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A programme to open the access to women-led digital & deep tech startups to new opportunities under the umbrella of corporations in Europe

Project description

Innovative approach to funding and networking for women-led tech start-ups

The EU-funded Open Horizons project is introducing a new approach to bridging funding and corporate networking gaps for women-led European start-ups in deep tech and digital. Although women generate 10 % more revenue over five years, they receive less funding than men when raising capital. While the European Commission supports initiatives to address this disparity, one crucial aspect remains overlooked – corporates, which have distinct investment strategies. Open Horizons will launch a 'paid-pilot' programme to fund pilot projects, create growth opportunities, and secure follow-on agreements with corporates. This initiative will foster a synergistic ecosystem in Europe, complementing and collaborating with key European programmes.

Objective

A recent study indicates that women raise funding receive significantly lessa disparity that averages more than $1 millionthan men. Corporates are different players compared to Venture Capital firms. Even their investment arms, CVCs do have a different approach to the investment policies.
Specifically targeting women-led companies to collaborate with corporates under a paid-pilot scheme that can really take women-led startups and corporate collaboration to the next level. Open Horizons proposes a novel approach towards covering the women-led companies funding and corporate network gap, by creating a full programme, from scratch, that relies in the work done by other initiatives (Women TechEU or Empowomen)
The consortium aims to invest 1.2M in startups and is comprised by an experienced consortium of partners as PEDAL (Reputed consultancy in EU projects also specialised in public procurement), SPLORO (experts on cascade funding) and INNOVX (EIC Partner and leading Accelerator).
Corporates are also linked to the proposal as partners like Migros (retail) or associated partners like Siemens Industry Software, Repsol (energy) and Stahl (Manufacturing) and planning to expand up to 10.
The projects structured approach includes identifying and formulating corporate challenges, inclusive talent scouting across Europe, and facilitating the funding and implementation of pilot projects within real-world corporate settings. Post-pilot, the programme focuses on expanding growth opportunities for startups by connecting them with investment channels and helping negotiate commercial agreements for long-term collaborations.
This comprehensive strategy not only provides a platform for women-led startups to showcase their innovations within major corporations but also integrates them into a broader corporate and innovation ecosystem, ensuring sustained growth and significant market presence.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIE-2024-CONNECT-01

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Coordinator

PEDAL CONSULTING SRO
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 409 375,00
Address
BJORNSONOVA 4807/5
036 01 Martin
Slovakia

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Slovensko Stredné Slovensko Žilinský kraj
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 468 750,00

Participants (4)

Partners (4)

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