Editor’s Note: This post was created in collaboration with and with financial support from EIT Food.
On 25 November, the Demo Day of the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme took place in the PKO Rotunda in Warsaw, an initiative that supports women entrepreneurs working to create a more sustainable and innovative food system.
Now in its sixth edition, EWA 2025 is a six-month entrepreneurial programme designed to support aspiring and early-stage female entrepreneurs across 13 countries: Albania, Estonia, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, and Ukraine.
Backed by EIT Food and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, EWA helps participants build the skills, confidence and networks needed to develop and scale their ideas. Although women play a vital role in agriculture and rural innovation, their work often goes underrecognised. The programme aims to address this by offering practical support, tailored training and access to a long-lasting community.
Following our previous interviews with Anabel Millán Leiva, Co-founder of Cucare Diagnostics, and Nadica Desanova, Co-founder of Mimic Tech, we conclude this three-part interview series with a woman entrepreneur whose AI-powered crop-protection solution demonstrates how technology can improve farm efficiency while supporting biodiversity.
Interview with Nina Bazela, co-founder of Antyszpak
Can you start by sharing the inspiration behind Antyszpak and how your journey into creating an intelligent, AI-driven crop-protection system began?
The inspiration for Antyszpak came from the real, practical needs of orchard owners. While my team and I were working on a different technological project for agriculture, we had the chance to speak with these farmers who admitted they had no efficient methods for protecting their crops from birds. They specifically complained about the traditional devices commonly used today – like cannons that emit loud 120 dB bangs every few minutes -which aren’t very effective and end up disturbing the entire neighbourhood.
They challenged us, asking, “Couldn’t you come up with something different, more efficient and less disruptive?” We started brainstorming and realised we could use lasers, which cause a natural fear response in birds. From there, we developed our solution: a robotic turret that detects birds in camera images using visual detection algorithms and tracks them with a laser beam until they leave the field.
What motivated you to focus on AI-powered bird deterrence, and how do you believe this technology contributes to a more sustainable and biodiverse agricultural system?
What really motivated us was the desire to create a solution that is both smart and efficient. By using AI, Antyszpak only activates the laser when a bird is actually detected in the camera images. This approach significantly increases effectiveness while lowering energy consumption and prolonging the life of the laser.
Looking ahead, we plan to develop a bird classification algorithm so that we can eventually scare away only the pest birds while leaving protected and beneficial species completely undisturbed.
I believe this technology is a major step forward for sustainability because it allows those beneficial birds to stay in the orchard and eat insects, which naturally reduces the need for harmful pesticides and leads to healthier soil. It’s also a much more humane and non-invasive alternative to methods like protective nets, which can accidentally harm or kill birds.
Beyond the environment, there’s a real social and economic benefit too; our system is silent, so it eliminates the noise pollution that often causes conflicts between farmers and their neighbours.
Antyszpak uses a robotic turret that can safely deter birds. Can you walk us through how this system works and what makes your approach unique compared to traditional crop-protection methods?
Our solution detects birds in camera images using visual detection algorithms and then tracks them with a laser beam until they leave the field. Birds are naturally scared of laser light and fly away when they see it nearby.
There are already solutions on the market that use laser light for bird deterrance but they move the laser ‘blindly’ through the field, according to a pre-programmed path. But birds are clever; they learn these patterns and simply feed in the parts of the field that aren’t being swept at that moment.
Our AI-based, targeted solution not only increases effectiveness, but also lowers the energy consumption and prolongs laser lifetime thanks to turning the laser on only when a bird is detected. In the future, thanks to the development of a bird classification algorithm, we will be able to scare away only pest birds, leaving the protected birds undisturbed.
Currently, many farmers still rely on traditional methods like visual or sound deterrents, protective nets, or hiring a falconer. However, those methods are either ineffective (because birds quickly get used to visual and sound deterrents), or they are too costly and inaccessible for smaller orchards.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in developing Antyszpak, both on the technical and market sides, and how did you overcome them?
Like any startup founded by young entrepreneurs, our biggest initial challenge was definitely the lack of funding. We had to develop both the business and the technology part-time while keeping our ‘normal’ day jobs.
On the technical side, we were surprised by the amount of time and dedication we had to put in performing initial field tests. As engineers, we were a bit perplexed at first because some days we’d travel to a test location only to find no birds there, even if there had been hundreds the day before. We had to consult with ornithologists to learn how to maximise our chances for successful tests and, importantly, how to avoid scaring the birds away ourselves just by being present in the field.
On the market side, however, we were actually surprised by the high level of interest from farmers. They really lack efficient and affordable solutions for bird deterrence and have been very willing to try out innovative ideas like ours that provide effective protection at a reasonable price.
