The Visa Everywhere Pioneers programme is thrilled to announce that applications are now open for 2025.
This programme is focused on supporting entrepreneurial women in Europe with refugee backgrounds.
This year, the initiative will recognize 30 winners, each receiving business mentoring and a collective pool of over €60,000 in microgrants to foster their business growth.
About the Visa Everywhere Pioneers Programme
Entering its third year, the Visa Everywhere Pioneers programme celebrates the incredible achievements of entrepreneurial women with refugee backgrounds who are effecting positive change at local, regional, and national levels.
Winners from previous years have made significant contributions across sectors such as healthcare, education, advocacy, and business, introducing innovative solutions for communities and creating employment opportunities.
What Winners Will Receive
The selected winners from the 2025 Visa Everywhere Pioneers programme will benefit from:
- €2,000 or £2,000 cash grant (based on their location)
- Access to business mentorship to guide them on their entrepreneurial journey
Who Can Apply?
The Visa Everywhere Pioneers programme is open to aspiring female entrepreneurs with refugee backgrounds based in Europe.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a woman aged 18+
- Must be a legal resident of one of the 27 EU Member States, or Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Iceland, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, or the United Kingdom
- Must have a product or service actively in the market
- Must have been generating revenue for at least 12 months
- Must be registered as a sole trader or business entity with at least 51% ownership
- Must have a physical or digital presence (e.g., store, website, online shop, social media)
- Must come from a forced migration background defined through at least one of the following statuses:
- Refugee status
- Family reunion or Spousal Visas with the right to work and be self-employed
- First Generation migrants with refugee parentage
- Temporary protection status with rights to work and self-employ
- Asylum seeker with rights to work and self-employ
- Stateless individuals with rights to work and self-employ
Our Partners
Visa is collaborating with TERN, Singa, Odyssea, and Delitelabs to implement the Visa Everywhere Pioneers programme.
This partnership focuses on uplifting a diverse group of remarkable entrepreneurial women from refugee backgrounds, providing them with both a platform to share their stories and vital financial support to scale their businesses.
TERN: A dynamic social enterprise helping refugee entrepreneurs establish their small-to-medium-sized enterprises, having supported over 750 founders since 2016.
SINGA: An international organization accelerating the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers across Europe, fostering one of the continent’s leading networks for refugee entrepreneurship.
Odyssea: A non-profit providing tailored vocational training and life skills to empower young vulnerable individuals for employment.
Delitelabs: An initiative that supports newcomers with bespoke learning experiences to launch businesses or careers while promoting inclusive workplaces in the Netherlands.
Important Dates
- Applications Close: 23:59 GMT on Friday, 2 May 2025
- Winners Announcement: Friday, 20 June 2025 – World Refugee Day
Apply Now for the 2025 Visa Everywhere Pioneers Programme! Applications will remain open until Friday, 2 May 2025.
Do not miss the chance to elevate your entrepreneurial journey—submit your application today!
Your story is important—apply today and inspire others!
Disclaimer: YüthAxis is not in any way affiliated with the hiring organization. Please direct your applications and any enquiries to the hiring company. Read our Terms of Use for more.
