Women entrepreneurs across Europe now have a new opportunity to accelerate their deep tech ventures following the launch of the latest Women TechEU programme
With €12 million in funding, the Women TechEU programme will support 160 women-led deep tech startups between 2026 and 2028.
The Women TechEU programme officially opened for applications in June 2026 and hopes to strengthen the role of women in Europe’s innovation ecosystem while helping address long-standing barriers faced by female founders in the technology sector.
Funding and business support available
Selected startups will each receive €75,000 in non-dilutive funding, meaning founders can access financial support without giving up equity in their businesses.
In addition to funding, participants will benefit from a personalised business development programme. This includes one-to-one mentoring, specialised training, investor and corporate matchmaking opportunities, and access to a growing network of entrepreneurs, industry experts and innovation leaders.
The Women TechEU programme is designed to help women-led startups scale their businesses, attract investment and strengthen their market position in highly innovative sectors.
Women TechEU has become one of the European Union’s core programmes supporting women innovators since its original launch by the European Commission in 2021.
Since then, the initiative has supported 344 women-led companies across six cohorts, helping founders develop technologies and solutions spanning health and sustainability, artificial intelligence, and advanced engineering.
The programme transitioned to a consortium-led model in 2024 and has continued to expand. The latest edition will be managed by a consortium of 15 organisations led by Sploro, alongside key partners AwakenHub and AcrossLimits.
The previous funding cycle concluded in May 2026 after attracting nearly 3,800 applications from 43 eligible countries.
Barriers to innovation
A key part of Women TechEU is to tackle the structural challenges that continue to limit opportunities for women in deep technology sectors.
The programme focuses on increasing access to funding, networks, mentorship and business opportunities while promoting greater diversity within Europe’s innovation landscape.
Organisers believe that encouraging a wider range of entrepreneurs to participate in deep tech development can strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and help create globally impactful companies.
Evidence from previous programme participants suggests strong outcomes. Data from three Women TechEU cohorts shows participating startups collectively secured more than €53.8 million in private investment within a year of receiving support, representing a significant return on public funding.
New features for the 2026-2028 programme
Several changes have been introduced to improve accessibility and effectiveness.
A new two-stage application process will separate eligibility checks from full proposal submissions. This is expected to reduce unnecessary work for applicants who may not meet programme requirements.
The initiative is also placing a stronger emphasis on regional inclusion, with 40% of the available budget reserved for companies based in designated Widening countries and regions.
Application timeline
The eligibility phase opened on 1 June 2026 and will continue until July 2027, with weekly assessment cut-off dates beginning on 30 June 2026.
The full proposal stage will open in July 2026 and feature four submission deadlines throughout the programme.
