Women TechEU – Fourth Open Call: Empowering Women-Led Deep Tech Startups

The Women TechEU initiative, funded by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) under Horizon Europe, has launched its Fourth Open Call to support women-led deep tech startups across Europe.

What does this call offer?

• Non-dilutive funding of €75,000 per startup.

• Tailored business acceleration program, including mentoring, coaching, investor readiness, leadership and internationalization training, sales strategies, and sustainability support — all delivered through the EIC Business Acceleration Services.

Who is eligible?

Early-stage deep tech startups led by women holding key roles (CEO, CTO, or equivalent), fulfilling the following criteria:

• Minimum 25% female ownership.

• Based in the EU or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

• At early development stage (pre-advanced MVP).

• Raised less than €1 million in funding to date.

Timeline

• The Third Open Call closed on 17 March 2025.

• The Fourth Open Call will open soon — stay tuned to the official Women TechEU portal for exact launch dates.

Why apply?

• Equity-free funding: direct financial support without diluting ownership.

• Bespoke business development to help scale and strengthen your venture.

• Visibility and networking: access to European mentors, investors, and partners.

• Stepping stone to the EIC Accelerator: positioning your startup for further EU funding opportunities.

Next steps

• Review eligibility criteria and start preparing your documentation.

• Build a strong pitch highlighting your technology and growth potential.

• Register on the EISMEA portal and subscribe to Horizon Europe updates to get notified as soon as the new call opens.

If you need support reviewing your eligibility, preparing your pitch deck, or structuring your application to boost success chances, feel free to reach out 💡.