DÜSSELDORF – Henkel, a leading force in innovation, is set to host its second Xathon, a female ideation hackathon, as part of its commitment to advocate female entrepreneurship and bolster gender diversity in the startup and tech arena. Scheduled for November 20-22, 2020, the event, organized by Henkel dx Ventures, will gather 60 female tech talents to nurture their entrepreneurial spirit and ideas. Partnering with “Global Digital Women,” the application process for interested participants is open until October 30 at www.henkel.com/digital-business/xathon-2020, according to a press release published on EuropaWire.

The Xathon aims to empower female entrepreneurship, foster innovation, and enhance gender diversity in the startup and tech landscape. This year’s edition will host 60 talented women, supported by accelerateHer, SAP.iO, and MVP Factory. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be held virtually.

Henkel’s Sylvie Nicol, Executive Vice President Human Resources and Infrastructure Services, highlighted the importance of gender diversity, emphasizing Henkel’s commitment to driving female empowerment and promoting gender equality. Michael Nilles, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Henkel, stressed the significance of women in tech, emphasizing the role of diverse teams in driving innovation.

Tijen Onaran, CEO and Founder of Global Digital Women, underscored the pivotal role of women in digitization, emphasizing the need for visibility and networking opportunities to foster innovation. At the Xathon, participants will tackle challenges across various sectors, including D2C, Artificial Intelligence, FemTech, social impact, and sustainable innovation.

Participants will vie for prizes, including a one-week Bootcamp with MVP Factory and a speaking slot at an accelerateHER London event. Applications are open to all aspiring female founders until October 30, with selections based on creativity, innovation, scalability, and entrepreneurial skills.