In Germany, women currently account for only 18.8 percent of founders in the start-up ecosystem – a slight decline from 20.7 percent in the previous year. Even though an upward trend has been evident in recent years, the figure remains low. However, this imbalance is not a purely German phenomenon: worldwide, the proportion of female founders in the start-up sector is around 20 percent, with slightly higher figures in North America and Asia than in Europe.
The key to overcoming our current challenges lies in new ideas, fresh approaches, and innovative methods. That is why Germany – and Europe as a whole – needs one thing above all else: more innovation. And that requires more start-ups. With their progressive thinking and entrepreneurial courage, they strengthen the future viability of our European economy and open up opportunities in new growth areas.
The decline in the proportion of female founders and the generally low proportion of women in the start-up ecosystem is slowing down the start-up dynamic. In recent years, the number of new start-ups has hardly grown. A significant increase in the proportion of female founders would therefore be a decisive lever for enabling more start-ups in Germany and Europe.
The low presence of women in the start-up sector is due to a combination of factors, including personal interests, social structures, and traditional gender roles. According to the Female Founders Monitor 2025, job security plays a significantly greater role for women than for men. This points to a gender-specific influence of social conditions that affects risk awareness and entrepreneurial decisions. The survey also shows that although many women are interested in starting a business, only a relatively small proportion actually take the plunge. This suggests that structural hurdles and mental barriers play an important role in preventing women from realizing their entrepreneurial potential.
However, even when women do take the step of founding an innovative start-up, they continue to face gender-specific disadvantages. This is particularly evident in the financing of start-ups: although 19 percent of start-up teams are now female, only 15 percent of financing rounds go to start-ups with female founders – and they receive only 9 percent of the total investment volume. This discrepancy makes it clear that the gender gap does not end with the founding of a company, but continues throughout all phases of its development.
Given that Germany and the EU depend on innovative start-ups to remain competitive internationally, it is strategically important to better tap the entrepreneurial potential of women. The Female Founders Monitor 2025 therefore underscores the need for targeted measures to break down structural barriers. These include greater visibility and role models for female founders, entrepreneurial education that specifically addresses women, measures to improve the compatibility of family and entrepreneurship, and improved access to capital. Only through a comprehensive, inclusive ecosystem can equal opportunities be created in the long term and the full potential for innovation be realized.
Fortunately, there are already targeted support programs and initiatives in place to help female founders on their way. With the European Prize for Women Innovators, the EU Commission honors women who are behind Europe's most groundbreaking innovations. The prize was awarded again this year by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT). The goal of the European Prize for Women Innovators is to highlight female founders and their disruptive innovations and promote them as role models. The winners will receive an attractive cash prize and will be honored publicly at an award ceremony next year. A total of three female founders will be awarded and presented throughout Europe in three categories (EIC Women Innovators, EIC Rising Innovators, and EIC Women Leadership).
Female founders or co-founders from the EU and associated countries are eligible to apply. The application deadline is September 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. and must be submitted via the European Portal for Funding and Tenders.
The EU funding program Women TechEU, which is aimed at female deep tech innovators, is particularly attractive for early-stage start-ups. It offers not only a grant (non-repayable) of €75,000, but also access to high-quality coaching and mentoring by experienced experts. However, time is pressing: the (initial) deadline for submitting applications is August 4, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
The first call for applications for the Open Horizons funding program is also currently open. This program is aimed at female-led start-ups in the field of deep tech or digital innovation. Female founders are given the opportunity to participate in concrete, practical, and market-oriented challenges. On top of that, there is a non-repayable grant of €55,000 and the chance to work on a pilot project together with internationally recognized companies such as Siemens, Stahl, Microsoft, and ppc. Open Horizons thus offers financial support, valuable contacts, and direct access to the market, which often marks the decisive step toward scaling up young innovative companies.
A total of 12 real, market-oriented challenges have been announced, representing concrete technological challenges that require innovative, deep tech solutions. This presents a unique opportunity, especially for start-ups, to test and validate their technologies and, possibly, to further develop them in real-world applications and under practical requirements in collaboration with companies. The following combinations of topics were selected for the first call for projects:
The deadline for applications is August 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. and must be submitted via the Sploro platform. The application process consists of five steps to ensure fairness, quality, and compatibility with the partner company. The first step is an online application with information about the start-up and the proposed solution to the challenge.
With the European Prize for Women Innovators, Women TechEU, and Open Horizons, the EU has created three valuable initiatives to encourage female founders and innovators in their start-up activities.
The aim of the initiatives is to identify successful deep tech female entrepreneurs in the EU, increase their visibility, and support them. In addition to the publicity, the most promising European female innovators are rewarded with attractive cash prizes and/or funding and valuable contacts.
Do you have questions about applying for the European Prize for Women Innovators or are you interested in the Women TechEU and Open Horizons support programs? We are happy to answer all your questions and guide you through the application process. Book your non-binding consultation appointment today.
Text: Christina Markus
EurA AG
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