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Overview
Women TechEU combines a €75,000 non-dilutive grant with mentoring, training and access to business networks. The 2026–2028 edition plans support for 160 startups, with a dedicated share of places for applicants from Widening areas.
Complete the eligibility stage early enough to receive an invitation.
Is this for you?
Success rates — the honest picture
Eligibility
- 1Autonomous private SME, registered for six months to five years at the eligibility cut-off, in an EU Member State or eligible Horizon Europe Pillar III associated country.
- 2Woman founder or co-founder in a current top-management role; women collectively hold at least 25% of company shares.
- 3Less than €1 million raised in equity; deep-tech innovation at TRL 4–6 and before a high-fidelity minimum viable product.
- 4Complete the Eligibility Strand before receiving access to the Full Proposal Strand; all programme exclusions and autonomy tests apply.
The lead woman founder does not need to own 25% herself. Shares held by women are added together; the founder still needs a top-management role and the company must satisfy autonomy requirements.
Version 9 requires TRL 4–6, a company age of six months to five years, less than €1M equity raised, and a technology that has not yet reached a high-fidelity MVP. Integrating standard technology without advancing it is insufficient to establish deep tech.
Version 9, dated 2 September 2026, states a final eligibility cut-off of 15 June 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time. The older 14 June date remaining in the FAQ should not be used.
Women TechEU 2 EIC funding
Selection is ranked within available budgets, with separate widening and other-country lists.
Month 1: €37,500; month 3: €30,000; month 6: €7,500. Required reports, KPI progress and participation determine payment; these are not automatic calendar transfers.
How to apply — step by step
- 1Pass eligibility screeningWeekly cut-offs
Submit the eligibility form and ownership/company evidence requested in v9.
Official instructions - 2Prepare the full proposalPublished full-proposal cut-off
Use the full-proposal form after a positive eligibility result.
Official instructions - 3Grant and support programmeAfter selection
Complete contracting, company planning and the required support activities.
Official instructions
What evaluators look for
Excellence
Technology advance, roadmap, growth ambition and the value of the grant.
Impact
Market need, commercialisation, competitive position and scaling potential.
Implementation
Team and execution capacity against the proposed plan. Scores undergo the published normalisation and ranking process.
Documents you'll need
Eligibility windows and full-proposal cut-offs.
- Contains:
- Eligibility windows and full-proposal cut-offs.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Eligibility, submission, review and programme support.
- Contains:
- Eligibility, submission, review and programme support.
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
September 2026 eligibility rules, superseding older linked versions.
- Contains:
- September 2026 eligibility rules, superseding older linked versions.
- Length:
- 28 pages
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Selection, grant payments, milestones and support programme.
- Contains:
- Selection, grant payments, milestones and support programme.
- Length:
- 53 pages
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Preparation form for the eligibility stage.
- Contains:
- Preparation form for the eligibility stage.
- Length:
- 15 pages
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Full application questions and required information.
- Contains:
- Full application questions and required information.
- Length:
- 24 pages
- Why:
- Use the issuing body’s current version when preparing an application.
- When:
- Before submission
Upcoming sessions and applicant recordings.
- Contains:
- Upcoming sessions and applicant recordings.
- Why:
- Use the programme operator’s current material for this stage.
- When:
- Before applying
2026 Deadlines
- WeeklyWeeklyEligibility review cut-off
Tuesday, 17:00 Brussels time; follow the live platform.
- 2027-01-142027-01-14Full proposal cut-off
17:00 Brussels time.
- 2027-04-012027-04-01Full proposal cut-off
17:00 Brussels time.
- 2027-06-152027-06-15Final eligibility cut-off
17:00 Brussels time; current Eligibility Guidelines v9 governs. Older FAQ date is inconsistent.
- 2027-07-082027-07-08Full proposal cut-off
17:00 Brussels time.
- After submissionAfter submissionReview targets
Eligibility: about one week; full proposal: up to eight weeks.
- 2026-11-102026-11-10Applicant info day
Scheduled in v9 at 16:00 Brussels time; confirm registration on the infodays page.
- 2027-01-122027-01-12Applicant info day
Scheduled in v9 at 10:00 Brussels time.
After you're funded
Guidelines describe €37,500 at month 1, €30,000 at month 3 and €7,500 at month 6, subject to accepted reports and required progress.
Month-3 payment depends on KPI delivery and support participation; low progress can reduce, retain or disqualify payment. Final payment requires completion and reporting. Programme cash-flow conditions also apply.
Practical notes
Complete the eligibility stage early enough to receive an invitation. Passing that check is separate from winning a grant.
Official sources checked on 12 October 2026. Calls can be amended; confirm the current terms and exact submission time in the linked official documents.
Key Features
Official links & resources
Frequently Asked Questions
An early-stage deep-tech company led by a woman founder or co-founder. The programme is intended to develop the business as well as the technology; it is not a general grant for every women-owned small business.
Selected companies receive €75,000 without equity dilution, alongside a personalised business development programme. This is a competitive award, not an automatic payment after eligibility approval.
The next Full Proposal cutoff is 14 January 2027 at 17:00 CET, after passing eligibility screening. Eligibility has weekly Tuesday cutoffs; version 9 of the eligibility guidelines gives the final deadline as 15 June 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time. An older FAQ says 14 June: follow the latest call guidelines and check for amendments before submitting.
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