Women TechEU launches with €12 million in equity-free grants for women founders in deep tech

The second edition of Women TechEU, an EU-funded project supporting women leading deep tech startup companies from Europe has been launched and opened its first call for applications. The project will be investing €12 million in equity-free grants, which will support  160 women-led deep tech companies.

The project launched during the European Innovation Council (EIC) Summit held during R&I week Brussels between 18 and 22nd March. Several prominent  attendees visited the project’s stand, including the EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova.

During the opening ceremony of R&I week, Commissioner Ivanova said, “This week we launch a new Women TechEU call supporting early stage deep tech startups founded and led by women. With a commitment of €15 million over 2 years, Women TechEU will provide significant support to women entrepreneurs.”

Following the summit, the consortium behind Women TechEU held a project kick-off meeting in Brussels.

Women TechEU was initially launched as an initiative by the EU Commission in 2021 which delivered coaching, mentoring and targeted funding to women founders. Since its initial launch a total of 183 startups have received support. The current edition of Women TechEU is the first to be managed by an external consortium.

Within the next two years, the consortium will launch a total of four calls for applications, with the first one having been launched on 18th March. Applicant startups will undergo a rigorous evaluation, from which a total of 160 will be selected to receive €75,000 in non-dilutive grants as well as a personalised business development programme including mentoring, coaching and training in collaboration also with the Business Acceleration Services of the EIC.

“We’re expecting to receive a high number of promising applications. During the EIC Summit we spoke with a significant number of potential founders who expressed interest in applying for the scheme. Unfortunately only a miniscule fraction of venture capital invested in deep tech goes toward women founders and it shows. We hope to elevate a strong cohort of women founders and make their ideas and innovations heard,’’ commented Angele Giuliano from AcrossLimits, who is leading the WorkPackage on Dissemination

Prospective applicant startups have until 20th May to apply for the first call which can be done through here.

The Women TechEU consortium is made up of 11 partners from 8 countries. It is led by EIT Manufacturing and the partners are; Sploro, AwakenHub, AcrossLimits, European Business Angels Network (EBAN), Finance Innovation, Asociación Women Angels For STEAM (WA4STEAM), Association of Organisations of Mediterranean Businesswomen (AFAEMME), EIT Food South S.L., Asociacion EIT Health Spain and EIT Climate-KIC.