Women TechEU – Third Open Call | European Digital Skills & Jobs Platform

The Women Tech EU project supports women entrepreneurs leading deep tech start-ups in Europe. The third open call, with submissions open until 17 March 2025, will select 40 women-led early-stage deep tech start-ups contributing to green, digital, and social transitions aligned with European objectives.

Eligible participants from the EU and Horizon Europe-associated countries can receive a EUR 75,000 grant and access a customised business development programme. This programme includes, e.g., mentoring, investor outreach, skills training, and corporate access. Participants will select their top three preferred services upon submission.

The initiative aims to foster female leadership in deep tech innovation and contribute to Europe’s green, digital, and social transitions. The programme includes continuous support to help scale businesses and prepare participants for further funding opportunities, such as the EIC Accelerator scheme.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Early-stage deep tech start-up
Founded, or co-founded, by women holding a top management position (CEO, CTO or equivalent).
Women should hold at least 25% of the shares in the company at the time of submission.
The company must be registered and established in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country for at least six months prior to the deadline of the submission date and a maximum of eight years.
The company must be a SME according to the European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC
The SME must be at a stage before reaching a high fidelity Minimum Viable Product as well as having raised less than 1M€ in equity.
Neither the application as a whole nor any parts of it should have already benefitted from any other similar EU programme before e.g. Women TechEU initiative, EmpoWomen etc.