€199B: The cost of overlooking European deep tech firms led by women
A new EU-backed report from the GENDEX project reveals just how costly gender inequality is in Europe’s deep tech scene — to the tune of nearly €199 billion in lost value. Women currently lead only 22% of deep tech firms, and those who do secure funding often face slower timelines, fewer resources, and worse deal terms than their male counterparts. Despite making up 42% of STEM graduates in Europe, women remain underrepresented in innovation, with only 24% of patent applications coming from female inventors. This lack of diversity is stifling innovation and draining value from one of Europe’s most important sectors.
The GENDEX report paints a clear picture: women-led deep tech companies create serious value, even though they make up just 0.6% of non-IPO exits. If more of these firms had been supported, the market could’ve unlocked nearly €199 billion more in value over the last decade. Leaders behind the report, like Tanya Suarez from IoT Tribe, argue that this isn’t just a gender issue — it’s about building the most innovative and profitable tech ecosystem possible. The call to action is loud and clear: Europe needs to level the playing field if it wants to stay competitive on the global tech stage.
GENDEX offers four key recommendations to close the gender gap: require gender reporting before investments, increase capital allocation to women-led startups, strengthen IP support for female innovators, and ensure public funding is tied to gender-diverse portfolios. These aren’t just policy tweaks — they’re a roadmap for unlocking talent, innovation, and economic growth across the continent. If followed, they could help turn Europe into a global leader in inclusive innovation, especially in the high-stakes world of deep tech.
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/europe-missed-199-billion-overlooking-deep-tech-women-leders
