Over two days, 90 participants gathered at the Maison des Réfugiés to discuss three key issues: facilitating access to funding, strengthening cooperation between stakeholders, and gaining recognition for the contribution of entrepreneurs with migration backgrounds

The highlight of this edition was the Visa Everywhere Pioneers ceremony, which honored 30 women entrepreneurs with experience of exile, nine of whom are supported by SINGA in France and Switzerland.

Visa Everywhere Pioneers: 30 entrepreneurs honored

The Visa Everywhere Pioneers ceremony was a real moment of celebration and pride at the REN Summit. Thirty women entrepreneurs with lived experience of displacement were recognized across Europe for their projects and their contribution to their communities.

Each laureate receives a €2,000 grant to continue developing her business.

Among them are nine entrepreneurs supported by SINGA :

• Nawar Abazid — Nafas, Lyon
• Alaa Alchaar — Feel Well Mama, Bordeaux
• Kira Antonova — Dark Cinema Prints, Bordeaux
• Jahida Sahar Elham — Elham, Nantes
• Mariia Gavel — Gavel Atelier, Switzerland
• Rita Katoola — RES, Lyon
• Marianna Medynska — Web Market Academy, Marseille
• Tetiana Polhul — Switzerland
• Marghuba Safi — Marghoob, Paris

Discover the stories of the nine entrepreneurs from the SINGA community honored at the European level: https://wearesinga.org/en/blog/nine-singa-entrepreneurs-recognised-across-europe-as-visa-everywhere-pioneers-2026

Two days to advance entrepreneurship among people in exile

Beyond this evening event, the REN Summit allowed ecosystem stakeholders to work on the obstacles that still hold back the growth of businesses led by people in exile: access to financial resources, the long-term sustainability of support programs, and the recognition of their skills.

Funding and cooperation at the heart of the discussions

On October 15, after the opening speeches, discussions focused on access to capital and ways to increase investment in businesses founded by refugees. John Kluge Jr. (Refugee Investment Network), Valentina Primo (Startups Without Borders) and the speakers on a funding panel shared their perspectives.

In the afternoon, the Co-Creation Hubs enabled REN network members to work together on potential solutions and to identify levers for cooperation between the different organizations in the ecosystem.

Making support sustainable and changing perceptions

On 16 October, discussions focused on two further issues: the financial sustainability of support organisations and the place of refugee entrepreneurship in the public debate.

The importance of sustainable support schemes, improved access to resources and recognition of skills acquired prior to exile is crucial. By bringing together entrepreneurs, support organisations, funders and decision-makers, the REN Summit helps to foster collective responses to concrete challenges.

Indeed, gaining access to employment and economic opportunities can take time after arriving in a new country. According to the OECD, it can take refugees up to 20 years to reach an employment rate comparable to that of people born in their host country, in the European countries studied.

A summit driven by the mobilization of the ecosystem

The REN Summit 2026 was co-organized by SINGA, Changemakers Lab and Forward·Inc., with the support of TERN, Nyföretagarcentrum and Startups Without Borders.

SINGA also thanks its corporate partners: Visa, as part of the Visa Everywhere Pioneers program; The Human Safety Net (Generali Germany, France and Global); Orange France; FMO – Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank; DLA Piper; and Proparco.