Women-Led Startups in Europe Secure Over £23 Million in Funding
In a period where global venture capital investment has been cautious, female-founded startups across Europe have made headlines by attracting more than £23 million in new funding from April 14 to 21, 2025. This significant milestone comes despite the ongoing hurdles women entrepreneurs often face in accessing venture capital. A recent study highlighted that female-led startups continue to receive an unfairly small portion of venture funding. Nonetheless, these innovators are making strides, particularly in the deep tech sector, which saw them raise a remarkable €5.76 billion in 2024.
From advancements in AI to health technology, and from sustainability initiatives to marine innovation, these female founders are creating impactful solutions while fostering a more inclusive and resilient startup ecosystem. The past week witnessed numerous funding rounds across various industries.
Here are 10 female-led companies that recently secured fresh capital, showcasing the growing influence of women innovators across Europe and the diverse technologies they are developing:
Wsense (Italy) – €7.2 Million
Founded by Chiara Petrioli in 2012, Rome-based Wsense has raised €7.2 million to advance its underwater IoT technologies. As a spin-off from Sapienza University of Rome, the company specializes in wireless communication at depths of up to 3,000 meters. Their system, which combines acoustic and optical signals, caters to applications in environmental monitoring, aquaculture, and energy. The recent funding will help scalability efforts in their underwater monitoring platform.
Portia AI (UK) – £4.4 Million
UK startup Portia AI, co-founded by Emma Burrows and Mounir Mouawad in 2024, has raised £4.4 million for its innovative platform that enables businesses to deploy AI agents under human oversight. This approach strives to balance automation and human decision-making, making AI more user-friendly for non-technical individuals. The funds will support team expansion and further development of its platform.
Vizzy (UK) – £3.65 Million
Founded by Jess, Chris, and Joe Woodward in 2020, Vizzy aims to transform job recruitment by moving beyond traditional CVs to offer personalized profile pages. The platform highlights achievements and traits, including multimedia elements, addressing concerns about AI-generated resumes. The recent £3.65 million funding will fuel product development and global expansion.
beSirius (Netherlands) – €3 Million
Dutch startup beSirius, launched in 2022 by Anastasia Kuskova and her team, is working to improve sustainability in the metals and mining industries with its AI-based platform. Their tool aims to simplify the collection and analysis of sustainability data while reducing management time. This week, beSirius secured €3 million to expand product development and enhance supply chain integrations.
Inicio AI (UK) – £2.6 Million
Founded by Andy Smy, Graeme Macleod, and Rachel Curtis in 2020, Inicio AI focuses on streamlining the mortgage application process using AI. With recent funding of £2.6 million, the startup aims to improve efficiency for lenders and borrowers alike by automating administrative tasks, thereby addressing long-standing industry inefficiencies.
Habitual (UK) – £1 Million
Established in 2019 by Napala Pratini, Habitual is a healthcare company devoted to sustainable weight loss and improving long-term habits. By blending medication and personalized support, Habitual helps individuals manage weight-related health issues. The company recently received £1 million to expand its product range.
Klaimy (France) – €1.2 Million
French startup Klaimy, founded in 2023 by Amira Nakouri and her team, is changing how health insurance processes medical data. With its AI solutions, Klaimy transforms medical documents into structured information, facilitating more accurate underwriting. It has recently gained €1.2 million in funding to enhance its capabilities.
H’ability (France) – €1.2 Million
Founded in 2021 by Bérengère Henrion and Marie-Odile Mckeeney, H’ability leverages VR technology to enhance neuro-rehabilitation for patients recovering from serious conditions. Its portable VR therapy system offers engaging exercises aimed at boosting patient recovery. The startup has secured €1.2 million for expansion and further development.
Finch 3D (Sweden) – €1 Million
Stockholm-based Finch 3D, led by Pamela Nunez Wallgren and Jesper Wallgren, is digitizing the AEC industry with its AI solutions that streamline design workflows. The startup recently acquired €1 million in funding to drive its mission of innovating building design processes.
Sakura (Sweden) – $270,000
Sakura, a platform dedicated to emotional health, aims to provide accessible resources through online sessions with professional coaches. Recently, the startup secured $270,000 to enhance its operations and broaden its reach.
UNOMR (Switzerland) – CHF 150,000
Swiss biotech startup UNOMR is pioneering new methods for analyzing proteins directly from tissue samples, minimizing the need for complex preparations. With CHF 150,000 in recent funding, UNOMR plans to enhance its technology and support pharmaceutical research.
The Bigger Picture
Despite the ongoing challenges in the venture capital landscape, female-founded startups are on the rise, particularly within healthtech, AI, and sustainability sectors. With the UK leading this movement and promising developments in Sweden, Italy, and the Netherlands, the startup ecosystem is moving towards more inclusive innovation. Investors should take notice of these emerging ventures, as they not only show rapid growth but are also shaping the future landscape.
