Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for Women TechEU funding, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The lead applicant must be a woman who is a founder or co-founder of the startup.
• The woman founder or co-founder must hold a top management position (CEO, CTO, CSO, or equivalent).
• Women must own at least 25% of the company’s shares at the time of application.
• The startup must be legally registered in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country (including the UK, Norway, and others).
• The company must be registered for at least six months but not more than eight years from the date of submission.
• The startup must be a Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) as defined by the European Commission and must operate in the deep tech sector.
• The company must not have raised more than €1 million in equity funding (grants do not count toward this limit).
• The startup must not have received prior funding from similar EU programs such as Women TechEU or EmpoWomen.
• The company must be at an early stage of development, specifically before reaching Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7.

Application Process

Applying for Women TechEU funding requires the submission of a comprehensive application, including:

• Company details (legal name, registration number, VAT number, and ownership structure).
• Eligibility self-declaration, confirming compliance with all requirements.
• A 3-minute pitch video, featuring the woman founder and outlining the company’s mission, technology, and growth plans.
• An investor pitch deck, explaining the business strategy, market potential, and financial model.
• Financial projections and funding history to demonstrate financial sustainability.
• A technology roadmap, describing how the company’s innovation will create market impact.
• An ethics self-assessment, ensuring compliance with EU regulations.
• CVs of the woman founder and team members, which must be in Europass format.

All application materials must be submitted in English. Applications in other languages, including videos with only subtitles, will not be accepted.

Why Apply?

Selected startups will receive €75,000 in funding along with access to a tailored business development program. The program includes:

• Mentorship with experienced women entrepreneurs to provide guidance on scaling and strategy.
• Investor outreach and pitch preparation to connect with venture capital firms and business angels.
• Export readiness assessments to support international growth.
• Sales strategy and execution coaching to refine market entry and pricing models.
• Environmental impact assessment to align business strategies with sustainability goals.
• Corporate access opportunities to connect with potential partners and customers.