11th Edition of Tunisia's Women Entrepreneurs Awards (FET) Successfully Held
The 11th edition of the Women Entrepreneurs Awards (FET) in Tunisia, organized by the magazine Managers in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and co-organized with the Delegation of the European Union, was held with great success on Friday, February 27, 2026. The flagship event rewarded eight Tunisian women entrepreneurs for their creativity, resilience, and the impact of their innovative projects.
Opening Ceremony
At the opening of the ceremony, Hédi Mechri, director of publication of L'Économiste Maghrébin, hailed the FET as a major lever for economic mobility and internationalization: "Eleven years already, and still the feeling that it's a new idea. The FET trophy is more than a consecration: it's the beginning of a new departure, the announcement of a stage of cross-border development and a new human adventure. This distinction is equivalent to a visa for increased mobility, to go further, faster, and stronger." He paid tribute to the artisans of the program and to all the institutional partners who have supported this initiative for years.
A Prize, a Trigger, and Support
Sahar Mechri, executive director of Managers and founder of the FET program, began her speech by emphasizing the collective dimension of recognition: "This prize is based on a true chain of trust, the one we share with all our partners. Without their commitment, the light we shed tonight on these careers would not exist. The rigor of the jury members gives this trophy its credibility, and I would like to salute Mr. Habib Karaouli, who has chaired the jury for ten years."
She then recalled the economic scope of the distinction: "This prize allows an entrepreneur to get back on her feet when she doubts. But it also offers real visibility: every year, dozens of partners contact us to meet our winners. This visibility has a real economic value, which can only be realized if you seize it."
Sahar Mechri insisted on the continuation of the program after the ceremony: "The prize is a trigger, but a trigger is only worth something if there is something that follows. The Women Entrepreneurs Awards do not stop tonight: six months of mentorship await you, carried by people who will offer you the most precious thing they have: their time and experience. They deserve all our thanks."
Finally, she emphasized the transnational ambition of the winners: "Because we know that your ambitions go beyond our borders, we are strengthening our export readiness program and our connections with networks in sub-Saharan Africa. Courage is contagious, and you have plenty of it. So, act, change things even faster, and plant the Tunisian flag elsewhere. Your mission is beautiful, your mission is great. Succeed in it."
The Eight Winners of 2026
The event was honored by the presence of Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, as well as several ambassadors. For this edition, Ameni Riahi won the trophy of Woman Entrepreneur of Tunisia 2026 with her project STEPS, specialized in digital transformation, advanced data, artificial intelligence, and technological consulting. She accompanies international clients, including Afreximbank, for which she is the exclusive integrator of the pan-African payment system PAPSS.
The winners of the FET 2026 trophies are:
- EU Prize - Inclusivity: Mariem Athimni, founder of Layma
- UIB Prize - Tech Impact: Ameni Riahi, founder of STEPS (specialized in digital transformation, advanced data, AI, and technological consulting; exclusive integrator of the pan-African payment system PAPSS for Afreximbank)
- BYD Prize - Sustainability: Souha Bejaoui, founder of ProVerdy
- CDC Prize - Agribusiness: Chaima Snagria, founder of Glutella
- PGH Prize - Industry: Fadoua Guerfel Damak, founder of Ecoporté
- MAE Assurances Prize - Heritage: Riheb Kadi, founder of Dukan
- Microcred Prize - Empowerment: Nesreen Kharroubi, founder of Couleur Farine de Carthage
- Wafacash Prize - Marketplaces: Sirine Essayah, founder of Sté Vegan
In addition to a check presented by the partner companies, each winner will benefit from a six-month mentorship program provided by the Club of Women Entrepreneurs of Tunisia, to strengthen their national and international influence.
