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Underrepresentation of women founders in deep-tech start-ups

27/11/2024

The study of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) on “Women Founders in European Deep Tech Start-ups” was presented on 18 November 2024 at the EIT INNOVEIT Conference in Helsinki. It was carried out among 7,165 start-ups across 37 countries. The study finds that the percentage of women founders in deep tech has doubled since 2010, however, women remain underrepresented in the field at 17.4% (average for 2010-2022) of all deep tech start-ups. It also reveals that women founders in the field receive less total funding compared with men founders. According to the study, women are underrepresented in deep tech start-ups, with less than one quarter (24%) of deep tech start-ups created in 2022 having at least one woman in the founding team.

Amongst others, the study also finds that women face significant funding challenges compared with their male counterparts. At the seed stage, women-led startups secure only 15% of funding, while men-led startups take the remaining 85%. For early and late-stage venture capital, women-founded startups receive just 11% of the total investment, with 89% going to men-led companies. Women also face barriers to entering deep tech compared with other fields.

More information:

EIT - news

EIT study: Women Founders in European Deep Tech Startups: Main Findings Report

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EIT: recent opportunities (as of November 2024)

10/11/2024

Open and/or upcoming opportunities (calls, events, trainings, competitions, summer schools and educational opportunities) across all EIT Knowledge and innovation Communities (EIT KICs) can be found in the attached table. All entities, such as universities, research organizations,...

2024 Conference on 10th anniversary of the EIT RIS

23/10/2024

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), Europe’s largest innovation network, organise on 28 November 2024 in Budapest, Hungary, a whole-day hybrid conference entitled “The Next Decade...

Deadline for applications to the EIT Governing Board is approaching

12/10/2024

We would like to remind you that relevant interested individuals can apply for membership in the EIT Governing Board until 28 October 2024. All other information can be found here.

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