About SCALE'HER
The Six Components of the Accelerator
SCALE'HER is built around six interconnected components, each designed to address a specific stage or need in the deep-tech scale-up journey. Click or hover on any component to learn more.
Cluster-Based Interactive Workshops
The core hands-on element of the programme, delivered monthly in groups of 20 founders.
Learn MoreWorkshops are built around critical deep-tech scale-up milestones, from defining capital strategy to simulating investor interactions. Each session prioritises practical application over theory, with founders working directly on their own company materials. Workshops are not recorded, as their value lies in live discussion, peer accountability, and real-time expert feedback.
Full-Cohort Insight Panels
Expert sessions bringing all 60 founders together with active investors, corporates, and scale-up operators.
Learn MorePanels provide direct perspectives on what drives real investment decisions in deep-tech ventures. They cover governance, valuation, board dynamics, and common negotiation mistakes. These sessions create shared reference points across the entire cohort, elevating discussion beyond individual company challenges.
Expert Webinars
Structured knowledge sessions delivering financial and governance frameworks essential for deep-tech scale-up.
Learn MoreTopics include runway management, equity versus debt instruments, investor-priority metrics, and scenario planning. Unlike workshops, webinars are recorded and available on the SCALE'HER digital platform for flexible access. They are designed to build shared financial discipline and investor literacy across all participants.
Peer Learning & Informal Founder Exchange
Optional but intentional community formats designed to build trust and strategic perspective across the cohort.
Learn MoreFounders engage in facilitated virtual coffee sessions and informal meet-ups to strengthen cross-border connections. These exchanges encourage shared reflection on challenges, progress, and strategy beyond formal sessions. The goal is to foster a genuine founder community that extends beyond the programme itself.
Dedicated Mentoring
One-to-one mentoring sessions delivered over a three-month period following the core acceleration phase.
Learn MoreEach eligible founder receives up to 6 hours of personalised mentoring focused on capital execution, investor engagement, and scale-up priorities. Mentors are matched based on a needs assessment completed toward the end of the acceleration phase. They are drawn from a curated pool of deep-tech investors, experienced founders, and financial and governance experts.
Curated Investor Exposure
Structured, bias-reduced opportunities for founders to engage meaningfully with active investors throughout the programme.
Learn MoreRather than relying on high-volume pitching events, investors are embedded across panels, thematic sessions, and the Blind Pitch Competition. The competition itself runs progressively from 60 founders down to a final winner, with structured feedback at every stage. Through the mentoring phase, founders also gain direct access to capital-market insight from practitioners actively involved in investment decisions.
Our Mission
SCALE’HER is an EU-funded accelerator program designed to elevate exceptional female-led deeptech startups and bridge the innovation gap between high and low-performing regions. We’re on a mission to increase market presence and unlock funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of technology.
Through a comprehensive blend of mentorship cohorts, strategic pitch sessions, and curated investor matchmaking, we transform promising ventures into investment-ready powerhouses.
Overview of the Entrepreneurship Landscape
Europe's startup ecosystem generates tens of billions in venture capital annually, yet the opportunity is far from equally shared. Between 2020 and 2025, women-led startups attracted only 12% of all venture capital funding across the EU, and the gap is widening, with all-female founding teams receiving just 0.88% of investments above €10 million, the stage where deep-tech ventures need capital most. The barriers are structural, not a pipeline problem, making targeted accelerators a proven solution: founders who participate in dedicated female founder programmes are 2.1 times more likely to secure funding within 12 months.
The Blind Pitch Competition Journey
From 60 Startups to 1 Champion
The winning startup doesn't just pitch to investors—6 investors pitch to them for the opportunity to collaborate and fuel their growth.
Expert Evaluation: Industry professionals assess each startup against rigorous criteria, ensuring only the most innovative and scalable businesses advance. Announcements follow each round, building momentum toward the final reveal.
Founder Development Workshops
Beyond competition, SCALE'HER invests in your long-term success with specialized workshops designed to sharpen critical entrepreneurial skills.
Defining Capital Strategy & Establishing a Financial Baseline
Founders build the foundation of their capital approach and establish an investor-ready financial position.
Designing & Structuring the Right Fundraising Round
Founders work through the critical decisions involved in designing a round that fits their stage and objectives.
Mapping & Leveraging Strategic Partnerships and Pilot Opportunities
Founders identify and develop the partnerships and market validation opportunities most relevant to their scale-up.
Preparing a Structured Data Room & Investment Memo
Founders build the core documentation needed to support a credible and compelling investor engagement process.
Planning Disciplined Capital Deployment
Founders develop a realistic plan for how raised capital will be allocated and executed post-raise.
Simulating Investor Interactions & Pitch Dynamics
Founders practice and stress-test their investor narrative in a structured, feedback-rich environment.
Built by Europe’s Best
Powered by a consortium of industry-leading organizations from across 10 countries
Apply for the SCALE´HER Accelerator
Apply now to join our next cohort of ambitious founders. Takes about 10 minutes.