Take your business to the next level through the latest design and management methodologies, high-level alliances and expert mentoring.
A tailored journey for stronger and more sustainable businesses through workshops, mentoring sessions and peer validation.
The Break community is on a mission to reshape entrepreneurship in the European Union.
From early stage to mature entrepreneurs.
Expand your network and market. Benefit from diversity: a community of 1,000 women where we expect more than 50 nationalities across the European Union.
Giving back is in the DNA of the Breakers. While in Spain, you and your colleagues will engage in some open innovation activities to solve local challenges.
Grow your business while collaborating, learning and having fun with like-minded entrepreneurs and locals.
Apply regardless of your nationality if you reside legally in the EU (excluding Spain)
In 2022 we counted on 52 nationalities.
Calling for young businesses, solopreneurs and freelancers. From a business idea or MVP to a company with no more than 5 years since constitution.
The Break Fellowship is fully delivered in English.
Average programme global evaluation by the 280
2022 fellows
EU resident female entrepreneurs on a mission to collaborate and expand their markets.
Goals:: Build an international community, develop your business and create positive impact in local territories.
High value specialized training and mentoring on management, design, leadership and innovation
Days working retreat in Spain. Break your routine to expand your impact.
Entrepreneurship partner organisations.
Worth fellowship including training, mentoring, travel and accommodation, culture and networking events.
Applications, interviews and fellows selection and confirmation
Detailed information about destination, logistics, and travel bookings by organization
Remote Opening Event
Online training, community and mentoring sessions
Madrid 2-day
Networking sessions, presentations and cultural walk.
24 days
Individual work, training & workshops, field visits, community events and open innovation challenge
Madrid 2-day
Networking sessions, fellows’ presentations, community and next steps
We are bringing on board some of the most influential women in business and academics for an extraordinary collaborative learning journey
Head of Community at B Corp
Civic Engagement | Art of Hosting
EU Innovators 2020 Winner
Valentina holds a masters in Community Psychology and has taken part in England’s National Community Organisers Programe. She is an expert in designing engaging communities.
Director of Sustainability at IKEA
President of WAS (Women, Action, Sustainability)
BCorporation
Mónica is an expert at implementing visionaries strategies. She has led the transformation of multinational companies. She has a strong focus on implementing new trends and sustainability.
Director of Sustainability
at Ecoalf BCorporation
Carol leads the sustainability department of one of the most innovative fashion companies across the globe. Ecoalf is an activist brand that collects sea garbage and transforms it into durable clothes. Among different projects, she’s a partner of Women Action Sustainability (WAS).
Head of Google for Startups
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Sofia Benjumea founded The South Summit as the leading startup conference in Southern Europe. She’s been the head of Google for Startups in Spain and more recently was promoted to expand her impact globally.
Deputy Director
European Crowdfunding Network
Francesca is a enthusiastic supporter of the European Union and crowdfunding, with a soft spot for social inclusion and regional development. She is an expert in designing crowdfunding campaigns across very different sectors.
Specialist: Partnership and Sustainable Development
Leda is an international specialist in multi-stakeholder collaboration. Over the last 25 years she has worked in the management, training and evaluation of partnership projects and processes. Leda has a PhD on the topic of partnership from the University of Edinburgh and has taught at universities in the UK, Spain, Norway and South Africa.
Top 100 woman in Social Enterprise 2022 by Euclid Network - Head of Regional Strategies at the Chamber of Social Solidarity Economy of Mayotte
Djémilah believes that changing the world is about making connections across the globe. Since 2018, she advises businesses on internationalization and has built strong strategic partnerships to create opportunities for them in the oversea regions and Indian Ocean.
Head of Strategic Design at Impact Hub Madrid - Innovation Consultant & Mentor
Bu looks forward to developing human-centric and disruptive solutions for companies that contribute to sustainable world development. She infuses energy into processes, helps teams and organizations achieve better, more human, and meaningful outcomes, and forms ecosystems where people can shine.
Head of Design & Product at Igeneris - Acumen Fellow
Ana is in charge of product and design at Igeneris, where she designs new business models for large companies. She finds and shapes high-impact business concepts where her clients are not focusing on.
Managing Partner at Blockchain Intelligence (Metaverse). Professor. Digital & Human Transformation
Dr. Almudena de la Mata is the managing partner and founder of Blockchain Intelligence, founding partner of Impact Hub Madrid and co-founder of Innovation for change. Board Member. University Professor. Speaker. Certified coach.
The Break is an entrepreneurship Fellowship Programme in Spain for EU resident women worth +7,000 €. The Fellowship is funded by the European Union designed by Escuela de Organización Industrial EOI School and powered by The Break Alliance.
1,000 female entrepreneurs and freelancers will embark on a transformational journey: a 12-week entrepreneurship programme, including a 27-day work retreat in Spain.
The Break 2023 fellows will work towards 3 common goals:
Expenses covered by The Break are estimated in +7,000 eur and include:
Expenses not covered by The Break:
The Break is part of the EU Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and is aligned with the Spanish National Entrepreneurship Strategy (España Nación Emprendedora), the long-term governmental vision to make Spain a reference country in innovative entrepreneurship before 2030. For the implementation of the first edition of the program, EOI has launched a public tender in December 2021 which has been awarded to Impact Hub.
