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2025-05-07 02:50 Top 15

Top 15 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025

Top 15 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025

In recent years, the landscape for female entrepreneurs has been evolving positively, particularly in Europe, as governments and organizations recognize the importance of gender inclusivity in business. As we navigate 2025, several grants specifically aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs are available. Here is a comprehensive list of the Top 15 Grants for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe for 2025, including vital details about eligibility, funding amounts, and application links.
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1. European Prize for Women Innovators

Description: This prestigious award, managed by the European Innovation Council (EIC), acknowledges women entrepreneurs whose innovations have a significant impact on society and the environment.
Categories:
  • EIC Women Innovators: For founders/co-founders in the EU.
  • EIC Rising Innovators: For women under 35.
  • EIT Women Leadership Award: Linked to the EIT Community.
  • Funding Amounts:
  • Up to €100,000 for the top tier in EIC Women Innovators.
  • €50,000 for EIC Rising Innovators, with various other awards.
  • Eligibility: Must be founders/co-founders of an EU or associated country-based company for at least two years.
  • Application Deadline: September 25, 2024 (for 2025 awards).
  • Learn more about the prize

2. EIC Accelerator

Description: Aimed at startups and SMEs with innovative ideas, the EIC Accelerator supports ventures that have the potential to disrupt markets.
Funding: Up to €2.5 million in grants, €10 million in equity investments.
Conditions: Must present innovative products/services creating new market prospects.
Topics: Covers advanced technology sectors including AI and mobility.
Requirements: Proposals followed by detailed presentations and interviews.
Read more about EIC Accelerator
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3. EIC Pathfinder

Description: This grant focuses on funding early-stage projects with revolutionary technology potential.
Funding: Up to €4 million.
Conditions: Proposals must focus on breakthrough technologies.
Topics: Includes research areas like climate resilience and robotics.
Requirements: Applicants must demonstrate high-impact innovation potential.
Explore details on EIC Pathfinder

4. EIC Transition

Description: Supports innovative projects that aim to translate research results into market-ready innovations.
Funding: Up to €2.5 million.
Conditions: Aims to develop results from previous research funding.
Topics: Focus on enhancing commercial outcomes of research projects.
Requirements: Strong foundation in research and a clear commercialization path.
Learn about EIC Transition

5. EIT Urban Mobility Financial Support for Startups

Description: Targets innovative solutions to urban mobility challenges.
Funding: Up to €2 million per startup.
Conditions: Focus on urban sustainability, clean energy, and climate action.
Requirements: Open to early-stage startups in Eastern European countries.
Discover EIT Urban Mobility support

6. Women TechEU

Description: A special initiative for female-led deep-tech startups within the EU.
Funding: €75,000 in non-dilutive grants.
Support: Provides access to mentoring and business development programs.
Eligibility: Female-led deep-tech startups registered for at least six months.
Number of Companies Supported: 160 startups annually.
Visit Women TechEU

7. Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award

Description: Award aimed at women-led firms addressing challenges in health and food security.
Funding: €25,000 prize.
Geographic Focus: Global focus, including initiatives in Europe.
Requirements: Must demonstrate a sustainable business model.
Deadline: February 18, 2025.
Learn more about the award
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8. AIM-HI Women's Venture Competition

Description: A competition focused on women-led firms in the oncology sector.
Eligibility: Companies led by women in oncology.
Deadline: March 15, 2025.
Learn about the competition

9. Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment

Description: Award given to initiatives that empower women and promote gender equality.
Focus: Women's empowerment projects.
Eligibility: To be announced.
Deadline: March 28, 2025.
Find out more about the Vigdís Prize

10. Women's Health Challenge for Startups

Description: Aimed at startups providing nutrition-based solutions tailored to women's health.
Focus: Women’s health nutrition.
Eligibility: Startups operating within the health sector.
Deadline: January 31, 2025.
Visit the Women’s Health Challenge

11. ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) Grants

Description: Grants specifically designed for women-led enterprises in West Africa's energy sector.
Focus: Renewable energy projects led by women.
Eligibility: Female entrepreneurs within the energy sector.
Deadline: February 20, 2025.
Learn about ECREEE Grants

12. Cartier Women's Initiative Awards

Description: A global entrepreneurship program supporting women-run businesses that create social or environmental impacts.
Funding: $100,000 for first-place winners, alongside training and coaching.
Eligibility: Women-run enterprises globally.
Discover Cartier Women's Initiative

13. Empowomen Call

Description: A call for empowering female entrepreneurs in deep-tech sectors.
Funding: Up to €60,000 per venture.
Support: Six-month accelerator and business development program.
Focus: Specifically targets deep-tech startups.
Find details on the Empowomen Call

14. EIT Manufacturing Venture Building Programme 2025

Description: A business development initiative focusing on high-growth industrial startups.
Focus: Innovative solutions in the manufacturing sphere.
Eligibility: Startups aiming for significant growth in the sector.
Explore EIT Manufacturing Program

15. Women's Global Leadership Fellowship

Description: A fellowship program providing leadership training and access to networks.
Focus: Empowering women in leadership roles across various sectors.
Support: Coaching and development resources.
Deadline: January 31, 2025.
Discover the fellowship program
This comprehensive overview provides female entrepreneurs in Europe a greater chance to find the resources they need to thrive in their respective industries.
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FAQ

Q: What is the European Prize for Women Innovators?
A: The European Prize for Women Innovators recognizes women entrepreneurs for their groundbreaking innovations that positively impact people and the planet. Winners can receive varying funding amounts up to €100,000. Learn more about the prize here.
Q: How much can I receive through the EIC Accelerator?
A: The EIC Accelerator provides funding of up to €2.5 million in grants and up to €10 million in equity investments for startups and SMEs with innovative products or services. Find more details about the EIC Accelerator.
Q: What does the Women TechEU program offer?
A: Women TechEU is designed to empower female-led startups in deep tech sectors with €75,000 in non-dilutive grants, mentorship, coaching, and business development support. Explore the details here.
Q: What is the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award?
A: This award is targeted at women-led enterprises creating sustainable solutions in health or food security, offering a €25,000 prize. Learn more about the Bayer Foundation award.
Q: What is the focus of the AIM-HI Women's Venture Competition?
A: The AIM-HI Women's Venture Competition is open to women-led oncology companies, providing an opportunity for female entrepreneurs in this field. Check out the competition details.
Q: Who is eligible for the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards?
A: The Cartier Women's Initiative Awards support women-run and women-owned businesses with social or environmental impact, providing a $100,000 prize for first-place winners. Get more information about the initiative.
Q: What kind of projects does the EIC Pathfinder fund?
A: The EIC Pathfinder funds visionary, multi-disciplinary research projects with the potential for breakthrough technologies, with funding up to €4 million. Discover more about EIC Pathfinder.
Q: How can I apply for the Women's Health Challenge for Startups?
A: Startups focused on nutrition-based solutions for women's health can apply for the Women's Health Challenge, with a deadline on January 31, 2025. Learn more about applying here.
Q: What support does the Women's Global Leadership Fellowship provide?
A: The Women's Global Leadership Fellowship offers coaching, leadership development, and access to a global network for female leaders. Find out more about the fellowship.
Q: Are there grants available for women entrepreneurs in the energy sector?
A: Yes, the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) provides grants for women entrepreneurs in the energy sector in West Africa. Learn more about these grants.

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.