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Idea
Every successful company first started as an idea.
Without ideas, there is no investment. Without investment, there is no innovation.
Explore which sectors attract the most female founders and what motivates them to pursue entrepreneurship.
Enterprise software, marketing, and education are the most popular sectors for new female-founded companies
Key sectors of companies founded in 2025
Europe
gender-agnostic
Data source: Dealroom
12%
Enterprise Software
13%
Enterprise Software
5%
Recruitment
6%
Energy
6%
Beauty
11%
Marketing
8%
Marketing
9%
Health
female-founded
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8%
Fintech
6%
Education
7%
Recruitment
9%
Education
6%
Food
6%
Fintech
'I spent years building others’ dreams, but with AI rapidly reshaping software engineering, I realized I risked becoming obsolete. So I chose to become a founder now and use my experience to build something myself.'
Olga Maslova, Supernaut
Lithuania
Raised €530K in October
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To fill in
Where do you see the most innovative European startups emerging right now?
Established hubs
Smaller hubs
Passion for industry
Repeat founders
Fresh graduates and university dropouts
Technical talent leaving big tech
Operators leaving scaleups
Expert talent leaving corporates
Spinouts and research labs
Source: Female Innovation Index Survey 2026
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80%
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50%
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42%
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41%
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34%
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27%
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18%
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11%
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10%
angel investors
VC investors
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69%
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43%
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24%
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42%
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35%
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22%
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5%
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20%
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13%
A problem to solve and a drive to innovate are the biggest motivators for female founders to start their companies
What motivated you to start your company?
female founders
A problem to solve
Drive to innovate
Passion for industry
Societal impact
Personal growth
Desire for independence
Financial goals
Frustration with my job
Fulfilling legacy
Source: Female Innovation Index Survey 2026
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80%
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50%
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42%
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41%
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34%
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27%
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18%
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11%
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10%
early
growth
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69%
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43%
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24%
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42%
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35%
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22%
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5%
Add a Title
20%
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13%
'At some point, I had to choose between writing another research paper or building something with real impact. After years of grants tied to promised outcomes, publishing more felt insufficient. That growing sense of responsibility became impossible to ignore.'
Romana Schirhagl, QTsense
Netherlands
Raised €6M in February
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8%
Enterprise
Software
7%
Food
9%
Health
9%
Fashion
8%
Marketing
7%
Education
7%
Beauty
Health and enterprise software leading sectors for unfunded and non-VC backed female-founded companies
Key sectors of unfunded or funded but non-VC backed female-founded companies
Europe 2025
Data source: Dealroom
Coming up
Innovation
idea + capital
What does the funding landscape for female entrepreneurs in Europe look like, and how is it evolving?
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