Startups selected through this competitive process will receive:

• up to €55,000 in equity-free funding,
• tailored mentoring,
• strategic matchmaking,
• the chance to co-design paid pilot projects addressing real industry needs in areas such as AI, Greentech, advanced materials and more.

Who can apply?

To be eligible, startups must:

• Be based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe–associated country;
• Operate in deeptech or digital innovation;
• Be led by at least one woman in a top executive role (CEO, CTO, or Founder) with a minimum 25% ownership;
• Be at inception or early growth stage.

Real Industry Challenges to Solve

Startups applying to Open Horizons won’t just compete for funding — they’ll co-create solutions for real corporate needs, from idea to pilot. We are partnering with tech and innovation giants like Microsfot, Siemens, Stahls, Repsol, and many more to come.  Here are just a few examples of challenges submitted by Open Horizons corporate partners:

• Use AI to predict and prevent energy grid disruptions;
• Develop smart charging systems for electric vehicles in cities;
• Create quieter, smarter home appliances using AI and new materials;
• Improve the sustainability of buildings with low-carbon materials;
• Design biotech solutions to boost photosynthesis in microalgae for greener bio-production.

Selected startups will work closely with corporates to co-design pilot projects that match real market demand from day one.

How to Apply

The deadline to apply is 21 August 2025, 17:00 CEST.
All eligibility criteria and the application portal are available at the project website: https://shorturl.at/GQxx8

Don’t miss this rare EU opportunity focused 100% on supporting women-led innovation in deeptech.

About Open Horizons

Open Horizons is a three-year EU-funded project (2025–2027) designed to close the gender gap in deeptech entrepreneurship. It supports women-led startups through cascade funding, mentoring, and partnerships with corporates.

The project is coordinated by PEDAL Consulting (Slovakia), with partners SPLORO (Spain), InnovX (Romania), and Migros Ticaret (Türkiye).

More information:
www.open-horizons.eu

This project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON EUROPE research and innovation programme, under grant agreement No. 101193231. This press release reflects the views only of the author, and all partners of the project OPEN HORIZONS and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.