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2025-05-07 02:41 Top 15

Top 15 Startup Competitions for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025

Top 15 Startup Competitions for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025

In 2025, Europe continues to spotlight the importance of female entrepreneurs, empowering them through various competitions that not only celebrate their innovation but also provide them with significant funding opportunities. Here’s a list of the Top 15 Startup Competitions for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe, with essential details on categories, eligibility, and prizes.
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1. European Prize for Women Innovators

Description: A prestigious award recognizing women who lead transformative innovations across Europe.
Categories:
  • EIC Women Innovators
  • EIC Rising Innovators (under 35)
  • EIT Women Leadership
  • Prizes: Up to €100,000 for each main category.
  • Eligibility: Women founders or co-founders from the EU or associated countries with at least two years of established businesses.
  • Deadline: September 25, 2024.
  • Learn more about the European Prize for Women Innovators

2. TechChill Fifty Founders Battle

Description: A pitch competition aimed at promoting early-stage startups primarily from the Baltics and Nordics, this event occurs during the TechChill festival.
Prize: €350,000 in investment opportunities.
Eligibility: Early-stage startups.
Deadline: To be announced in February 2025.
Discover TechChill Fifty Founders Battle
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3. We Make Future (WMF) Startup Competition

Description: A competition geared toward innovative projects with a positive impact on society or the environment.
Prize: Visibility and potential funding for selected projects.
Location: Bologna, Italy
Date: June 4-6, 2025.
Deadline: March 5, 2025.
Explore the WMF Startup Competition

4. Women's Venture Competition 2025

Description: A global competition exclusively for women-led startups in the oncology sector.
Eligibility: Women-led companies focused on oncology.
Deadline: March 15, 2025.
Learn more about the Women’s Venture Competition

5. Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2025

Description: Honoring women-led enterprises that contribute sustainable solutions in health or food security areas.
Eligibility: Women-led businesses concentrating on health or food security initiatives.
Deadline: February 18, 2025.
Discover the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award

6. Impact Arena (Part of Impact CEE)

Description: A startup competition held within the Impact CEE event focused on AI, digital innovation, mental health, and empowerment for women.
Location: Poland
Date: May 14-15, 2025.
Learn more about Impact Arena

7. Female Founders Conference - "Lead Today. Shape Tomorrow"

Description: This conference serves as a leading platform for female entrepreneurs, featuring an inspiring array of workshops and networking opportunities.
Location: Vienna, Austria
Format: Workshops, keynotes, and networking events.
Explore the Female Founders Conference
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8. EU-Startups Pitch Competition

Description: This platform gives European early-stage startups the chance to pitch their ideas to potential investors and media personalities.
Prize: A prize package exceeding €390,000, with various funding opportunities.
Eligibility: Pre-seed or seed stage startups based in Europe.
Deadline: January 31, 2025.
Learn more about EU-Startups Pitch Competition

9. Start Summit

Description: An extensive early-stage startup event, showcasing the next wave of entrepreneurs.
Prizes: Chance to win up to CHF 30,000.
Location: St. Gallen, Switzerland
Date: March 20-21, 2025.
Discover Start Summit

10. Women Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition (Greater Birmingham)

Description: A regional competition focused on showcasing women-led SMEs and startups.
Format: Selection panel evaluates finalists for pitching opportunities.
Eligibility: Women-led ventures in Greater Birmingham, UK.
Deadline: September 30, 2024.
Explore the Women Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition

11. Pitch@Palace

Description: Encouraging UK entrepreneurs, particularly women-led startups, to present their ideas to influential leaders and investors.
Format: In-person pitch event with mentorship support.
Prize: Various opportunities including networking and potential funding.
Link: More details are available directly through the Pitch@Palace website.

12. Feminine Capital Pitching Contest

Description: A competition that supports women entrepreneurs by offering them the chance to present their business ideas to investors.
Eligibility: Women-led startups from any industry.
Link: More information can be found on the Feminine Capital event page.

13. Women’s Innovation Network Pitch Competition

Description: Tailored for women innovators across Europe, this competition focuses on technological development and solutions.
Eligibility: Women-led tech startups.
Link: Details about the competition can be accessed via the Women’s Innovation Network website.

14. Diversity Startup Pitch Battle

Description: Aiming to increase diversity within entrepreneurship, this competition highlights female-driven startups.
Eligibility: Open to all female founders from diverse backgrounds.
Link: Learn more through the Diversity Startup event site.

15. Startup Girls Global Pitch Competition

Description: A global platform for female entrepreneurs to pitch their startups, connecting them with international investors.
Eligibility: All women-led startups.
Link: Additional details can be found at the Startup Girls official page.
All competitions listed provide unique opportunities for women to gain exposure, funding, and mentorship. Always check their official websites for the most accurate and updated information.
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FAQ

Q: What competition celebrates women innovators in Europe?
A: The European Prize for Women Innovators honors female entrepreneurs who make impactful innovations. Learn more about the European Prize for Women Innovators.
Q: Which event offers significant prize money for early-stage startups?
A: The TechChill Fifty Founders Battle provides a syndicate investment prize of €350,000. Discover TechChill Fifty Founders Battle.
Q: Where can I find opportunities focused on social or environmental projects?
A: The WMF Startup Competition fosters innovative projects that create social or environmental impact. Find out more about WMF Startup Competition.
Q: Is there a competition specifically for women-led oncology startups?
A: Yes, the Women's Venture Competition is dedicated to women-led companies focusing on oncology. Learn more about the Women's Venture Competition.
Q: What award recognizes women-led enterprises in health and food security?
A: The Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award celebrates women entrepreneurs developing sustainable solutions in these sectors. Get more details about Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award.
Q: Which competition focuses on AI and mental health innovation?
A: The Impact Arena is part of the Impact CEE event, emphasizing AI, digital innovation, and women's empowerment. Explore Impact Arena.
Q: Where can female entrepreneurs network and learn in 2025?
A: The Female Founders Conference in Vienna is a premier event for networking and learning through workshops and keynotes. Learn more about Female Founders Conference.
Q: What platform allows European startups to pitch to investors?
A: The EU-Startups Pitch Competition offers a prize package and funding opportunities for early-stage startups. Discover EU-Startups Pitch Competition.
Q: Which event has a large prize pool for early-stage startups in Switzerland?
A: Start Summit offers a chance to win up to CHF 30,000 along with other opportunities during the event. Find out more about Start Summit.
Q: Is there a competition for women-led startups in Greater Birmingham?
A: Yes, the Women Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition showcases women-led SMEs and startups in Greater Birmingham. Explore Women Entrepreneurs Pitch 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.