Sponsoring the Female EdTech Fellowship

- backing talent that too often gets left behind

There is no shortage of women building in EdTech.

In fact, when founders first enter the ecosystem, our map data shows that more than 50% are women. And yet, by the time companies are more established, that number drops sharply: just over 25% of EdTech companies are led by women.

European EdTech Map Report

At the European EdTech Alliance, we see this play out again and again through theFemale EdTech Fellowships. Every cohort attracts 200 to 300 applications from women across Europe. The interest, ideas and ambition are there. But only a fraction of those women are actually in a position to afford participation.

That gap matters to us: Because who gets support, who gets community, who gets visibility, and who gets the confidence to keep going all shape who is still standing a few years later. And we want to see more women standing and helping to define what digital education can look like.

The EdTech Gap

EdTech is not just another startup space: It shapes learning, teaching, assessment, access, and opportunity. It is the backbone of how our education systems function at scale, how defence and health training take place, how companies can continue to effectively upskill and reskill their employees. And it influences what children see, how educators work, and whose needs are considered in product design and decision-making.

Representation in this sector is not just a nice-to-have. Experience and context truly matter, and we need to ensure we have real representation. If women are present in large numbers at the starting point, but far less visible among the companies that endure, scale, and lead, then something in the ecosystem is filtering them out.

The Female EdTech Fellowship exists to change that.

It provides targeted support for women founders through structured learning, mentorship, peer exchange, and community. It creates a space where founders are taken seriously, challenged constructively, and connected to others who understand the realities of building in EdTech. It is practical, ambitious, and designed for real founder needs. The programme includes distinct tracks for different stages of the journey and has already supported a growing network of women founders across Europe.

Join us in amplifying women’s voices

For the first time, we are actively seeking supporters who share our vision and mission and want to ensure that we are not leaving behind so many wonderful ideas and innovators. Sponsorship is what will make access possible.

When organisations sponsor the Female EdTech Fellowship, they help ensure that participation is not limited only to those who already have the financial margin, network confidence, or institutional backing to say yes.

They help open the door to founders who may otherwise remain on the edge of the ecosystem, despite having strong ideas, strong expertise, and strong potential.

If we want a stronger and more representative European EdTech landscape, then we need to intervene earlier. We need to back the women who are building now, not only celebrate the few who have already made it through.

What sponsorship supports

The Female EdTech Fellowship includes both Early Stage and Growth Stage support, as well as a connected alumnae network. Sponsorship can help us widen access to these opportunities, strengthen the programme, and support high-value moments such as the in-person retreat that many fellows describe as transformative.

By sponsoring the Fellowship, partners can help us:

• widen access for women who would otherwise be unable to participate

• strengthen a high-quality support structure for women founders in EdTech

• back a more representative innovation pipeline in European education

• invest in a part of the ecosystem where support can have long-term effects

This is also a concrete way for organisations to align their commitments around innovation, inclusion, and the future of education with visible action.

Become part of this meaningful work

We are currently seeking targeted sponsors for the Female EdTech Fellowship. This includes opportunities to support:

• the overall Fellowship

• the in-person retreat

• individual founder scholarships

If your organisation wants to back women founders in a meaningful way, this is a practical and high-impact opportunity to do so.

You can explore our sponsorship opportunities in this document.

For partnership conversations please get in touch → Programmes