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Top 10 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025

Top 10 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025

Top 10 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025

As we move into 2025, a vibrant array of funding opportunities is available for female entrepreneurs across Europe. These grants are designed to empower women-led startups and innovative projects, promoting gender equality in business and providing essential resources for growth and development. Below is a detailed list of the Top 10 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025, complete with descriptions, funding amounts, eligibility criteria, and links for more information.
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1. European Prize for Women Innovators

Description: This prestigious prize celebrates outstanding female entrepreneurs who are spearheading innovation in Europe. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
Data Points:
  • Categories:
  • EIC Women Innovators: Open to women founders and co-founders from the EU.
  • EIC Rising Innovators: For those under 35.
  • EIT Women Leadership: Focused on women linked to the EIT Community.
  • Funding Amounts:
  • EIC Women Innovators: €100,000 (1st place), €70,000 (2nd place), €50,000 (3rd place).
  • EIC Rising Innovators: €50,000 (1st place), €30,000 (2nd place), €20,000 (3rd place).
  • Eligibility: Women who are founders of innovative companies registered in the EU or Horizon Europe associated countries; Rising Innovators must be under 35.
  • Application Deadline (2024 cycle): September 25, 2024 (Expected similar in 2025).
  • Focus: Promotes innovative projects that enhance societal benefits and serve as role models.
  • Learn more about the European Prize for Women Innovators

2. Women TechEU

Description: Funded by the EU, Women TechEU is specifically aimed at supporting women-led deep tech startups in Europe, through grants and mentorship.
Data Points:
  • Funding: Up to €75,000 equity-free grants per beneficiary.
  • Number of Beneficiaries: 160 women-led deep tech companies are expected to benefit over 2 years.
  • Support Services: Business support, mentoring, and coaching via the EIC Business Accelerator Services.
  • Eligible Activities: Grants can be used for business model development, validation, and IP strategies.
  • Focus: Encourages alignment with European social, digital, and green transitions.
  • Discover more about Women TechEU
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3. The Woman Entrepreneur Programme

Description: This initiative aims to tackle specific challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, helping them achieve success.
Data Points:
  • Grant Amount: Up to €40,000 in de minimis grants.
  • Number of Businesses Supported: Aiming to assist 1,000 women-led businesses.
  • Total Budget: Approximately €40 million over 6 years.
  • Eligible Expenses: Covers technology, workspace, production locations, and vehicles.
  • Job Creation Requirement: Grants necessitate the creation and maintenance of at least two new jobs.
  • Learn more about The Woman Entrepreneur Programme

4. EIC Women Leadership Programme

Description: This program enhances skills and expands networks for women entrepreneurs and researchers supported by the EIC.
Data Points:
  • Target Audience: Women in management, aspiring leaders, and involved researchers.
  • Program Components: Includes coaching, mentoring, and networking events.
  • Eligibility: Open to EIC Beneficiaries.
  • Focus: Aims to strengthen leadership capabilities and facilitate business growth.
  • Supported by: The European Innovation Council (EIC).
  • Explore EIC Women Leadership Programme

5. EIT Women Leadership Award

Description: This award is aimed at recognizing outstanding women leaders within the EIT community for their contributions to innovation.
Data Points:
  • Funding Amounts: €50,000 (1st place), €30,000 (2nd place), €20,000 (3rd place).
  • Eligibility: Women with connections to the EIT Community.
  • Focus: Acknowledges impactful women leaders in the EIT ecosystem.
  • Part of: The broader framework of the European Prize for Women Innovators.
  • Find out more about EIT Women Leadership Award
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6. Empowering Women Innovators (European Commission Programs)

Description: The European Commission offers diverse programs designed to provide funding and support for women innovators.
Data Points:
  • Funding Opportunities: Various funding streams, accelerator services, and partnerships are available.
  • Focus: Enhances the visibility and support for women innovators and researchers across Europe.
  • Prioritization: Emphasis on women CEOs for Accelerator Interviews.
  • Initiatives Include: Women Tech EU and Women Leadership Programme as part of a larger strategy.
  • Learn more about Empowering Women Innovators

