Despite a cooling investment climate, female founders are proving their resilience. Between April 21 and 25, 2025, women-led startups collectively raised nearly €50 million, underscoring their growing influence across various sectors, including biotech and space tech. Even as overall venture funding remains tight, female entrepreneurs continue to navigate challenges and build momentum. The broader startup ecosystem is also showing promising signs of supporting diverse leadership.
While there are challenges in the venture capital arena, the commitment to supporting female-led ventures remains evident. Kompas VC, a firm with a female partner, has closed its €150 million Fund II, signalling continued confidence in diverse leadership and innovative ventures.
The following companies, led or co-founded by women, have recently secured significant funding, highlighting their innovative approaches and the trust investors place in their visions.
Oryzon Genomics (Spain)
Founder/s: Carlos Buesa, Tamara Maes
Founded year: 2000
Recent funding: €30M
Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Oryzon Genomics specialises in epigenetics to develop therapies for diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Their lead CNS asset, vafidemstat, targets borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and Kabuki syndrome, while their oncology asset, iadademstat, focuses on acute leukaemia and solid tumours.
Recently, Oryzon Genomics closed a €30 million capital increase by issuing 12,765,958 new shares at €2.35 each, representing a 15.44% discount on the 5-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP). The offering was oversubscribed, with €15 million anchored by a leading US institutional investor. The funds will support clinical development, corporate initiatives, and a potential Nasdaq listing. The capital increase was managed by Maxim, All-Invest, and Singular Bank, with Banco Sabadell as the Settlement Agent.
OKAPI:Orbits (Germany)
Founder/s: Kristina Nikolaus, Jonas Radtke, Christopher Kebschull
Founded year: 2017
Total funding: €13M
Space traffic management software provider OKAPI:Orbits coordinates and optimises satellite operations. Their platform aggregates data from radar, telescopes, in-orbit sensors, and laser ranging to predict risks and environmental impacts, helping operators extend satellite lifespans and reduce operational costs. With over 50 spacecraft utilising their services and more than 150 registered users globally, OKAPI:Orbits is at the forefront of ensuring safe and sustainable space operations.
OKAPI:Orbits has announced €13M in total seed funding, led by Ventech, with participation from Matterwave Ventures and existing investors like the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund. Notable individual investors, including Christian Miele, also joined the round. The new capital will boost the company’s technical development, expand its team, and support its global growth ambitions.
Ovo Labs (UK)
Founder/s: Melina Schuh, Dr Agata Zielinska, Dr Oleksandr Yagensky
Founded year: 2025
Total funding: £4M
Ovo Labs is a UK-based startup that aims to significantly improve outcomes for women undergoing IVF by addressing the root cause of infertility, declining egg quality. Ovo Labs’ therapeutics have shown promising results in enhancing the quality of unfertilised human eggs ex vivo. Its therapeutics are designed to address aneuploidy, the genetic abnormalities that often affect eggs in older women. Their therapy is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing IVF workflows without adding cost or complexity for patients while offering new hope to those facing age-related infertility.
Last week, Ovo Labs snapped up £4 million in seed funding co-led by Creator Fund and LocalGlobe, with additional backing from Blue Wire Capital, Ahren Innovation Capital, and Antonio Pellicer, founder of the world’s largest chain of IVF clinics. With these funds, the company is poised to transition from the lab to the clinic, moving its lead egg-quality therapeutic closer to real-world application.
TreQ (UK)
Founder/s: Mandy Birch
Founded year: 2023
Total funding: £1.7M
TreQ is a UK-based quantum computing startup that specialises in building and operating bespoke, open-architecture quantum computing systems. Their modular and upgradeable clusters are designed to integrate a variety of quantum processors, control systems, and software platforms, providing scalable and capital-efficient solutions for industries such as finance, healthcare, logistics, and scientific research. By focusing on interoperability and flexibility, TreQ aims to accelerate the adoption of quantum technologies across various sectors.
A few days back, TreQ secured a £1.7 million grant from Innovate UK. Its previous seed funding from investors, including Lavrock Ventures, Creator Fund, firstminute capital, and Green Sands.
Ask Wire (Cyprus)
Founder/s: Niki Tsivitanou, Pavlos Loizou
Founded year: 2020
Total funding: €200K
Ask Wire is a Cyprus-based proptech startup specialising in real estate data analytics. Their platform aggregates and analyses property data to provide insights for investors, developers, and financial institutions, facilitating informed decision-making in the real estate sector. By offering comprehensive market analysis and predictive modelling, Ask Wire aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in property transactions.
Recently, Ask Wire secured €200K in funding from the Cyprus Innovation Fund and regional angel investors. The investment will be directed towards developing advanced AI algorithms, expanding data coverage, and enhancing user interface features.
Arktis Radiation Detectors (Switzerland)
Founder/s: Giovanna Davatz, Mario Vogeli, Rico Chandra
Founded year: 2007
Recent funding: NA
Swiss startup Arktis Radiation Detectors specialises in the development of advanced radiation detection systems. Their technologies are designed to detect and identify nuclear and radiological threats, serving applications in national security, border control, and emergency response. Arktis’s solutions are known for their portability, scalability, and integration capabilities.
Last week, Arktis Radiation Detectors secured an undisclosed strategic investment from Second Century Ventures, Tenancy Deposit Scheme, and Propertymark. It will be used to support its expansion into new markets and sectors. The company has also strengthened its Board of Directors with industry leaders to guide its next phase of innovation and market leadership.
BuiltAPI (Germany)
Founder/s: Olga Dentzel, Ivan Nokhrin
Founded year: 2024
Recent funding: NA
German startup BuiltAPI is focused on providing API solutions for the real estate industry, aiming to streamline project management and data integration. Their platform facilitates seamless communication between various construction software tools, enhancing efficiency and reducing project delays. By enabling real-time data sharing, BuiltAPI supports better decision-making and project oversight.
While specific funding details have not been disclosed, BuiltAPI is reportedly engaging in strategic partnerships with construction firms and software providers to expand its market presence and refine its offerings. These collaborations are expected to play a crucial role in the company’s growth and adoption within the industry.
FUL Foods (Netherlands)
Founder/s: Julia Streuli, Sara Guaglio, Cristina Prat
Founded year: 2020
Recent funding: NA
FUL Foods is a Dutch foodtech startup dedicated to developing sustainable and nutritious food products. Their offerings focus on plant-based ingredients and aim to address environmental concerns associated with traditional food production. FUL Foods emphasises transparency, health benefits, and ecological impact in their product development.
Although specific funding from the Fair Capital Impact Fund is not currently available, FUL Foods is actively working to expand its product line and enter new markets. The company is investing in research and development to innovate within the sustainable food sector.
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