When did you first hear about the EWA programme, and what motivated you to participate?
I first heard about the EWA programme while we were in the middle of developing Antyszpak and looking for potential sources of funding. I had the chance to speak with Małgorzata Druciarek from EIT, who recommended the initiative to me.
My motivation to join was really based on my past experiences; I’ve had nothing but great experiences with programmes that support women in technology and connect us so we can do amazing things together. Because of that, I was sure that participating in EWA was going to be worth it.
How did the mentorship and training during the EWA programme influence the development of Antyszpak? What would you identify as the most significant lessons you learned?
Participating in the EWA programme has been a really valuable experience for me as a founder. One of the most practical benefits was the opportunity to work closely with my mentor, Monika Borowiecka. Our collaboration allowed me to refine our market strategy and business model, which was a necessary step for our growth.
The training also focused on several key competencies that are essential for any startup. I’ve been able to improve how I pitch and present the project professionally, and I’ve gained a more structured approach to analysing the market, understanding the competition, and planning for international expansion.
Beyond the formal training, the programme provided access to the EIT Food ecosystem. I’ve established contacts and even started direct collaborations with two other participants- innovative farmers with a strong media presence. This partnership has significant potential for Antyszpak from both a business and marketing perspective. It really reinforced the idea that connecting with other professionals in the AgriTech space is one of the most important things a founder can do.
Sustainability and safety are core principles of Antyszpak. How do you ensure that your solution protects crops while remaining safe for both birds and people?
Safety is something we take very seriously. First and foremost, as with any project involving lasers, it is crucial to maintain strict safety measures. We ensure – at both the hardware and software levels – that the laser beam never surpasses the fixed borders of the field or orchard.
We also provide suitable warning signs and instruct the owners that no one should enter the orchard while the laser is in operation. Furthermore, the system is mounted high up and shines the laser downward toward the trees and the ground, never up toward the sky.
Regarding the birds, we’ve designed the system to be humane. Because of our bird detection capabilities, we point the laser next to the bird rather than directly at it, which minimises any risk classification algorithm to ensure we only deter harmful species while leaving protected birds in peace. We also want to develop a human-detection algorithm to add an extra layer of safety, making sure that even if someone intrudes into the orchard, their eyesight won’t be at any risk.
How do you see AI-powered precision tools like Antyszpak shaping the future of agriculture, particularly in the context of reducing losses, improving biodiversity and supporting farmers?
I see AI-powered tools as a fundamental shift toward more sustainable and economically stable farming. From an economic perspective, our goal is to directly increase yields by protecting crops from destruction, which translates into higher income – especially for small and medium-sized farmers. It’s also about cost and time efficiency; because our solution is less labour-intensive than installing nets or hiring falconers, it reduces the overall financial and time burden on the farmer.
Environmentally, the precision of AI allows us to be much more selective. By deterring only harmful pests, we will leave beneficial, insect-eating birds in peace, which naturally reduces the need for chemical pesticides. This contributes to healthier soil, better public health, and greater biodiversity since we eliminate the physical risks posed by protective nets
To conclude, what advice would you offer to other women entrepreneurs interested in starting their own entrepreneurial journey in agrifood technology?
My main piece of advice is: network. You need to get out there to agrifood events and meet motivated, experienced people who can help validate your ideas and warn you about potential risks. It is equally important to talk to your clients directly. Try to learn what their actual needs are before you start pitching your ‘great idea’ and trying to convince them it’s exactly what they need.
And, of course, I would highly recommend joining programmes like EWA. It is a fantastic way to meet other inspiring founders and find a community where you can support each other throughout this journey.
More on the programme
As part of EWA 2025, Nina joined a growing #EWAProgramme community of more than 600 alumnae across Europe. This network continues to support and unlock the potential of early-stage female founders well beyond the duration of the programme.
She also had the opportunity to pitch her idea at the Next Bite Satellite event, Accelerating Innovation Through Women Leadership, held on 4 December in Warsaw. The event brought together nearly 350 innovators, founders, and investors to rethink the future of food and highlight women-led innovation across the agrifood ecosystem.
Registration for EWA 2026 opens soon! Stay tuned and help build a future of food powered by women. More information is available here
About EIT Food
EIT Food is the world’s largest and most dynamic food innovation community. Backed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, it works across the food value chain to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship, equipping changemakers with the skills, tools, and support they need to reshape the future of food.
EIT Food is one of nine innovation communities established by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body set up in 2008 to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.
Learn more at EIT Food or follow EIT Food on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
