Celebrating Women and Girls in Science: Sploro’s Ongoing Commitment to Gender Equality in European Innovation
11 February 2026
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Despite notable progress in recent years, women remain significantly underrepresented in the European innovation ecosystem. Structural barriers, unequal access to investment, and a persistent gender funding gap continue to limit the potential of countless women-led start-ups—particularly in the tech sector. Too often, these ventures are not held back by a lack of innovation or ambition, but by an unequal system that fails to provide the necessary support at the critical early stages of growth.
It is in response to this ongoing gap that the Open Horizons project was born. Funded by the European Union, Open Horizons is a bold initiative that aims to foster a more inclusive and balanced innovation landscape. The project’s core ambition is to provide targeted support to early-stage, women-led start-ups working in technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling up to start–ups to access not only direct funding but also strategic mentoring, investment readiness services, visibility opportunities, and access to a strong network of peers and investors. The project will unfold through three competitive open calls between 2025 and 2026; each designed to identify and uplift women entrepreneurs building impactful tech solutions aligned with EU priorities.
A key feature of the Open Horizons approach is its strong emphasis on open innovation and challenge-driven collaboration. Throughout the programme, selected start-ups will engage directly with corporate partners who have defined specific innovation challenges related to their sectors. These challenges represent real-world problems where breakthrough technologies and entrepreneurial creativity can deliver tangible impacts. By fostering direct interaction between early-stage ventures and established companies, the programme aims to accelerate not only business growth but also meaningful solutions to pressing industrial and societal needs. This hands-on, challenge-based methodology ensures that start-ups are not innovating in isolation but are developing with purpose, relevance, and market potential.
We are proud to announce the launch of Open Call 1, which opened on 11 June 2025. This marks a key milestone in our mission to foster gender-inclusive innovation. We are looking for 11 promising women-led start-ups with bold ideas, strong teams, and technology-driven solutions aligned with Europe’s green, digital, and social transitions. Each selected start-up will receive up to €55,000 in equity-free funding, as well as tailored support through a six-month acceleration programme. From this group, only five startups will advance to the second phase of the programme, where they will receive extended, personalised support to accelerate their path to investment and scale.
Applicants must meet a set of eligibility criteria designed to ensure that support reaches the ventures that need it most. Start-ups must be legally established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, be between six months and eight years old, and must not have raised more than €1 million in equity investment. At least one woman must hold a leadership position (e.g. CEO or CTO) and collectively own a minimum of 25% of the company’s shares. The proposed innovation must be based on technology or data, and projects already funded through other EU programmes are not eligible.
To support potential applicants, the Open Horizons team is organising two Info Days. The first was held on 18 June 2025, and the recording is now available. A second session will take place on 16 July 2025 at 10:00 CEST, offering a final opportunity for interested founders to gain insights and ask questions directly to the project team.
We encourage all applicants to read the official Guidelines available on the website. These guidelines include full details on eligibility, application instructions, and evaluation process. You can access them directly HERE
If you have any questions or require support during the application process, our helpdesk is available via email at info@openhorizonsproject.eu.
Visit the website at www.openhorizonsproject.eu to learn more about the project, the open call, and the values driving this initiative.
Open Horizons is not just about supporting start-ups, it’s about unlocking potential and building a more just, diverse, and innovative Europe. We are deeply committed to helping women entrepreneurs turn ideas into impact. If you are a woman founder with a tech-driven vision for the future, this is your moment. Join us.
Applications are open until 21 August 2025 at 17:00 CET.
