On 22 and 23 July 2026, WIDE ANDCO brought together young people aged 16 to 21 in Esch-Belval for the EmpowerHER Summer Experience, a two-day entrepreneurship bootcamp organised as part of the Erasmus+ EmpowerHER project.
The aim was to help participants explore their entrepreneurial potential, develop their own ideas and gain the confidence to present them. Through practical activities and collaborative exercises, they discovered different aspects of entrepreneurship while strengthening their creativity, communication and teamwork skills.
From personal branding to business development
Over the two days, participants worked on several key stages of the entrepreneurial journey. They explored personal branding and leadership, developed their teamwork skills and used design thinking to generate and refine ideas. They then worked on turning their ideas into viable business concepts, with support and guidance throughout the process.
The programme also included mentoring sessions, pitch preparation and the opportunity to test the EmpowerHER virtual reality game, one of the project’s learning resources. These activities encouraged participants to think creatively, develop their ideas and prepare to communicate their value to an audience.
The bootcamp culminated in a final pitching session, during which participants presented their projects to a jury. The session allowed them to put their newly acquired skills into practice and receive feedback on their ideas.
Celebrating the winning teams
The final pitches recognised the participants’ creativity, commitment and entrepreneurial potential. The winners of the Social Impact Prize and the EmpowerHER Special Prize earned the opportunity to represent Luxembourg at the international EmpowerHER pitching competition in Brussels in September 2026, where they will meet young aspiring entrepreneurs from Poland, Spain and Cyprus.
Thank you to our hosts and partners
WIDE ANDCO would like to extend a special thank you to the Luxembourg Media & Digital Design Centre (LMDDC) and the University of Luxembourg’s incubator for hosting the Summer Experience and helping make these two days possible.
We also thank Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity (MEGA) for their involvement in supporting initiatives that encourage young people, particularly young women, to explore entrepreneurship.
The Summer Experience is part of EmpowerHER, an Erasmus+ project that supports young people, especially young women, in developing entrepreneurial skills, building confidence and turning their ideas into action.
