The Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) has announced the resumption of the implementation of the Femeia Antreprenor (Woman Entrepreneur) program, 2024 edition, following the allocation of funds through the 2026 State Budget Law. This is not a new registration session.
The announcement, made on April 23, 2026, ends a period of deadlock that lasted for months. Beneficiaries admitted into the 2024 edition had been left with unsigned financing agreements due to the lack of budgetary credits.
The budget allocated for 2026 is approximately 200 million EUR in commitment credits and 197 million EUR in budgetary credits, an amount calibrated for the target of the remaining 1,000 beneficiaries. The grant per beneficiary is 200,000 EUR.
The current stage is the signing of financing agreements. The deadline for submitting the signed agreement is a maximum of 20 days from receiving the admission decision, and exceeding this results in the loss of funding. This is a procedural detail that has already cost beneficiaries in previous editions of MEDAT programs.
For companies not in the 2024 edition, the announcement does not open any opportunities. As of the time of writing, there is no new registration session for Femeia Antreprenor, nor an announced date for a potential next edition.
The situation of the program is symptomatic of national schemes financed from the state budget: unlike European funds, where allocation is guaranteed multi-annually, national programs depend on annual budget availability and can be suspended or reduced without notice.
The history of MEDAT programs in recent years shows a pattern that deserves to be understood by any entrepreneur building a business plan around national financing. Programs are announced, sessions open, projects are admitted, and then payment can be delayed by one or two years, depending on budget execution. The cash flow risk is borne entirely by the beneficiary.
The practical conclusion is not that these programs should be avoided, but that they cannot be treated as a certain source of financing in an investment plan with firm deadlines. A company that signs contracts with suppliers based on an approved but unpaid national grant assumes a risk that European funds, with guaranteed multi-annual allocation, have to a significantly lesser extent.
Key Takeaways
- This is not a new registration session, but the unlocking of the 2024 edition
- 2026 Budget: approx. 200 million EUR commitment credits, 197 million EUR budgetary credits
- Grant: 200,000 EUR per beneficiary, for the target of the remaining 1,000 beneficiaries
- Critical deadline: 20 days for submitting the signed financing agreement
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