WE-RISE - EU Initiative to Support Women-led Deep tech Startups

It is easy to demonstrate a strong correlation between national prosperity and gender equality. According to the Global Gender Gap Index 2024, the top five European economies – Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Germany – all rank in the global top 10. While Europe leads the regional gender gap rankings, having closed 75% of its gender gap, progress in economic parity remains modest. The Economic Participation and Opportunity score has seen only a slight increase of +0.4 percentage points, reaching 67.8%. The slow rate of change means that, at the current pace, full global parity will not be achieved for another 134 years - five generations beyond the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target. 

Despite this, research consistently highlights that investing in women entrepreneurs leads to better financial outcomes. Female-led companies generate higher returns on investment compared to their male-led counterparts. A study highlighted in The Times found that female-led tech teams deliver a 35% higher ROI. Similarly, Harvard Business Review reports that venture capital-backed, female-founded firms outperform those led by men by 63%. On average, women-led businesses generate 78 cents of revenue per dollar invested, compared with just 31 cents for men. Yet, despite their strong performance, women entrepreneurs continue to receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital, limiting their ability to scale and grow their businesses. In Europe, female entrepreneurs received just 1% of venture capital financing in 2021. 

This disparity is particularly concerning in deeptech - an area of innovation that leverages advanced scientific and engineering breakthroughs to develop transformative technologies. Deeptech solutions drive progress in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing, and advanced materials, addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to food security. However, despite its potential for global impact, deeptech remains male-dominated, with women significantly underrepresented in leadership roles and investment allocations. Encouraging more women to lead in deeptech is not just a matter of fairness - it is an economic and strategic imperative.  

This is where initiatives like WE-RISE play a crucial role in closing the funding gap and fostering female leadership in deep tech sectors. WE-RISE is an EU-funded initiative aimed at empowering women-led startups in greentech, climatetech, and agritech by providing financial support, tailored acceleration programs, and ecosystem integration. The initiative offers non-equity grants totaling €1.2 million, along with mentoring, business development support, and networking opportunities. 

A total of 40 startups will join the WE-RISE accelerator, with 20 selected to receive grants of up to €55,000 each. The first Open Call launched on March 12, 2025, with applications open until May 14, 2025. To support potential applicants, the first WE-RISE Info Day will take place on March 26, 2025. Beyond non-equity grants, the accelerator will provide tailored support to help startups navigate the investment landscape, offering exposure to key investors, venture capital firms, and EU funding opportunities. 

WE-RISE is led by a strong international consortium of partners with expertise in innovation, business acceleration, and gender-inclusive entrepreneurship support. The project includes venture capital firm Fasttrack Ventures (Portugal), pre-seed/seed investment program G-Force (Slovakia), French public sector investment bank Bpi France (France), deep tech venture builder Toro Ventures (Spain), and cleantech startup hub Sunrise Tech Park (Lithuania), along with key networks in the European startup ecosystem. Together, these partners will ensure a high-impact program that not only provides financial support but also equips women entrepreneurs with the skills and networks necessary to thrive in deep tech industries. 

By addressing the funding and support gap for women in deep tech, WE-RISE fosters a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven European economy. Join the WE-RISE Greenhouse community and connect with a thriving ecosystem of women-led startups!