European All In: Female Founders in the VC Ecosystem

This inaugural report, published by PitchBook, highlights both progress and persistent challenges faced by female founders in the European VC landscape. The study reveals that while female-founded startups are making strides, they still receive significantly less investment compared to their male counterparts. In 2021, female-founded companies collectively surpassed the €10 billion mark in VC investments for the first time, marking a milestone in the industry. The report also emphasizes the underrepresentation of women in decision-making roles, with only 15.2% of general partners in large VC firms being women. Despite these challenges, the study notes positive trends, including growth in female angel investors, increasing early-stage funding for women-led companies, and a record-high percentage of deal count involving female founders in 2023. The report serves as a crucial resource for understanding the evolving landscape of female entrepreneurship in Europe's VC ecosystem.