly you provide to various other females business owners thinking about signing up with the EWA program?

I would certainly suggest various other females business owners not to be afraid difficulties and to make use of the possibility that the EWA program deals. The program offers very useful assistance, understanding, and networking that can dramatically assist in establishing a service. Be open to discovering, linking, and sharing experiences, as this will certainly assist you expand and establish your business endeavor.

Commemorating success and looking in advance

The EWA programme proceeds showing the power of targeted assistance for females business owners in the agri-food field. Offering mentorship, networking, and hands-on training, this program allows individuals to bring their cutting-edge concepts to life while cultivating an extra comprehensive and lasting food system. The success tales from the 2024 version emphasize the program’s significant effect, from safeguarding financing to scaling services and getting in brand-new markets.

The article Empowering Women in Agrifood: Interview with Ekaterina Šprajc, founder of Edible Thread showed up initially on EU-Startups.