What is Women TechEU?

Women TechEU is a European Union initiative designed to support women-led deep-tech startups across Europe. Its aim is to help close the gender gap in deep tech entrepreneurship by giving early-stage, women-led companies a boost in funding, coaching, mentoring, and network access. The support includes non-dilutive grants (i.e. no equity taken) combined with a business development programme (mentoring, coaching, training). It is run over a multi-year period (two years, in the current iteration) via several calls for applications.

Recent & Current Calls

• The 4th open call launched 2 June 2025, with a deadline of 4 August 2025. In that call, 40 women-led deep tech startups were to be selected.

• Over past calls, Women TechEU has supported cohorts of women-led deep-tech companies, providing €75,000 each plus the accompanying support programme.

• The initiative is expected to continue beyond its current two-year span, with a fresh iteration anticipated in 2026.

Strengths and Opportunities

✅   Targeted support for women founders in deep tech — addressing structural underrepresentation and creating a more inclusive innovation ecosystem.

✅   Non-dilutive finance allows founders to retain full equity while gaining vital resources.

✅   Business acceleration & coaching helps bridge gaps in skills, investor readiness, go-to-market strategy, and networks.

✅   Signalling effect and credibility — being a Women TechEU beneficiary adds credibility and visibility, helping access further investment or partnerships.

✅   Gateway to larger EU programmes — it helps women-led companies ready themselves to participate in EIC, Horizon Europe and other deep-tech funding schemes.

✅   Cross-border integration — the consortium model and pan-European reach help promote cross-national collaboration and geographical diversity.

Risks, Challenges & Limitations

⚠️  Because it is a capped grant (€/company) and competes with many applicants, selection is very competitive.

⚠️  Some women-led startups may be at a slightly advanced stage (beyond early-stage requirements) and thus not eligible.

⚠️  The requirement for women to hold a senior role and equity stake may exclude certain team structures (e.g. where women are strong in technical co-foundership but not majority owners).

⚠️  Limited grant size — €75,000 is helpful for business development and market validation but may not fully cover technical development or scaling costs.

⚠️  Ensuring equitable geographic distribution and domain coverage is challenging — historically, more mature ecosystems (e.g. in Western or Northern Europe) may be overrepresented.

⚠️  Ensuring sustained follow-up support and transition into larger funding programmes is critical.

How It Fits into the EU Innovation Landscape

 – Women TechEU is part of the European Innovation Ecosystems Work Programme, aligned with Horizon Europe and the EIC.

– It complements other EU initiatives aimed at inclusion, diversity, and supporting underrepresented founders.

– Because its beneficiaries are women-led startups in deep tech, it strengthens the pipeline into EIC Accelerator, Transition, and other high-impact innovation instruments.

– By integrating business support, mentoring, and coaching, it helps address non-financial barriers to scaling (networks, investor readiness, skill gaps).

If you have any questions relating to WomenTech Eu or wish to discuss how Grant Funding might benefit your business, please get in touch with the ABGi Team and a representative will get back to you to discuss your unique needs and explain how we can assist.