Women TechEU

Activity Leader

“At Women TechEU, we believe in the power of community and connection. Our mission goes beyond funding—we’re building a supportive network for Women TechEU awardees, to exchange knowledge, experiences, and support.“  

Teresa Hernandez

Women TechEU Lead

EIT Manufacturing

About the project

Women TechEU aims to empower and support women entrepreneurs in the deep tech landscape by providing financial support and mentoring services. With a budget of EUR 12 million in equity-free grants, the project will financially support 160 women-led deep tech companies. Each beneficiary will receive a EUR 75 000 grant (equity-free) as well as a personalised business development programme which includes mentoring, coaching and targeted training among other options. 

Challenges

Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in our economies and societies. Unfortunately, women remain substantially under-represented as entrepreneurs and women-led companies are a rarity in Europe.  

In 2021, companies founded solely by women garnered just 1.1% of the total capital invested in venture-backed startups in Europe. There is a clear lack of VC funding to support women-led startups. 

Solutions

The Women TechEU project is born to overcome the obstacles of digital and deep tech innovations led by women and to create a more gender-balanced entrepreneurship ecosystem within the deep tech domain. 

Expected results

The expected short-term results of the project are to select the most promising 160 women-led deep tech startups to receive funding and support. These women will become part of a supportive community and have the option to choose from a portfolio of business support services.  

The project also aims to reach more than 15,000 relevant startups and receive at least 1,500 applications over the two-year duration of the project. 

Participants

Main results

The expected short-term results of the project are to select the most promising 160 women-led deep tech startups to receive funding and support. So far, 80 startups have been selected after the successful run of two open calls. Each call received over 820 applications, indicating the great interest and need for this project. Currently, a third call is open for applications. 

These women then become part of a supportive community and have the option to choose from a portfolio of business support services.   

The project also aims to reach more than 15 000 relevant startups and receive at least 1 500 applications over the two-year duration of the project. 

Social impact

The Women TechEU project exists to support women to overcome obstacles to greater success in digital and deep tech innovation and to create a more gender-balanced entrepreneurship ecosystem within the deep tech domain