ENISA Emprendedoras Digitales

Emprendedoras Digitales is a financing programme run by ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación, S.A.), a public entity under Spain's Ministry of Industry and Tourism. Launched in 2021 with €51 million from Spain's Recovery and Resilience Plan (EU NextGen funds), the programme offers participative loans of €25,000–€1.5 million to companies led or majority-owned by women, focused on digital and innovative business projects.

About the initiative and progress made so far

The programme directly addressed the persistent underrepresentation of women in Spanish digital entrepreneurship: only around 20% of startups in Spain are led by women, and the figure is lower still in high-tech and digital sectors. By removing collateral requirements and applying gender-sensitive eligibility criteria, the initiative tackled structural financial barriers rather than symptoms.

By early 2024, over 240 women-led projects had been funded, exceeding Spain's Recovery Plan Milestone 195 (a target of 200 projects) ahead of schedule. The programme mobilised over €50 million in public financing and supported ventures in fintech, e-commerce, healthtech and AI, building a visible and connected ecosystem of female digital entrepreneurs.

The model is directly transferable to other EU Member States with access to national recovery or cohesion fund frameworks, and is relevant for public innovation agencies, regional governments, and policymakers working to combine economic recovery with gender inclusion.

Why is this a good practice?

Emprendedoras Digitales is a good practice because it addresses a structural gender gap in access to finance by creating targeted, accessible funding for women-led digital businesses. Its no-collateral participative loan model removes a major barrier that often limits women’s entrepreneurial opportunities, while its focus on innovation ensures economic competitiveness. The programme has already demonstrated strong results, exceeding its funding targets ahead of schedule and supporting over 240 projects across strategic digital sectors. By combining gender inclusion, digital transformation and public investment, it offers a practical and scalable model that other EU Member States can adapt to strengthen both equality and economic resilience.