Greater international visibility, targeted support and connections with investors – that’s what the three funding programmes and competitions for female founders, which we’re introducing in this article and for which applications are now open, promise to deliver.
News
June 16, 2026
3 international funding programmes and competitions for female founders
© Women TechEU
Women TechEU
Women TechEU is a two-year, EU-funded project that supports 160 deep tech startups with a total of 12 million euros. The key requirement is that at least one woman holds a leadership position and is also a co-founder. Women should hold at least 25% of the shares in the company. Furthermore, it must be at least six months old and have received less than 1 million euros in funding to date. The Women TechEU application process consists of two phases. Applicants must first demonstrate that they meet the programme’s eligibility criteria. Eligible female founders are then invited to submit a full application. The first phase of this process ends on 13 July.
© Hannah Busing
SCALE’HER
The SCALE’HER accelerator is specifically aimed at female founders in the deep tech sector as well. It offers places for 60 startups and combines a six-month intensive support programme with a subsequent three-month period of targeted one-to-one mentoring, both delivered via online formats. The accelerator is funded by the European Union. To be eligible to participate as a startup, at least one woman must be part of the founding team and at least 25% of the company’s shares must be held by women. The programme culminates in a multi-stage pitch, where the winning team gains valuable contacts with six investors. The deadline for applications is 30 June.
Founder Challenge 2026 for a sustAInable Future
The Founder Challenge 2026 competition is organised by the investor network encourageventures and supported by the Mercedes-Benz Fund. Startups are eligible to enter if they have at least one woman on the founding team who holds at least 20% of the company’s shares, and a business model at the intersection of AI, social engagement and sustainable innovation. The application period closes on 30 June. On 30 September, nine finalists will be announced – three in each of the Idea, StartUp and ScaleUp categories. The final pitch will then take place on 11 November. The prizes include personalised mentoring and access to a high-calibre network of investors and business decision-makers.
