About Us
Our Story
Start We Up advocates for the launch of European dialogue with institutions, associations, and stakeholders to define a modern, inclusive, and measurable criteria for women entrepreneurship.
Our Team
Vincenza Frasca
Vice President, Confimi Industria
Valeria Manieri
Co-Founder and CEO, Le Contemporanea
Martina Rogato
Co-President Women7 Italy (G7)
Monica Frassoni
President, European Alliance to Save Energy
What We Do
“Start WE Up – Let’s Light Up Female Entrepreneurship” is a European Manifesto promoted by the Women’s Group of Confimi Industria and Le Contemporanee, a social and digital network and startup dedicated to gender equality. It is supported by the patronage of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT), Unioncamere, the European Parliament, and the W7.
The Manifesto originates from the recognition that, at the European level, there is still no clear, shared definition of “female entrepreneurship.”
The Manifesto originates from the recognition that, at the European level, there is still no clear, shared definition of “female entrepreneurship.”
This gap makes it difficult to compare data, assess the impact of public policies, and develop transparent, harmonized support tools.
Start WE Up proposes launching a European dialogue involving institutions, associations, and key stakeholders in the economic and production system. The goal is to define a modern, inclusive, and measurable framework for female entrepreneurship, supported by a periodic monitoring system that highlights and values women’s contributions across Member States.
Start WE Up proposes launching a European dialogue involving institutions, associations, and key stakeholders in the economic and production system. The goal is to define a modern, inclusive, and measurable framework for female entrepreneurship, supported by a periodic monitoring system that highlights and values women’s contributions across Member States.
Alongside this core objective, the Manifesto promotes:
- Structural investment in care and childcare services, essential to enabling women’s participation in employment and entrepreneurship
- Greater equity in access to credit, funding, and development tools
- Strengthening skills in digital, financial, green, and STEM fields
- European policies that increase women’s presence in leadership, business, and innovation
Start WE Up aims to establish a shared framework for European women entrepreneurs.
For this reason, it calls on European Union institutions to build alliances and mobilize support toward a single, consistent definition of women’s entrepreneurship.
For this reason, it calls on European Union institutions to build alliances and mobilize support toward a single, consistent definition of women’s entrepreneurship.
Unlock the potential of women entrepreneurship
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