Female Founder Award 2026

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Female Founder Award 2026

Empowering Women. Accelerating Innovation.

The Award

The Female Founder Award celebrates women leading innovative startups that are driving the disruptive technologies shaping the future.

Apply now and join us for the 10th edition of VivaTech, taking place from 17–20 June 2026 in Paris.

Apply Now

Female Founder Award

While female-founded companies still receive only 12% of venture funding, it’s time to help women make their voices heard.*

The Female Founder Challenge was created 8 years ago to empower women entrepreneurs by facilitating networking opportunities, raising brand awareness, and providing access to funding.

The five finalists will be invited to pitch in June at VivaTech 2026.

The winner will be announced alongside the other award winners during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony, gaining significant visibility and a prominent spotlight during the event.

Don’t miss your chance!

While female-founded companies still receive only 12% of venture funding, it’s time to help women make their voices heard.*

The Female Founder Challenge was created 8 years ago to empower women entrepreneurs by facilitating networking opportunities, raising brand awareness, and providing access to funding.

The five finalists will be invited to pitch in June at VivaTech 2026.

The winner will be announced alongside the other award winners during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony, gaining significant visibility and a prominent spotlight during the event.

Don’t miss your chance!

While female-founded companies still receive only 12% of venture funding, it’s time to help women make their voices heard.*

The Female Founder Challenge was created 8 years ago to empower women entrepreneurs by facilitating networking opportunities, raising brand awareness, and providing access to funding.

The five finalists will be invited to pitch in June at VivaTech 2026.

The winner will be announced alongside the other award winners during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony, gaining significant visibility and a prominent spotlight during the event.

Don’t miss your chance!

While female-founded companies still receive only 12% of venture funding, it’s time to help women make their voices heard.*

The Female Founder Challenge was created 8 years ago to empower women entrepreneurs by facilitating networking opportunities, raising brand awareness, and providing access to funding.

The five finalists will be invited to pitch in June at VivaTech 2026.

The winner will be announced alongside the other award winners during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony, gaining significant visibility and a prominent spotlight during the event.

Don’t miss your chance!

*Source: Sifted – 100 Women in Tech 2025

Apply Now

Eligibility Criteria

Selection Criteria

Innovation

Level of relevance, originality and innovation demonstrated by the tech solution

Scalability & Viability

Ability of the solution to scale while remaining technically, economically and environmentally viable

Team Profile

Profile of the female founder(s) and co-founder(s), ability to lead the project to success, hard and soft skills of the operational team

Business Model

Your business model demonstrated traction and product/market fit

Impact

Solutions that contribute to improving environmental and social impact

Rewards

For the Top 30 Female Founders
One VivaTech Startup Pass
For the 5 finalists
- Pitch your solution in front of a jury of top decision makers and investors
- One-to-one meetings with VCs
- Strong visibility across VivaTech’s communication channels
- Two VivaTech Startup Passes
For the Winner
- Pitch your solution during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony
- Fundraising coaching by IRIS (from pitch deck revamp to intros to VCs)
- Extensive visibility
- A free Startup Corner at 2026 VivaTech
- A 5-month business development mentoring program with Forvis Mazars XFactory

For the Top 30 Female Founders
One VivaTech Startup Pass
For the 5 finalists
- Pitch your solution in front of a jury of top decision makers and investors
- One-to-one meetings with VCs
- Strong visibility across VivaTech’s communication channels
- Two VivaTech Startup Passes
For the Winner
- Pitch your solution during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony
- Fundraising coaching by IRIS (from pitch deck revamp to intros to VCs)
- Extensive visibility
- A free Startup Corner at 2026 VivaTech
- A 5-month business development mentoring program with Forvis Mazars XFactory

For the Top 30 Female Founders
One VivaTech Startup Pass
For the 5 finalists
- Pitch your solution in front of a jury of top decision makers and investors
- One-to-one meetings with VCs
- Strong visibility across VivaTech’s communication channels
- Two VivaTech Startup Passes
For the Winner
- Pitch your solution during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony
- Fundraising coaching by IRIS (from pitch deck revamp to intros to VCs)
- Extensive visibility
- A free Startup Corner at 2026 VivaTech
- A 5-month business development mentoring program with Forvis Mazars XFactory

For the Top 30 Female Founders
One VivaTech Startup Pass
For the 5 finalists
- Pitch your solution in front of a jury of top decision makers and investors
- One-to-one meetings with VCs
- Strong visibility across VivaTech’s communication channels
- Two VivaTech Startup Passes
For the Winner
- Pitch your solution during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony
- Fundraising coaching by IRIS (from pitch deck revamp to intros to VCs)
- Extensive visibility
- A free Startup Corner at 2026 VivaTech
- A 5-month business development mentoring program with Forvis Mazars XFactory

Timeline

November 25, 2025
Launch of the Female Founder Award
February 2, 2026
End of applications
March 23, 2026
Official announcement of the Top 30
April 28, 2026
Official release of the 5 finalists
June 18, 2026
Final on stage at VivaTech and Awards ceremony

November 25, 2025
Launch of the Female Founder Award
February 2, 2026
End of applications
March 23, 2026
Official announcement of the Top 30
April 28, 2026
Official release of the 5 finalists
June 18, 2026
Final on stage at VivaTech and Awards ceremony

November 25, 2025
Launch of the Female Founder Award
February 2, 2026
End of applications
March 23, 2026
Official announcement of the Top 30
April 28, 2026
Official release of the 5 finalists
June 18, 2026
Final on stage at VivaTech and Awards ceremony

November 25, 2025
Launch of the Female Founder Award
February 2, 2026
End of applications
March 23, 2026
Official announcement of the Top 30
April 28, 2026
Official release of the 5 finalists
June 18, 2026
Final on stage at VivaTech and Awards ceremony

Apply Now

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2025 Winner

Hélène Briand

Co-founder & CTO of Verley

Verley is a biotechnology company dedicated to transforming the dairy industry through its precision fermentation technology.

2025 Finalists

Last year, these five inspiring and ambitious women made it to the finals and took the stage at the Female Founder Award Final to present their innovative products in front of a prestigious jury. Be one of them this year!
Find more details on our dedicated article.

Jasmine Tagesson

Co-Founder & COO

Hormona

Hélène Briand

Co-Founder & CTO

Verley

Aranzazu Carmona Orbezo

Co-Founder & CTO

Parallel Carbon

Lara Gervaise

Co-Founder

Virtuosis AI

Elissa Brunato

Founder & CEO

Radian Matter

Female Founder Award 2026

Female Founder Award 2026

Female Founder Award 2026

Female Founder Award 2026

Empowering Women. Accelerating Innovation.

Empowering Women. Accelerating Innovation.

Empowering Women. Accelerating Innovation.

Empowering Women. Accelerating Innovation.

The Award

Female Founder Award

Eligibility Criteria

Selection Criteria

Innovation

Scalability & Viability

Team Profile

Business Model

Impact

Rewards

For the Top 30 Female Founders

For the 5 finalists

For the Winner

For the Top 30 Female Founders

For the 5 finalists

For the Winner

For the Top 30 Female Founders

For the 5 finalists

For the Winner

For the Top 30 Female Founders

For the 5 finalists

For the Winner

Timeline

2025 Winner

Hélène Briand

2025 Finalists