All actions within the Spanish National Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience (PRTR) and therefore the Break Programme must comply with the principle of Do Not Significant Harm (DNSH). This applies both to the projects of the participating women entrepreneurs and to the sectoral challenges proposed by the Spanish communities. The DNSH principle implies that no action may go against the six environmental objectives for which the absence of significant harm has been assured: climate change mitigation, adaptation to climate change, sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, circular economy, pollution prevention and control, protection and recovery of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Note that the following requirements are mandatory:
*Please note that this is a women-only event that intends an inclusive definition of women. We are welcoming and respectful of women, including trans women and any others who identify as a woman in a way that is significant to them.
Apply now or share the Break with a friend who inspires you!
Join female entrepreneur talent and break-to-accelerate your project
Yes, apply as soon as possible. The Break 2023 2nd Cohort fellows will be invited to apply from April 2023. Start your application as soon as possible so you can start your interview process and save your spot for the fellowship!
The Break calls for 1,000 creative and diverse women entrepreneurs to build an innovative ecosystem. We consider “entrepreneur” from a broad perspective. If you are working on a project proposal or moving towards MVP, or if you have a leading role in a startup or an established business that is less than 5 years old, you may apply. Freelancers are also included in this category and are welcome to apply.
While in Spain, a work space, wifi and other resources involving work are guaranteed. It is estimated that fellows will dedicate 2h per day in average to The Break activities.
Weekends are free and any activity will be voluntary.
Expenses covered by The Break are estimated in +7,000 eur and include:
Expenses not covered by The Break:
Common shopping or access to supermarkets will be provided to lower your food expenses. However, please bear in mind to have some money for extra activities or eating out on weekends. We estimate around 550€ for your whole stay including food.
You will land in Madrid Barajas Airport and be taken care of by The Break while you are in Spain. The Spain experience starts with a two-day event in Madrid to then travel to your local community.
This could be a small village in the Pyrenees or a rented house in Malaga.
You will gather up in groups of 14-20 entrepreneurs during your stay in Spain but will be able to connect with more than 300 entrepreneurs physically during the welcoming and farewell event in Madrid. You may have to share a room with other The Break fellow candidates while in Spain.
You will be grouped with other fellows according to different factors: skills, sector of professional activities and other interests and motivations. The Break is designed over the idea of collaboration, creativity, community impact and collective learning.
You will not be able to cancel your trip once booked. Please bear in mind that we are implementing The Break with Public funds and we must be extremely careful with making the most out of them. The Break Fellowship is not an individual non transmisible experience.
The Break is inclusive and understanding of mother’s circumstances up to a certain extent. We are open to considering mothers bringing children if they are looked after by other parents or tutors but only if the best possible experiences for the little ones can be guaranteed. Please know that a sudden change of setting and language could turn into a difficult experience for them. Note that the fellowship only covers expenses related to the participation of the entrepreneur and therefore all family and transport expenses will have to be covered by the candidate. Please bring out this issue throughout the selection process to know more details and get some practical examples.
Participants will be asked to attend at least 75% of the programme activities. The organization understands urgent things coming across unexpectedly that could result in absence.
Weekends will be free for participants to decide their own schedule, but normally a group-voluntary activity will be offered to those who want to join.
The program is based on collaboration and collective learning so we count on your knowledge and skills towards achieving the community goals. In addition to supporting other participants you will have to deliver:
The Break is a programme where entrepreneurs share , during 28 days, their life with other women. In this period, transportation, flights, hotels and accommodations with different policies about animals are involved. Therefore pets are not allowed in this programme.
NOTE: guiding dogs are allowed if you can properly demonstrate it with official papers.
Yes, of course. We are looking for diverse female founders from Europe. If you have a disability and certain accessibility needs for your stay in Spain you can add those to your registration form, we will talk with you about it and make sure that you can be matched to an organization that is suitable for you.
EOI (Escuela de Organización Industrial) is the first business school founded in Spain (1955). As a public foundation attached to the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and co-financed by European Funds, we have promoted +80,000 entrepreneurs and SMEs. More than 84,500 executives and business managers specialized in leadership, internationalization and sustainability have attended our programs.
Impact Hub
Impact Hub is the largest global network of entrepreneurial communities with impact. +17,000 professionals present in +100 cities from 60 countries around the world. Together with other allied organizations, we create and execute programs to promote innovative proposals and social transformation.
Mentor Day
Mentorday is a non-profit, private and independent association, made up of more than 850 professionals business leaders and entrepreneurs who volunteer to promote new companies that generate employment. It is an impact accelerator that has organized more than 71 vertical programs, successfully promoted more than 1,000 companies from 33 countries, and generated more than 6,000 jobs.
Startup ST.
Startups Investments (Startups. st) supports and promotes entrepreneurs, startups, and technological and digital SMEs through several actions and acceleration programs. The company is responsible for more than 25 startup acceleration programs in the last 7 years, with a presence in 3 countries, more than 7,500 hours of training and support developed, with a volume of capital raised by participating startups of more than 33.7M €.
The Break is designed by EOI and powered by The Break Alliance
The Break is possible with the support from
This program is part of the Spain Entrepreneurial Nation, the long-term vision promoted by the Government to make Spain a reference country in innovative entrepreneurship in the year 2030. This vision is articulated in the Spain Entrepreneurial Nation Strategy promoted from Government Presidency through the High Commissioner for Spain Entrepreneurial Nation.
For any further questions, please contact thebreak@impacthub.net
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