Women TechEU 2 EIC – Open call for mentors

The Women TechEU scheme is an EU-funded project supporting women leading deep tech startups from Europe to grow into tomorrow’s tech leaders. Our mission is to foster inclusive innovation by supporting women-led startups, including under-represented deep tech sectors and European regions. We believe that diversity drives innovation, and we are here to provide women in deep tech with more opportunities, resources, and support in order to build market-shaping companies at global level.

Between 2026-2028, the current project consortium will run a continuous open call with 4 cut-off dates. Following a rigorous evaluation process, 160 total beneficiaries will be selected. Each beneficiary will receive €75k grants (non-dilutive finance), as well as a tailored package of mentorship, training, expert guidance, matchmaking and networking opportunities, and support in bridging the gap to other EIC funding and support schemes. The programme’s beneficiaries, from all cohorts, will continue to be supported via the Women TechEU Alumni community.

As a Women TechEU mentor, you will provide guidance, strategic insights, and practical support to founders as they navigate key business and technology challenges, helping them accelerate their growth and maximise their impact.

We welcome applications from experienced professionals who have expertise in areas such as:

• Business strategy and business modelling
• Product development
• Marketing and sales
• Fundraising and investor relations
• Innovation strategy
• Pitch preparation
• Impact maximisation
• Financing and growth planning
• Deep-tech commercialisation

We are particularly interested in mentors with experience as:

• Founders and entrepreneurs
• Angel investors and venture capital professionals
• Advisory board members
• Senior business leaders and executives
• Startup mentors, coaches, and accelerator experts
• Deep-tech specialists across a range of technology domains

Mentoring Commitment:

Selected mentors will be matched with Women TechEU awardees based on their expertise and the specific needs of participating startups.

Mentors will be expected to:

• Attend a mandatory onboarding session on 2 November 2026
• Participate in mentoring activities between December 2026 and May 2027
• Deliver up to five one-hour mentoring sessions per assigned mentee

Applications will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the application form. Eligible applicants will be evaluated on the quality and relevance of their experience, expertise, and mentoring background.

Successful applicants who achieve the required evaluation threshold will be invited to join the Women TechEU mentor pool.

Important Information

Joining the mentor pool does not guarantee an assignment. Mentor engagements will be made according to the needs of individual Women TechEU awardees and the suitability of each mentor’s expertise.

If you are passionate about supporting women entrepreneurs and strengthening Europe’s deep-tech ecosystem, we encourage you to submit your application before the deadline.

Join us in empowering the next generation of women-led innovation.

Applicants are advised to carefully read the Selection Process Guidelines and the information on the womentecheurope.eu website.

Women TechEU Guidelines for Mentors

Apply here