Hello {{first_name}}!
In the spirit of Women's History Month, we aren't just celebrating progressāwe are architecting it. True leadership in the 2026 tech landscape isn't about being "included"; it's about being dominant. While most founders settle for local wins, the elite are leveraging state-backed European power to land the world's biggest corporate fish.
This is the essence of Open Horizons. It isnāt just another program; itās a Strategic Gateway for female-led Deep Tech empires. Backed by Horizon Europe, it offers up to ā¬55,000 equity-free and, more importantly, a direct seat at the table with industrial giants to run high-impact pilots.
In a world that talks about "diversity," this program talks about deployment. Itās about taking your technical core and scaling it through the veins of European industryāall while keeping 100% of your equity.
The Info-Day is tomorrow, March 18th. This is the moment to stop building in the dark and start scaling in the spotlight.
š„ Let us know
- We are planning our first community event!
šÆ 1 Top Award
ā perfect for bootstrap founders.
šWould you be interested in pitching your startup here for free?
š Name of the Program: Open Horizons (Open Call #3)
šÆ Aim: A Horizon Europe-funded project designed to bridge the funding gap for female-led Deep Tech startups. The goal is to move breakthrough technologies from the lab to the market by pairing startups directly with major European corporations for real-world pilot projects.
š Organizer: A consortium of EU partners (including Sploro), funded by the European Commission.
šÆ Focus: The program seeks digital and technological solutions for specific industrial challenges.
Smart Retail: Innovations for commerce (logistics, UX, supply chain).
Deep Tech: AI, IoT, Blockchain, and Robotics.
Green & Circular: Sustainability, CO2 reduction, and circular economy.
Industry 4.0: Automation and efficient manufacturing processes.
šø Investment & Support:
$0 Equity Taken: This is a pure EU grant program. They take zero shares in your company.
Up to ā¬55,000 Cash: Distributed in phases (Inception & Piloting).
Corporate Matchmaking: Direct access to major industry players (e.g., Migros Ticaret) for Pilot Projects and Proof-of-Concepts (PoC).
Mentoring: Expert guidance to make your product "market-ready" for the European landscape.
ā Who can apply?
Female-Led: At least one woman in a C-level role (CEO, CTO, etc.) holding at least 25% of the shares.
SMEs & Startups: Based in any EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country.
Age: Registered for at least 6 months but no more than 6 years.
Funding Limit: Maximum of ā¬1 Million in previous equity funding (Bootstrappers are highly welcome!).
š Deadline: May 19, 2026
Status: Applications are currently OPEN!
šØ IMPORTANT: Official Info-Day tomorrow, March 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM CET. This is where the specific Corporate Challenges will be revealed.
Pilot Phase Start: September 2026.
š” My Comment: While the WIPO Award is the "Seal of Innovation," Open Horizons is the "Revenue Accelerator."For female founders with a strong technical core, this is a unique chance to secure cash without dilution while landing a major corporate client. If you want to prove that your tech works in the real world, this is your ticket. šŖšŗāļøš
About The Bootstrap Insider
The Bootstrap Insider is a newsletter that helps startups discover and apply for pitch competitions, ensuring they never miss out on valuable opportunities. It addresses the problem of missed funding and exposure chances due to lack of information. Created by Bartosz Kajdas, an experienced entrepreneur, venture builder and Pitchtrainer, the platform leverages his expertise to provide timely and relevant updates.
Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. We shall not be liable for any damages arising from the use or non-use of the information provided.