20 November 2025, European Union: Open Horizons, a Horizon Europe funded initiative designed to elevate women-led deep tech startups, has officially opened its Second Open Call. It offers up to €55,000 in equity-free funding, strategic mentoring, and the chance to co-develop pilot projects with leading European corporates. Applications are open from 20 November 2025 to 29 January 2026.
Despite progress in supporting women innovators, significant gaps remain. Independent analyses from the European Investment Bank show that women continue to face disproportionately high barriers in securing both funding and corporate partnerships.
Against this backdrop, Open Horizons stands out as a necessary initiative. It directly connects women-led deep tech and digital teams with corporate partners under a structured, risk-mitigating, and equity-free model.
“We saw an extraordinary response in our first call – not only in the 256 submitted proposals from 32 countries. But also in the 900 drafts that women started but didn’t finish. This shows there is tremendous potential waiting just below the surface,” says Robert Miskuf, CEO at PEDAL Consulting, s.r.o. and coordinator of the Open Horizons project.
What selected startups will receive:
- Up to €55,000 in equity-free funding (Inception + Pilot Phase)
- Tailored mentoring and training from industry and innovation experts
- Opportunities to co-design and test paid pilot projects with major European corporates
- Visibility and support to accelerate market entry and scale
- Access to a European network dedicated to advancing women in deep tech
Who can apply?
To be eligible, startups must:
- Be based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe-associated country,
- Operate in deep tech or digital innovation,
- Be a women-led startup (Founder or Co-founder in a top management position), with all women cumulatively holding ≥25% ownership.
- Be in inception or early-growth stage,
- Propose a solution to one of 17 challenges submitted by corporate partners.
The deadline for the submission of applications: 29 January 2026, 17.00 CET.
Applications must be submitted through the Open Call Online Platform – Acces it HERE
About Open Horizons
Open Horizons, project funded under Horizon Europe, is designed to support women-led startups in deep tech and digital innovation, from 2025 to 2027. The main goal is to bridge the gender and funding gap by providing equity-free funding, hands-on mentoring, and pilot projects with major corporates. The project is coordinated by PEDAL Consulting, s.r.o. (Slovakia), with partners SPLORO (Spain), InnovX (Romania), and Migros Ticaret (Türkiye). Together, they bring expertise in cascade funding, business acceleration, and open innovation.
Contact person and Project Coordinator:
Stanislav Laktis, PEDAL Consulting, s.r.o.
e-mail: s.laktis@pedal-consulting.eu