A more inclusive investment ecosystem starts with action. That’s why Supernovas, the EIT Community’s programme to advance gender equality in entrepreneurship and investment, is launching three new calls designed to support and empower women in the investment space.
From discovering career opportunities in venture capital, to becoming a professional investor or making your first angel investment, these three calls offer women the chance to step into roles where they are still largely underrepresented.
Women2Invest: enter the world of venture capital
Women2Invest is a learning programme for women with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering or mathematics who are interested in entering the venture capital world. It aims to close the gender gap in VC by helping new female talent explore the sector, learn the basics and connect with real investment opportunities.
Participants will:
- Gain hands-on training in venture capital
- Access to a matchmaking with recruiting VC Funds
- Work directly on live investment cases
- Join a growing European community of female talent in VC
VC Academy: boost your career in venture capital
The VC Academy is designed for early-career investment professionals. It offers in-depth, practical training to build key skills and strengthen your role within a venture capital firm.
Through the programme, participants will:
- Deepen their understanding of investment processes
- Learn directly from experienced VC professionals
- Sharpen their analysis, negotiation and dealmaking skills
- Connect with a network of peers and mentors across Europe
Business Angel Academy: start investing in startups
The Business Angel Academy is aimed at women who are ready to take their first steps as angel investors, or who have already made one or two investments and want to go further.
This academy will help participants:
- Understand how startup investment works in practice
- Learn to evaluate opportunities with confidence
- Build a strong foundation to invest with purpose
- Join a pan-European network of aspiring and active female business angels
Why this matters
Although progress is being made, women remain significantly underrepresented in the European investment ecosystem. At Supernovas, we know that Europe’s deep tech ecosystem thrives on diversity. Yet, women are still underrepresented in leadership and underfunded in investment.
Our latest report, developed in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), highlights the gender gap:
- Only 14% of deep tech startup founders in Europe are women.
- Startups led by women receive just 11.4% of total funding, most of which comes from grants and public support rather than private investment.
- Women investors are also underrepresented, both in venture capital and angel investment.
These findings confirm the urgent need for initiatives that expand access, knowledge and networks for women in investment roles. That’s exactly what the three Supernovas academies are designed to do.
How to apply
All three calls are now open, each tailored to a different stage of the investment journey. If you’re ready to discover, grow or invest. This is your opportunity.
- Women2Invest: Apply by 30 June 2025
- VC Academy: Apply by 28 April 2025
- Business Angel Academy: Apply by 17 June 2025