Three Winners of She's Next, Empowered by Visa Pitch Contest Announced in Armenia
16.03.2026 | 13:14 Home / News / Visa Voice /
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and with the support of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), as an operational partner, has successfully concluded the third wave of She’s Next, Empowered by Visa Pitch Contest in Armenia, announcing three winners among the top 10 participants.
This year, for the first time in Armenia, the program finalists presented their businesses in the Elevator Pitch format, delivering concise and compelling presentations to an independent jury of leading industry professionals. The jury determined the winners, with 1st place winner receiving a monetary grant of 2,000,000 AMD, the 2nd place winner 1,800,000 AMD, and the 3rd place winner 1,600,000 AMD.
The prize-winning business owners are as follows:
1. 1st place winner — Sona Qanqanyan — Enkishadow
2. 2nd place winner — Armine Qamalyan — MarkPack
3. 3rd place winner — Mariam Yeghiazaryan — Paytarar Wooden
Prior to the pitch contest day, the selected top 10 participants underwent a comprehensive training program guided by field experts in brand marketing, finance, and pitching techniques.
“Visa is proud to advance female entrepreneurship in Armenia through our global She's Next initiative. Hosting the first She’s Next Pitch Contest in Armenia is a significant milestone as we continue our mission to provide women entrepreneurs with practical knowledge, mentorship, and access to a range of resources to scale their businesses. By working together with our partners, we remain committed to empowering female entrepreneurs and creating an inclusive business environment where women’s contributions are celebrated, valued, and fully supported,” said Diana Kiguradze, Visa Regional Manager for Caucasus and Moldova.
The EBRD remains a key partner of the She's Next initiative since its launch in Armenia in 2024. As part of the third wave of the project, the EBRD conducted a comprehensive training program in pitching, marketing, and finance for the selected TOP 10 finalists.
“Supporting women entrepreneurs is a key priority for the EBRD, as inclusive economies are stronger and more resilient. Through initiatives like She’s Next, we are pleased to provide women-led businesses in Armenia with practical skills and opportunities to grow. By equipping entrepreneurs with tools in finance, marketing, and pitching, we aim to help them strengthen their businesses, access new markets, and contribute to the development of a dynamic private sector in Armenia,” said Zara Ohanyan, National Program Manager, EBRD Armenia.
AGBU joined She’s Next within the third wave of the initiative as an operational partner, supporting the selection process and contributing to key organizational aspects of the program.
“For years in Armenia, the Armenian General Benevolent Union has implemented women’s empowerment programs, repeatedly showing through real examples that women have great and promising potential. This partnership became a driving force for discovering and developing the capabilities of women entrepreneurs, encouraging valuable ideas to come to life,” said Tatevik Manukyan, AGBU WE Program Manager.
She’s Next, Empowered by Visa initiative was introduced to Armenia in 2024, with the goal to empower and support local women entrepreneurs by providing access to diverse resources, including funding opportunities, to help them develop and scale their ventures.
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This year, for the first time in Armenia, the program finalists presented their businesses in the Elevator Pitch format, delivering concise and compelling presentations to an independent jury of leading industry professionals. The jury determined the winners, with 1st place winner receiving a monetary grant of 2,000,000 AMD, the 2nd place winner 1,800,000 AMD, and the 3rd place winner 1,600,000 AMD.
The prize-winning business owners are as follows:
1. 1st place winner — Sona Qanqanyan — Enkishadow
2. 2nd place winner — Armine Qamalyan — MarkPack
3. 3rd place winner — Mariam Yeghiazaryan — Paytarar Wooden
Prior to the pitch contest day, the selected top 10 participants underwent a comprehensive training program guided by field experts in brand marketing, finance, and pitching techniques.
“Visa is proud to advance female entrepreneurship in Armenia through our global She's Next initiative. Hosting the first She’s Next Pitch Contest in Armenia is a significant milestone as we continue our mission to provide women entrepreneurs with practical knowledge, mentorship, and access to a range of resources to scale their businesses. By working together with our partners, we remain committed to empowering female entrepreneurs and creating an inclusive business environment where women’s contributions are celebrated, valued, and fully supported,” said Diana Kiguradze, Visa Regional Manager for Caucasus and Moldova.
The EBRD remains a key partner of the She's Next initiative since its launch in Armenia in 2024. As part of the third wave of the project, the EBRD conducted a comprehensive training program in pitching, marketing, and finance for the selected TOP 10 finalists.
“Supporting women entrepreneurs is a key priority for the EBRD, as inclusive economies are stronger and more resilient. Through initiatives like She’s Next, we are pleased to provide women-led businesses in Armenia with practical skills and opportunities to grow. By equipping entrepreneurs with tools in finance, marketing, and pitching, we aim to help them strengthen their businesses, access new markets, and contribute to the development of a dynamic private sector in Armenia,” said Zara Ohanyan, National Program Manager, EBRD Armenia.
AGBU joined She’s Next within the third wave of the initiative as an operational partner, supporting the selection process and contributing to key organizational aspects of the program.
“For years in Armenia, the Armenian General Benevolent Union has implemented women’s empowerment programs, repeatedly showing through real examples that women have great and promising potential. This partnership became a driving force for discovering and developing the capabilities of women entrepreneurs, encouraging valuable ideas to come to life,” said Tatevik Manukyan, AGBU WE Program Manager.
She’s Next, Empowered by Visa initiative was introduced to Armenia in 2024, with the goal to empower and support local women entrepreneurs by providing access to diverse resources, including funding opportunities, to help them develop and scale their ventures.
