We inspire, encourage and take action to support women's entrepreneurship for an inclusive and diverse Europe

European Female Founders (EFF) is built to mobilise actions to support the development of female entrepreneurship

The European Female Founders was intiated because of the gender gap in many aspects related with entrepreneurship in Europe. Our goal is to address the issues through concrete actions.

The mission of the EFF organisation is to inspire, encourage and act to support female entrepreneurship for an inclusive and diverse Europe. 

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Why does European Female Founders (EFF) exists

Despite a growing number of talented women in entrepreneurship, systemic barriers remain. Only 5% of VC-backed startups are led by women - and just 2% when the founding team is entirely female. This is not a pipeline issue. It’s an ecosystem failure.

EFF was created to tackle this imbalance at its roots. By addressing the key structural levers - from early empowerment to access to capital and community - we work to build a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial landscape. Coordinated at the EU level, our mission is to drive deep, lasting, and measurable change.

  • We empower girls and women of all ages with the skills and mindset to lead, innovate, and build. Through school business camps, entrepreneurial fellowships in STEAM, and leadership coaching, we support every stage of their journey. Our vision: to create the EFF Academy for Women Entrepreneurs — a lifelong platform for learning, daring, and founding.

  • We are building Europe’s most vibrant and interconnected community of women entrepreneurs. Through the European Female Founders Network (EFFN), we link founders to resources, partners, and cross-border opportunities. We champion peer support, amplify local actions, and create safe, empowering spaces for collaboration and shared growth.

  • Access to capital is still the number one barrier for women-led startups. We advocate for bold policy changes: gender-lens tax incentives, diversity standards in VC firms, and inclusive public-private co-investment models. Our vision: a funding ecosystem where women entrepreneurs are the norm — not the exception.

Let’s connect.

We welcome founders, allies, researchers, investors, and institutions who share our mission. Whether you’re building a business, mentoring the next generation, or driving policy change, there’s a place for you in the EFF community.