BSI_4Women Pilot Action: Supporting Refugee Women Entrepreneurs in Denmark

The Danish pilot of the BSI_4Women project, implemented by Business Hub Central Denmark (Erhvervshus Midtjylland) within the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, aimed to empower refugee and migrant women by helping them develop, refine, and strengthen their business ideas. Through mentorship, advisory support, and collaboration with local partners, the initiative promoted both professional self-reliance and social integration.

Informational and promotional activities for the pilot action began on 18 October 2024 with the launch of the official BSI_4Women Denmark webpage. In the following weeks, a comprehensive outreach campaign was conducted across the Central Denmark Region, targeting refugee and migrant women interested in entrepreneurship.

The project leveraged the strong regional business support ecosystem by mobilising local business services, job centres, and language learning centres as key outreach channels. Informative emails and flyers were distributed to institutions across 19 municipalities, including Aarhus, Randers, Herning, Silkeborg, Viborg, and Ringkøbing-Skjern.

This outreach successfully activated the existing regional network of consultants, who promoted the programme directly to potential participants. The project webpage contained detailed information in Ukrainian and English, outlining the programme structure, eligibility criteria, and registration process.

Between 18 October 2024 and 23 January 2025, a total of 29 women applied to participate in the regional incubation programme. Applications were collected via Microsoft Forms, ensuring accessibility and avoiding early dropout. Following assessment, 26 applicants were approved to join the incubation programme. All participants were Ukrainian nationals, of whom 12 had prior entrepreneurial experience and 20 had a business idea.

The recruitment process demonstrated strong collaboration between regional stakeholders and project partners, as well as significant interest among local institutions in supporting refugee women’s entrepreneurship.

The Danish incubation programme provided a structured combination of individual mentoring, online learning, and advisory support. Mentorship was offered to 17 participants, beginning with introductory sessions between 9 January and 27 February 2025. After these meetings, participants received as much one-to-one mentoring as needed throughout the programme’s duration.

The incubation process focused on developing entrepreneurial skills, validating business ideas, and guiding participants through legal, financial, and cultural aspects of starting a company in Denmark. Participants also had access to learning materials and webinars, available in their native language, and were supported by mentors and experts from Business Hub Central Denmark and local partner organisations.

Participants worked on diverse and practical business ideas reflecting their skills and local market needs. Selected examples include:

1. Flexible cleaning service using customers’ own products and tools to ensure safety and sustainability.
2. Service company providing cleaning, painting, and minor repairs at competitive prices.
3. Voice Bridge – English communication training for Ukrainian professionals and expats seeking confident, career-oriented language skills.
4. Hair salon offering cutting and styling services.
5. Production of quality newborn clothing with a focus on handmade craftsmanship.
6. Bakery with customised cakes and desserts, offering catering and baking masterclasses.
7. Event company specialising in health and wellness events for individuals and groups.

These initiatives illustrate both the creativity and adaptability of refugee women, many of whom aimed to transform their personal expertise into viable business ventures. Each participant benefited from personalised mentoring sessions and access to local support organisations. Mentors helped refine business ideas, address financial and legal challenges, and prepare for pitching opportunities. Participants were also connected to municipal business offices and private Danish companies that could act as advisors or early customers.

In addition, Business Hub Central Denmark committed to providing continued post-programme support, ensuring long-term guidance beyond the incubation phase.

The Regional Demo Day took place online on 1 May 2025, marking the culmination of the incubation journey. Four participants – of which one accepted – were offered the chance to present their business ideas before a professional jury composed of:

• Kurt Bøgild Kristensen, Business Hub Central Denmark – business developer (15+ years of experience)
• Sofiia Liubnytska, intern at Business Hub Central Denmark – student of International Trade
• Lærke Agerbo Eriksen, project staff member at Business Hub Central Denmark – project coordinator

The jury evaluated the business ideas based on innovation, feasibility, and social impact. The winning project was recognised for its strong business potential and relevance to integration challenges faced by migrant communities. The project was nominated to represent Denmark at the Transnational Demo Day held on 21 May 2025 in Jasionka, Poland, alongside representatives from six other Baltic Sea Region countries.

Following the incubation programme, one participant received legal and business advisory support on selecting the optimal business type. She was redirected to StartVækst Aarhus, a regional support organisation specialising in helping international entrepreneurs establish their first companies in Denmark. Although only one participant completed the full programme, six women provided evaluation feedback, offering valuable insights for future improvement.

The overall satisfaction level was 4.67 out of 5, reflecting positive experiences despite logistical challenges.

Key findings include:

• Mentorship and individual support were viewed as the most beneficial elements.
• Participants valued materials available in their native language.
• The digital learning tools and recorded webinars were rated positively for accessibility and clarity.
• Challenges included technical issues with mobile access, advanced content level, and language barriers in official documents.
• The online-only format was perceived as limiting for engagement and community-building.

Stakeholders confirmed the programme’s relevance and potential to inform regional and national policy supporting refugee women’s entrepreneurship. They recognised its success in empowering participants to transition from job-seeking to self-employment, building confidence and autonomy.

The Danish pilot demonstrated the importance of simplifying administrative processes, adapting content to early-stage entrepreneurs, and combining online and in-person elements.

Key recommendations include:

• Simplify recruitment documents and translate all materials.
• Strengthen beginner-level content and provide more structured, paced learning.
• Incorporate psychological and emotional support, recognising the stress many participants face.
• Enhance platform functionality, including mobile access and local administrator permissions.
• Integrate financial support mechanisms such as microgrants to reduce startup barriers.
• Maintain mentoring and follow-up support after programme completion.

Despite legal and logistical challenges, the BSI_4Women Denmark pilot proved that targeted, inclusive entrepreneurship programmes can meaningfully support refugee women in rebuilding professional lives and contributing to local economies.

Photo in the header: First mentoring session with participant, © Business Hub Central Denmark, 2025.

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