Deadline Date: February 12, 2026
The WE-RISE is requesting applications for grant applications to support 20 women-led tech startups in GreenTech, AgriTech, and ClimateTech, particularly from emerging innovator European countries, to grow their market presence and impact.
The total budget allocated for this Open Call is €600,000. This initiative is designed to support startups with the mentorship, funding, and exposure they need to scale their market presence, accelerate growth, and bring innovative solutions to global environmental and technological challenges.
The program is structured in two phases. Phase 1, “Nurture: Cultivating Strategy & Empowerment,” is a three-month intensive support program where the 20 selected startups receive tailored guidance to strengthen their business strategy. Each startup is awarded a €5,000 grant to cover travel expenses for exhibitions, fairs, and investor meetings, ensuring visibility among key industry stakeholders. Central to this phase is the development of a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for each startup, supported by specialised workshops on investment readiness, market expansion, product development, and regulatory frameworks. Additional support includes a curated on-demand Learning Nuggets library, dedicated business coaching, and collaborative peer learning sessions that encourage feedback, networking, and strategy refinement.
In Phase 2, “Bloom: From Strategy to Acceleration,” the 10 most promising startups from Phase 1 move into a four-month acceleration stage. Each of these startups receives a €50,000 grant to implement their Strategic Action Plans, supporting activities such as product development, market expansion, and investor engagement. Participants also benefit from targeted one-on-one business coaching, advanced workshops with industry experts, and an investor matchmaking service designed to create meaningful, long-term relationships with potential funders. The phase culminates in a Showcase & Investor Demo Day, providing startups with the opportunity to present their innovations to a high-profile audience of investors, corporates, and ecosystem players.
The WE-RISE program is open to women-led deep-tech startups that demonstrate advanced and disruptive technologies in GreenTech, AgriTech, or ClimateTech. Eligible startups must be legally registered in EU Member States or Associated Countries, with a preference given to moderate and emerging innovator countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, and several others. Startups must meet at least one transversal criterion, either having achieved product-market fit or having raised a minimum of €300,000 in funding.
By combining strategic mentorship, targeted funding, and extensive networking opportunities, WE-RISE aims to accelerate the growth of women-led tech startups, helping them scale globally while driving innovation and sustainability in the cleantech sector.
For more information, visit WE-RISE.
