AFAEMME celebrates the achievements of the programme as consortium partner, having contributed to mobilising over €53.8 million in private funding
The Residence Palace in Brussels hosted the final conference of the Women TechEU 2024-26 project, bringing together 200 attendees to celebrate the achievements of women-led startups in the deep tech sector. The event marked the conclusion of a programme that has supported 160 women-led emerging companies from across Europe and Horizon Europe associated countries over two years.
María Helena de Felipe, President of AFAEMME (Association for the Promotion of Women’s Business Activities in the Mediterranean), participated in the event representing the organisation as a consortium partner that has implemented this project funded by the European Union through the European Innovation Ecosystems programme (Horizon Europe).
Demonstrable Economic Impact
The Women TechEU initiative has provided each beneficiary with €75,000 in non-refundable grants, alongside a personalised business development programme including workshops, mentoring and training in critical areas such as fundraising, international sales, branding and effective communication.
The economic results presented during the event are compelling: startups from the first three cohorts have collectively raised over €53.8 million in private funding, advanced their product development, refined their go-to-market strategies and strengthened cross-border networks. These figures demonstrate how Women TechEU is building interconnected, inclusive and globally competitive innovation ecosystems, placing women at the forefront of deep tech in Europe.
A Day of Panels and Success Stories
The event opened with welcome remarks from Angele Giuliano, followed by a recorded address from Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, who emphasised the importance of promoting women’s leadership in strategic technology sectors. Teresa Hernández presented the project’s overall vision and achievements, highlighting how Women TechEU has demonstrated that public funding can act as a catalyst for private investment.
Three panel discussions explored different dimensions of the programme. The first, «Women TechEU Behind the Scenes» moderated by Valeria Gasik, featured Natalia Nowińska (EISMEA Project Officer) alongside representatives from AwakenHub, Sploro, AcrossLimits and EIT Manufacturing, offering insights into the programme’s operational challenges and selection strategies.
The second panel, «The Deep Tech Success Stories» moderated by Anna Maria Darmanin, showcased four beneficiaries: Aneta Ozierańska (Oligofeed), Ozlem Barut Selver (LimbuStem), Jekaterina Romanova (PrintyMed) and Mariam Elgabry (Bronic), who shared how the programme was instrumental in advancing their products, accessing investors and scaling internationally.
The third panel, «Wider Support for Women Led Businesses & Deep Tech» moderated by Ana Barjasic, explored the broader support ecosystem needed, with Orily Pratt, Marta Wysoczyńska and Yvette Go addressing the need for more ambitious public policies and sustainable mentoring networks.
During the coffee break, winning companies exhibited their products and technologies, offering investors, policymakers and other stakeholders the opportunity to discover first-hand the innovations developed by these women-led startups.
European Context and Programme Future
Elena Martines from Cabinet DG RTD contextualised the programme within European gender equality and innovation policies, while Michiel Scheffer, President of the European Innovation Council Board, offered a strategic vision on how the EIC supports early-stage deep tech companies. Angele Giuliano presented the project’s policy papers, which capture key learnings and propose concrete recommendations for policymakers and the private sector.
Francesca Doria, Head of Unit at EISMEA, announced that the programme will continue in future editions, consolidating itself as a strategic tool to reduce gender gaps in the European deep tech ecosystem. Cristina Russo, Deputy Director General DG RTD, delivered the closing remarks, thanking all participants, beneficiaries, evaluators, mentors and consortium partners for making this transformative project possible.
The Gap Persists, But Progress is Being Made
The event presented revealing data on the situation of women in the deep tech sector. In 2014, 20% of deep tech companies were women-led; in 2025, that figure reached 22%. In eleven years, progress has been just two percentage points, demonstrating that structural and cultural barriers remain highly significant.
Inequalities in access to funding are also concerning. Women take over five additional months compared to their male counterparts to secure their first funding round, and for every deal closed by women-led companies, male-led companies close three. These figures from the GENDEX Consortium and International Data Corporation underscore the urgency of systemic measures.
Recommendations for the Ecosystem
The project has generated recommendations aimed at policymakers, investors and innovation ecosystem actors. Policymakers can lead by example through public funding, generating a multiplier effect in attracting private investment. An inclusive ecosystem must be fostered from the ground up, with a systemic approach addressing the structural causes of inequality.
Addressing cultural and structural barriers requires collaboration between public and private sectors. It is not just about funding, but about cultural change in organisations, investment funds and decision-making structures. Innovation in finance can also be part of the solution, with new financing models and evaluation criteria incorporating gender perspective.
A Committed European Consortium
The project has been implemented by a consortium of thirteen organisations coordinated by EIT Manufacturing and co-funded by the European Union. Partners include Sploro, AwakenHub, AcrossLimits, eban (European Business Angels Network), Finance Innovation, AFAEMME, EIT Food, EIT Health and Climate KIC, with EISMEA as the funding authority.
María Helena de Felipe expressed her pride in being part of this transformative project: «From AFAEMME, we have had the honour of participating as a partner in Women TechEU, a programme that demonstrates that when we combine strategic funding, quality mentoring and network building, women entrepreneurs don’t just survive in the deep tech ecosystem: they lead, innovate and transform entire sectors. The results speak for themselves: over €53 million raised, advanced products, international markets conquered. But most importantly, we have built a community of 160 women leaders who will continue to inspire future generations.»
AFAEMME especially thanks Natalia Nowińska for her leadership, Roberta Metsola for her institutional support, Michiel Scheffer for his strategic vision, Francesca Doria for ensuring the programme’s continuity, Cristina Russo for her commitment to equality in innovation, and all consortium partners, evaluators, mentors and, above all, the 160 beneficiaries who have demonstrated that female talent in deep tech is unstoppable.
