Top 20 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025
The entrepreneurial landscape in Europe is increasingly supportive of female entrepreneurs, offering numerous grants designed to empower women-led businesses. As we venture into 2025, here are the Top 20 grants for female entrepreneurs in Europe, each designed to provide essential funding, mentorship, and support, ensuring that women can thrive in the business environment.
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1. European Prize for Women Innovators (EIC & EIT)
Description: This prestigious award recognizes women entrepreneurs for their groundbreaking innovations that positively impact lives and the planet.
Funding: Prizes of €100,000, €70,000, and €50,000 for the top three applicants.
Eligibility: Women founders or co-founders of a company registered in the EU or associated countries, with at least two years of registration before the application year.
Application Deadline: September 25, 2024 (for the 2025 prize).
2. EmpoWomen Grants
Description: A funding initiative for women-led startups in emerging European countries focusing on deep-tech innovations.
Funding: €45,000 per startup.
Eligibility: Women-led startups in emerging European countries working on deep-tech innovations.
Deadline: Check the EmpoWomen website for specific deadlines.
3. EIC Accelerator
Description: This initiative offers grants for innovative startups and SMEs, particularly those with high-risk, high-potential ventures.
Funding: Up to €2.5 million in grants for women-led innovative startups.
Eligibility: Startups and SMEs with products that can build new markets or disrupt existing ones.
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4. Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders
Description: A 10-week accelerator program specifically for women-led AI startups in Europe and Israel.
Funding: Includes mentorship, technical support, and workshops.
Eligibility: Women-led AI startups at the Seed to Series A stage.
Application Deadline: January 24, 2025.
5. Cartier Women's Initiative Award
Description: A global award for women-led, for-profit businesses with a strong social or environmental impact.
Funding: Grants of $100,000 for first-place winners and $30,000 for second and third place in each region.
Eligibility: Open to women entrepreneurs worldwide, including Europe.
Deadline: Check the official website for specific deadlines.
6. Women Who Tech Startup Grants
Description: Provides equity-free grants to women-led technology startups.
Funding: $15,000 equity-free grants.
Eligibility: Women-led startups in technology.
7. The Woman Entrepreneur Programme
Description: Aims to support women entrepreneurs by addressing challenges like work-life balance.
Funding: Mini grants up to €40,000 covering up to 95% of project expenses.
Eligibility: Women who are main associates, shareholders, or administrators of a company.
Additional Info: Funding can cover various business needs from technological equipment to digital training.
8. WOMEN-UP Project
Description: Co-financed by the EU and Turkey, this project supports female employees and entrepreneurs.
Funding: Part of a €9.9 million grant from the EU.
Beneficiaries: Aims to support 2,100 female employees and entrepreneurs in Turkey.
9. EU Support for Women in Business (Eastern Partnership Countries)
Description: EU-funded initiatives aimed at women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Focus: Provides targeted opportunities for women entrepreneurs in these regions.
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10. AIM-HI Women's Venture Competition 2025
Description: A competition for women-led oncology startups offering funding opportunities.
Deadline: March 15, 2025.
Eligibility: Women-led oncology startups are eligible to apply.
11. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Description: Provides funding to women entrepreneurs across various sectors, aimed at boosting regional economies.
Funding: Varies by region and project scope.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs in eligible EU regions.
12. Startup Europe Women's Network (SEWN)
Description: A support initiative aimed at increasing the number of women entrepreneurs in the tech industry.
Funding: Grant opportunities and networking resources.
Eligibility: Women-led startups in tech across Europe.
13. Women in Business Programme (WIBP)
Description: Supports women entrepreneurs through grants and mentorship training.
Funding: Up to €25,000 per project.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs looking to expand their business.
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14. SheMeansBusiness Grants
Description: An initiative from Facebook aimed at helping women entrepreneurs thrive by offering access to mentorship and funding opportunities.
Funding: Varies by project and initiative.
Eligibility: Women-led businesses operating on Facebook's platform.
15. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Grants
Description: Aimed at enhancing women-owned businesses through training and financial support.
Funding: Various grant opportunities available for women entrepreneurs.
Eligibility: Women-owned businesses across various sectors.
16. Innovation Grants for Women Entrepreneurs
Description: Funded by local governments to support innovative women-led enterprises.
Funding: Up to €50,000 depending on project needs.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas or products.
17. The F Women’s Empowerment Fund
Description: Focuses on empowering women through financial assistance and training.
Funding: Grants available up to €15,000 per project.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds.
18. Women in Tech Exchange (WITE)
Description: Provides support and mentoring for women in technology through grants and resources.
Funding: Grants of up to €20,000 for technology-based projects.
Eligibility: Women-led tech startups in Europe.
19. TechWomen Grant Program
Description: A program aimed at empowering women in tech through funding and mentorship.
Funding: Grants available based on project applications.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs in technology sectors.
20. Global Fund for Women
Description: Provides funds to initiatives that empower women and girls around the world.
Funding: Varies based on project requirements.
Eligibility: Women-led initiatives addressing gender discrimination.
These grants represent significant opportunities for female entrepreneurs across Europe, helping to foster innovation, inclusivity, and a thriving business environment. Verify eligibility criteria and deadlines on the respective official websites before applying.
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FAQ
Q: What is the European Prize for Women Innovators?
A: The European Prize for Women Innovators recognizes women entrepreneurs in Europe for their innovative projects that positively impact society and the environment. Find out more about the prize.
Q: How much funding can women-led startups receive through EmpoWomen Grants?
A: Women-led startups in emerging European countries can receive €45,000 in funding focused on deep-tech innovations. Learn more about EmpoWomen Grants.
Q: What is the maximum grant amount available through the EIC Accelerator?
A: The EIC Accelerator offers grants of up to €2.5 million for women-led innovative startups. Discover more about the EIC Accelerator.
Q: Who can apply for the Google for Startups Accelerator for Women Founders?
A: This program is designed for women-led AI startups at the Seed to Series A stage, based in Europe and Israel. Check out details about the Google for Startups Accelerator.
Q: What does the Cartier Women's Initiative Award offer?
A: The Cartier Women's Initiative Award provides grants of $100,000 for first-place winners and $30,000 for second and third-place winners for women-led businesses with social or environmental impact. Explore the Cartier Women's Initiative Award.
Q: What is the funding amount available through Women Who Tech Startup Grants?
A: Women Who Tech provides $15,000 as equity-free grants to eligible startups. Learn more about Women Who Tech Startup Grants.
Q: How does The Woman Entrepreneur Programme support women-led businesses?
A: The program offers mini grants of up to €40,000 to women-led businesses for various project expenses, covering up to 95% of eligible costs. Find out more about The Woman Entrepreneur Programme.
Q: What does the WOMEN-UP Project aim to achieve?
A: This project supports female employees and entrepreneurs, with a focus on assisting 2,100 women in specific provinces in Turkey, funded through a €9.9 million EU grant. Discover more about the WOMEN-UP Project.
Q: What initiatives does the EU fund for women in business in Eastern Partnership countries?
A: The EU funds projects aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, focusing on economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. Learn more about EU support for women in business.
Q: When is the deadline for the AIM-HI Women's Venture Competition 2025?
A: The deadline for applications to the AIM-HI Women's Venture Competition 2025 is March 15, 2025, for women-led oncology startups. Check out more details on AIM-HI Women's Venture Competition.
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.
