Open Horizons project. Credit: Instagram @openhorizonsprojecteu
The EU-funded Open Horizons project, aimed at boosting women-led digital and deep tech startups, has seen an “overwhelming” response to its first open call, closing with 256 applications from 32 countries, according to the European Commission.
Applications covered fields such as AI, green tech, IoT, agri-tech, energy and sustainability, blockchain, cybersecurity, textiles, and next-generation internet. The ten countries with the most submissions were the UK, Türkiye, Germany, Ukraine, Spain, Poland, France, Greece, Italy, and Romania.
Open Horizons project: selection process underway
A five-step evaluation is now in progress to choose 11 startups for the “inception phase.” Each will receive €10,000 and a month of mentoring, technical guidance, and corporate networking.
From these, five companies will move into the “piloting phase,” gaining the chance to test their solutions in real-world corporate ecosystems with up to an additional €45,000 in funding.
Across three open calls between 2025 and 2027, 39 women-led startups will be supported with a share of €1.2 million, equity-free.
Tackling the funding gap for women
The project organisers say Open Horizons is addressing a long-standing imbalance in Europe’s startup scene. Despite research showing that women-led startups generate 10 per cent more revenue over five years, they typically receive far less investment than male-led ventures.
To bridge this gap, Open Horizons has launched a “paid-pilot” scheme, giving startups both funding and the opportunity to strike follow-on agreements with major corporates – something often missing in EU initiatives.
How startups can join the Open Horizons programme
The Open Horizons programme is open to early-stage startups in deep tech and digital sectors, provided they:
- Are based in the EU or Horizon Europe–associated countries.
- Operate in fields such as AI, IoT, greentech, or blockchain.
- Have at least one female founder or C-level executive holding 25 per cent ownership or more.
- Have raised less than €1 million prior to applying.
Future calls will allow applicants to access funding, co-create pilot projects with corporates, gain mentoring, and scale through investor exposure.
Applications can be made directly through the Open Horizons portal.
Supporters argue this initiative could finally give women founders the corporate backing and visibility they need. Critics, however, may question whether €55,000 per startup is enough to shift Europe’s deep-rooted funding gap.
Two more calls are scheduled before 2027.
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