7. Empowomen Call

Description: Aimed at female entrepreneurs leading deep-tech startups, this program offers an intensive accelerator and business development track.
Data Points:
  • Funding: Grants up to €60,000 per company.
  • Program Length: 6 months.
  • Target Audience: Specifically for women in the deep tech sector.
  • Program Type: Accelerator focused on business growth and support.
  • Discover more about Empowomen Call

8. Interreg Europe

Description: This program provides funding aimed at addressing the specific challenges faced by female entrepreneurs, among other initiatives.
Data Points:
  • Support Provided: Workshops, travel costs, accommodation, and de minimis grants.
  • Focus: Aids women entrepreneurs in broadening their business reach.
  • Grants: Offers up to €40,000 in support for women-led businesses.
  • Total Budget: €40 million over 6 years allocated to various support initiatives.
  • Job Creation Requirement: Grants are contingent upon the creation of at least two new jobs.
  • Learn more about Interreg Europe

9. EIC Accelerator

Description: Targeted towards innovative startups and SMEs, this grant program offers substantial funding to eligible businesses, including many female-led initiatives.
Data Points:
  • Funding: Offers up to €2.5 million in grants, plus equity investments between €0.5 to €10 million.
  • Eligibility: Designed for startups and SMEs with disruptive innovations.
  • Application Deadlines: Rolling application process with full deadlines on March 12 and October 1, 2025.
  • Focus: Supports companies looking to create or disrupt markets.
  • Find out more about EIC Accelerator

10. EIT Digital MentorMe Program

Description: This mentoring initiative is aimed at supporting the growth of startups, particularly those led by women.
Data Points:
  • Program Type: Mentoring with experienced guides for startups.
  • Offered by: The European Institute of Innovation and Technology.
  • Focus: Encourages growth and development for participating startups.
  • Mentoring Structure: Provides access to seasoned mentors enhancing the learning curve.
  • Part of: A wider initiative to bolster startup integration in the market.
  • Learn more about EIT Digital MentorMe Program
These grants are essential resources for fostering female entrepreneurship across Europe in 2025. Each program presents unique opportunities to support women in business and facilitate their success in a competitive marketplace.
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FAQ

Q: What is the European Prize for Women Innovators?
A: The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates women entrepreneurs who drive innovation and positive change in their industries. For more details, check the official site here.
Q: How much funding does the Women TechEU program provide?
A: The Women TechEU program offers €75,000 equity-free grants to support women leading deep tech startups. Learn more about the program here.
Q: What is the Woman Entrepreneur Programme?
A: The Woman Entrepreneur Programme provides resources and up to €40,000 in grants to address challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, including the creation of new jobs. Dive deeper into the program here.
Q: What is the objective of the EIC Women Leadership Programme?
A: The EIC Women Leadership Programme aims to enhance skills and expand networks for women entrepreneurs and researchers supported by the EIC. For more information, click here.
Q: How does the EIT Women Leadership Award recognize women?
A: The EIT Women Leadership Award acknowledges outstanding women leaders in the EIT Community, offering funding amounts to the winners. Learn more here.
Q: What support does the Empowering Women Innovators program provide?
A: The Empowering Women Innovators program by the European Commission offers funding, business accelerator services, and coaching to support women entrepreneurs. Find out more here.
Q: What does the Empowomen Call program offer?
A: The Empowomen Call program provides funding up to €60,000 and a 6-month accelerator for female entrepreneurs in the deep tech sector. Explore the program here.
Q: How does Interreg Europe assist women entrepreneurs?
A: Interreg Europe supports women entrepreneurs through workshops, grants, and resources, focusing on job creation and addressing challenges they face. More information can be found here.
Q: What kind of businesses can apply for the EIC Accelerator?
A: The EIC Accelerator is available for startups and SMEs with innovative products and services, providing substantial funding opportunities. Discover more here.
Q: What does the EIT Digital MentorMe Program focus on?
A: The EIT Digital MentorMe Program is designed to provide mentoring and support for startup growth, especially among women-led initiatives.

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
2025-04-20 08:32 Top 10