Welcome back. We're glad to have you here for the latest edition of our European Women in VC Spotlight. This is the space where we put a light on the women driving Europe's next wave of innovation. Every month, we highlight standout startups across Europe led or co-led by women who are building across sectors. This isn't about numbers or gaps. It's about celebrating the women building, leading, and scaling the ventures that will shape our future! 🚀

This month, we're spotlighting six exceptional women founders who are transforming cutting-edge research into businesses with real-world impact. Coming from Europe's leading universities and supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC), they are proving that scientific excellence can become commercial success.

Together with the EIC Women Leadership Programme, we're proud to share the stories of founders who are shaping the future through innovation, leadership, and bold entrepreneurship. 

Orakl Oncology is transforming cancer drug development by using AI and virtual patient models to predict how individual tumors respond to treatment. Co-founder and COO Diane-Laure Pagès, an engineer by training, bridges scientific innovation with strategic partnerships, helping accelerate the development of more effective therapies for patients.

SageWrite develops AI-powered writing tools that help researchers transform their ideas into clear, publication-ready scientific papers while preserving their individual writing style. Founded by Elena Callegari, a linguist and AI expert with a PhD in linguistics, the company combines deep expertise in natural language processing with a passion for improving how scientific knowledge is communicated.

Surphase develops smart sensor technology that enables real-time monitoring of desalination membranes, helping reduce energy consumption, maintenance costs, and chemical use in water treatment. CEO and co-founder Iliane Rafaniello, who holds a PhD in applied chemistry, combines scientific expertise with entrepreneurial leadership to bring sustainable innovation to the global water sector.

Belfort Labs is developing hardware that enables secure computing on encrypted data, helping protect sensitive information without compromising performance. Co-founder and Chief Scientist Ingrid Verbauwhede, a world-renowned expert in cryptographic hardware and professor at KU Leuven, is turning decades of pioneering research into breakthrough cybersecurity solutions.

Gate2Brain is developing innovative peptide technology that enables medicines to cross the blood-brain barrier, opening new possibilities for treating neurological diseases and pediatric brain tumors. CEO and co-founder Meritxell Teixidó, a scientist with more than 15 years of research experience, is leading the company's mission to translate groundbreaking science into life-changing therapies.

Coolect is an AI-powered platform that simplifies ESG reporting, enabling small and medium-sized businesses to meet sustainability requirements efficiently and with confidence. It was founded by Nađa Dizdarević, a cleantech entrepreneur with a background in law and energy economics, who now also leads RenewXchange, South-East Europe's first digital marketplace for corporate renewable energy contracts. Across both ventures, she is making EU sustainability rules something businesses can act on rather than just comply with.

Know a young woman with a big idea? Send her to Scala Academy: the European learning platform built for female founders under 26 - to sign up.

Self-paced startup education for female founders under 26 across Europe. Complete the U26 Fellowship at your own pace, earn a certificate, and join a community of young women building real companies. First lesson free.

👉 If you’d like to nominate a founder for the spotlight, reach out!

We're a squad of over 1000 senior female venture capital wizards from all over Europe and beyond. We're here to flip the script and make things right.

Join us in shaking up the VC world! 🚀

Take care! European Women in VC

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