The Sociedad para el Desarrollo de Cantabria (Association for the Regional Development of Cantabria, SODERCAN) presents the awards of the first edition of the Laboratorio Fémina Cantabria Mujer Emprendedora program that highlights the talent and innovation of Cantabrian female entrepreneurs such as Meri and Ana Ingelmo, professors at the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO) and co-founders of the production company Las Hermanísimas.
The event, held at the Gran Casino Sardinero, was attended by the Minister of Industry, Employment, Innovation, and Trade of the Government of Cantabria, Eduardo Arasti, who emphasized the importance of supporting and raising the profile of female entrepreneurship in the region. In this sense, Arasti highlighted the commitment of programs such as Laboratorio Fémina in the promotion of innovative projects led by women and announced the next edition of the program for 2025.
The Parliament president, María José González Revuelta, presented the main awards of the contest, which went to Elena Ansótegui for her project Wypo, Isabel Muñoz for REmNature, and Lucía Sierra for Pura Vena. In addition to the main awards, seven runners-up prizes were awarded to outstanding entrepreneurs, including Meri and Ana Ingelmo, recognized for their work at the helm of Las Hermanísimas, a production company that provides comprehensive services to film companies in northern Spain.
The Laboratorio Fémina program, directed by Teresa Iglesias, has been a key initiative to strengthen female entrepreneurship in Cantabria. Through three phases, it has provided training, advice, and mentoring to women with innovative ideas, thus contributing to reduce the gender gap in the entrepreneurial and technological fields. Among the mentors were Nacho Irastorza, mentor at CISE and UNEATLANTICO and CFO of Alsaplas; and Cristina Mazas, Director of the Occupational Observatory of UNEATLANTICO, professor and PhD in Economics.
In the words of the CEO of SODERCAN, Ángel Pedraja, Laboratorio Fémina seeks to eliminate the barriers that hinder women’s access to innovative entrepreneurship, promoting a more egalitarian and entrepreneurial Cantabria. This program is part of the European FÉMINA project, which promotes public policies to encourage the participation of women in innovative sectors and companies.
Las Hermanísimas
This innovative company offers a comprehensive production service to other national or international production companies wishing to shoot in the region, whether film, fiction, advertising, documentaries, photo shoots, or television content.
Its wide range of services covers everything from location scouting to permit management, casting, technical equipment supply, camera and lighting equipment rental, accommodations, suppliers, and much more.