Epic-X and Women Startup Awards Join Forces to Boost Global Visibility of Female Talent and Build a Truly Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem in Europe
The European program Epic-X, a key initiative to strengthen deep-tech and energize emerging ecosystems in Europe, and the Women Startup Awards (WSA), the leading platform in Spain for showcasing and supporting female founders, announce a strategic partnership to accelerate the international presence of women entrepreneurs and reduce the gender gap that still exists in the European innovation ecosystem.
Both organizations agree on a fundamental premise: Europe cannot compete globally if it leaves out 50% of its talent. At a time when artificial intelligence, deep technologies, the green transition, and advanced digital systems are redefining competitiveness, fully integrating women into innovation is not only an ethical imperative but also a strategic requirement for the future of the continent.
A Partnership to Open Doors and Multiply the Impact of Female Founders
The Women Startup Awards, driven by the Spanish Startup Association, held their annual gala in Madrid on November 17, 2025, before over 400 attendees, recognizing female entrepreneurs leading transformative projects in fields such as deep tech, healthcare, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and impact technologies.
Their mission is clear: to showcase role models, inspire new vocations, normalize female leadership in tech sectors, and contribute to the structural change that Europe urgently needs.
For its part, Epic-X has demonstrated—through events like the PODIM conference in Slovenia, deep-tech programs in Poland, or initiatives for inclusive ecosystems in Greece—that it is possible to accelerate innovative growth when cooperation between regions is generated, talent is connected, and inclusive policies are promoted.
Both initiatives share a common vision: Without women leading innovation, Europe loses competitiveness, resilience, and impact capacity.
Internationalization: The Next Big Leap for Spanish Entrepreneurs
Through this partnership, the winners and finalists of the Women Startup Awards will have firsthand access to the network, programs, forums, and opportunities offered by Epic-X, including:
- Integration into pan-European growth and internationalization programs
- Connection to deep-tech hubs across Europe
- Introduction to European investment and acceleration networks
- Specialized mentoring for expansion and scalability
- Visibility at strategic events in the European innovation ecosystem
The goal is for Spanish female talent to grow faster, conquer new markets, and increase its impact in Europe.
Open Call Until January 5: A Gateway to Europe for More Startups
This collaboration coincides with the open call currently active by Epic-X, which is open until January 5, 2026, aimed at European startups with international scaling potential.
👉 https://epic-x.eu/open-call/
The call seeks deep-tech projects and transformative solutions, with a special focus on diverse teams, in line with the consortium’s commitment to a more competitive, connected, and inclusive European ecosystem.
A Gender Gap Europe Still Needs to Close
Despite progress, women still represent less than 20% of startup founders in Europe, and only about 2% of venture capital reaches all-female teams.
The signing organizations agree that this imbalance limits Europe’s innovative potential and hinders the creation of more complete, diverse, and sustainable solutions.
Carlos Mateo, president of the Spanish Startup Association and director of the Women Startup Awards, emphasizes:
“This partnership is a decisive step to ensure Spanish women entrepreneurs have real access to opportunities across Europe. We have founders leading some of the most innovative projects in AI, healthcare, and sustainability. What they need is visibility and access, and that’s exactly what we’ve built together with Epic-X.”
About Epic-X
Epic-X is a European initiative dedicated to accelerating the growth of deep-tech startups, strengthening regional ecosystems, promoting inclusion, and connecting talent through programs, analysis, international networks, and activities across Europe.
More information: https://epic-x.eu
About the Women Startup Awards
The Women Startup Awards is the leading platform in Spain for recognizing the incredible talent of women innovators, showcasing role models, and inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps, closing the gender gap in the innovation ecosystem.
This article was written in collaboration with Asociación Española de Startups. For more information about their work visit Asociación Española de Startups’ website.
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