🌍🚀 €55,000 Equity-Free Funding Opportunity for Women Innovators in Europe – Open Horizons Second Open Call Supporting Women-Led Deep Tech Startups 🇪🇺✨

🌟 About the Opportunity
Open Horizons is a Horizon Europe–funded initiative designed to empower women-led deep tech and digital startupsby closing the gender and funding gap in innovation ecosystems. Following the strong response to its first call, Open Horizons has officially launched its Second Open Call, offering up to €55,000 in equity-free funding, strategic mentoring, and the opportunity to co-develop paid pilot projects with leading European corporates.

This call directly addresses persistent barriers faced by women innovators, particularly in access to finance and corporate partnerships, by combining funding, expert support, and real market validation under a risk-mitigated, non-dilutive model.

💡 What Selected Startups Will Receive
💶 Up to €55,000 equity-free funding (Inception + Pilot Phase)
🧠 Tailored mentoring and training from innovation and industry experts
🤝 Opportunities to co-design and test paid pilot projects with major European corporates
📈 Increased visibility and support to accelerate market entry and scaling
🌍 Access to a European network dedicated to advancing women in deep tech

👩‍💼 Who Can Apply
Startups must meet all of the following criteria:
✔️ Be women-led (Founder or Co-founder in top management; women collectively holding at least 25% ownership)
✔️ Operate in deep tech or digital innovation
✔️ Be at inception or early-growth stage
✔️ Be legally established in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe–associated country
✔️ Propose a solution to one of 17 challenges submitted by corporate partners

🌍 Eligible Applicant Countries
All EU Member States 🇪🇺 and Horizon Europe–associated countries, including but not limited to:
Austria 🇦🇹, Belgium 🇧🇪, Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Croatia 🇭🇷, Cyprus 🇨🇾, Czech Republic 🇨🇿, Denmark 🇩🇰, Estonia 🇪🇪, Finland 🇫🇮, France 🇫🇷, Germany 🇩🇪, Greece 🇬🇷, Hungary 🇭🇺, Ireland 🇮🇪, Italy 🇮🇹, Latvia 🇱🇻, Lithuania 🇱🇹, Luxembourg 🇱🇺, Malta 🇲🇹, Netherlands 🇳🇱, Poland 🇵🇱, Portugal 🇵🇹, Romania 🇷🇴, Slovakia 🇸🇰, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Spain 🇪🇸, Sweden 🇸🇪, as well as Horizon Europe–associated countries.

📅 Application Deadline
🗓️ 29 January 2026 – 17:00 CET

📝 Application Method
Applications must be submitted via the Open Call Online Platform.

🔗 More Information
https://www.openhorizonsproject.eu/november-events-you-dont-want-to-miss-the-best-places-for-founders-investors-and-entrepreneurs-to-get-together-2/

🏢 About Open Horizons
Open Horizons (2025–2027) is funded under Horizon Europe and coordinated by PEDAL Consulting, s.r.o. (Slovakia), with partners SPLORO (Spain), InnovX (Romania), and Migros Ticaret (Türkiye). The consortium brings strong expertise in cascade funding, business acceleration, and open innovation to support women-led startups across Europe.

📩 Contact
info@openhorizonsproject.eu

⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the project coordinator.
2️⃣ Responsibility for Content
The project coordinator is solely responsible for the accuracy, details, and updates of the opportunity content.
3️⃣ Right to Modify or Withdraw
Coordinating organisations reserve the right to make changes after publication — including dates, activity details, or application deadlines — or to withdraw the announcement entirely.
4️⃣ Disclaimer of Liability
YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any such changes, updates, or cancellations made by the project coordinators.
💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official project coordinator or programme website before applying.