New wave of venture capital funds targets female-founded startups
A growing number of venture capital (VC) firms are launching or closing funds focused specifically on backing women-led startups. In September 2026, Berlin-based Auxxo closed its second Female Catalyst Fund at €33.3 million ($38.7 million), one of the largest such vehicles in Europe. Other recent launches include Arāya Sie Fund and Women Backing Women fund-of-funds, which have also raised significant capital. This trend is part of a broader surge in funding for female-founded startups across Europe, with deal values reaching €9.7 billion so far this year—on track to be the third-highest annual total since 2025. However, despite rising investment levels, all-female founding teams still account for just 1% of overall VC deal value. Female-led companies are increasingly entering deep-tech sectors like quantum computing and AI robotics. Notable examples include Quobly’s €115 million Series A in June and Synthesia's $200 million funding round at a $4 billion valuation.