The NDRC Female Founders programme is open for applications, with €55,000 worth of investment up for grabs.
Astia CEO Sharon Vosmek told Inspirefest 2015 last summer that less than 5pc of funding in Silicon Valley goes to female founders. No matter what way you look at it, that figure is embarrassing. However, it’s certainly changing.
According to CrunchBase’s data, the number of women founding start-ups is on the up, although, considering it’s starting from such a low base, it’s important that initiatives are in place to encourage more to take the plunge.
Last November, Enterprise Ireland ran a shotgun two-week application process for a €500,000 fund for female entrepreneurs. Earlier in 2015, 11 start-ups took part in a 13-week Female High Fliers Programme accelerator with the DCU Ryan Academy.
NDRC now open
And now, to add to that list, applications are currently welcomed for NDRC’s Female Founders programme for this year. A partnership between Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start Fund and the NDRC, people can enter up until 22 March, with an open night to be held at the Digital Exchange in Dublin on 10 March.
“It has been designed to support ambitious female entrepreneurs to take their idea, validate its potential, craft a scalable business model and connect with follow-on investors to build the next generation of Irish high-potential start-ups,” according to its organisers.
And, if you’d like to know of dozens of other female founders around the globe that are making waves, here’s a handy list.
Women Invent is Silicon Republic’s campaign to champion the role of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. It has been running since March 2013, and is kindly supported by Intel, Open Eir (formerly Eircom Wholesale), Fidelity Investments, Accenture and CoderDojo.
Main open image via Shutterstock
