The Women TechEU program is a prestigious, EU-funded, two-year initiative under the European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) program, managed by EISMEA. Its mission is to promote gender balance and foster innovation in Europe’s deep tech ecosystem. Through four competitive calls, the program will support 160 women-led startups with €75,000 non-dilutive grants and a tailored 6-month business development program, including mentoring, coaching, and customized support.
Call Timeline
– Opening Date: June 2, 2025
– Application Deadline: August 4, 2025, 17:00 CEST
– Evaluation Period: August–September 2025
– Program Duration: October 2025–March 2026
Funding and Support Details
– Grant Amount: €75,000 (100% funding, non-dilutive)
– Total Budget: €3 million (up to 40 startups per call)
– Payment Schedule:
– €37,500 after Month 1 (upon defining Key Performance Indicators – KPIs)
– €30,000 after Month 3 (upon achieving 40% of KPIs)
– €7,500 upon program completion
– Custom Business Development Services Include:
1. Monthly mentoring sessions
2. Investor outreach and pitch preparation
3. Export readiness and investment readiness checks
4. Soft skills training
5. Sales strategy and execution planning
6. Environmental impact assessment
7. Access to corporate networks
Eligibility Criteria
1. Organizational Requirements:
– The company must be a Small or Medium Enterprise (SME) registered in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country (e.g., the UK).
– The company must have been registered at least 6 months prior to the call (before April 4, 2025) and no more than 8 years old.
2. Focus on Deep Tech:
– The solution must be rooted in scientific/technological innovation, with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 3 and 6.
– Relevant fields include AI/ML, biotechnology, clean tech, aerospace, advanced materials, quantum technologies, photonics, and more.
3. Women Leadership and Ownership:
– The startup must be founded or co-founded by a woman legally recognized as such.
– The woman must hold a key leadership role (e.g., CEO, CTO, CSO, CFO, COO).
– She must own at least 25% of the company’s shares.
4. Stage and Funding Status:
– The startup must be in an early stage with TRL <7 (pre-high-fidelity MVP).
– The company must have raised less than €1 million in equity funding.
– The project must not have been previously funded under Women TechEU or similar EU schemes.
5. Other Conditions:
– Applications must be submitted by the woman founder herself.
– Submissions must be in English or another official EU language (pitch videos in English only).
– Applications must be made exclusively through the Sploro platform, adhering to the provided structure and templates.
How to Apply
1. Register on the Sploro platform before August 4, 2025.
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