Open Call Analysis: Open Horizons 1 Women-Led Deeptech

Open Horizons Open Call #1 offers €1.2M to women-led, digital & deep-tech early-stage European startups for innovation and investment readiness. Apply by Aug 21, 2025.

About Open Horizons Open Call

Open Horizons is a programme whose purpose is to connect leading corporations with high-potential, women-led, digital, and deep-tech startups through an open innovation process. The 26-month project, is designed to accelerate the growth of women-led deep-tech ventures, facilitating collaboration and providing substantial financial backing of €1.2 million.

The programme follows a structured, results-driven approach, with two phases: an initial development phase and a five-month pilot phase. Participants benefit from continuous mentorship, industry networking, and exposure to potential investors.

Why Apply to Open Horizons First Open Call?

Financial Support: The project will provide €1.2 million in funding for startups. The initial development phase includes financial support, mentorship, and expert guidance.
Corporate Collaboration: Facilitates direct collaboration with leading corporations, allowing startups to gain market traction and corporations to access cutting-edge innovations.
Structured Open Innovation Programme: Offers a unique opportunity to participate in a tailored open innovation programme, designed to enhance the capabilities of innovative startups.
Access to Investments and Growth Opportunities: Provides structured pathways to access significant investment and growth opportunities.
Mentorship and Networking: Participants benefit from continuous mentorship, industry networking, and exposure to potential investors.
Long-Term Impact: The goal is to support the development and enhance the investment readiness of these startups, helping them scale their solutions and create long-term impact within the deep-tech ecosystem.

Who Can Apply?

Open Horizons focuses on supporting women-led, digital, and deep-tech early-stage startups located in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Specific Requirements:

Established Country: Must be registered in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
Startup/SME: Must be an autonomous SME (fewer than 250 staff, turnover/balance below specific thresholds), established between 6 months and 6 years, and having raised less than €1 million in equity.
Women Leadership: A woman must be a recognized founder/co-founder in a senior management role (CEO, CTO, CSO, etc.) and own at least 25% of company shares.
Deep-tech / Digital Focus: Solutions must be based on advanced/disruptive technologies (deep-tech) or innovative digital business models.
Additional Conditions: Applicants must meet ethical and financial standards, with no history of fraud or bankruptcy. No conflict of interest with the Open Horizons consortium.

How to Apply to Open Horizons Open Call

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the Sploro Platform; no other submission methods will be considered.

The online application form requires details across several sections, including:

Legal and Contact Information: Basic applicant and organization details, plus eligibility self-declaration.
Project Description: A brief overview of your proposed solution in response to a corporate challenge.
Technical Excellence: Details on the scientific/technological soundness, objectives, and uniqueness of your innovation.
Impact: Your innovation’s business potential, market strategy, and expected socio-economic/environmental benefits.
Implementation: Your team’s capacity, experience, and the feasibility of your work plan, including risk management.
Policy & Ethics: Acceptance of privacy terms (GDPR) and confirmation of ethical compliance.
Declaration of Honor: A certification of accurate information and commitment to participate if selected.

Additionally, applicants must upload CVs of relevant team members in PDF format via the Sploro Platform. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Proposal Requirements for Open Horizons Open Call

Compliance with Corporate Challenges: Startups applying to this call will be invited to select one of the published challenges that aligns with their solution and propose how they can address it. Startups are expected to propose one or more components that significantly contribute to the overall solution.
Business Plan: The proposal should include a clear business plan outlining the market opportunity, target customers, revenue model, and growth strategy.
Innovation: Proposals must demonstrate a high degree of innovation and technological readiness, showing how the solution is unique and addresses a significant market need.

Evaluation and Selection Process Open Call 1

The evaluation and selection process is rigorous and designed to identify the most promising startups.

Evaluation Criteria:

Excellence (50%): Evaluators will look for clear, relevant objectives and a well-structured methodology. Projects should demonstrate strong innovation potential, technical robustness, and an appropriate level of technological maturity.
Impact (30%): Proposals must show a convincing path to market, with a feasible business strategy, scalability, and clear socio-economic or environmental benefits. Alignment with the goals of Open Horizons and the selected corporate challenge is essential.
Implementation (20%): The team’s expertise, the quality of the work plan, and the clarity of deliverables will be key. Reviewers will also consider risk management and how well resources are allocated to achieve project success.

Selection Stages:

Eligibility Check: Applications will first be screened for formal eligibility criteria (e.g., country of establishment, SME status, women leadership, completeness of application).
Remote Evaluation: Eligible proposals will be evaluated remotely by a panel of independent experts based on the “Excellence,” “Impact,” and “Implementation” criteria.
Remote Interviews: The highest-ranked proposals will be invited for remote interviews, where they will present their solution and answer questions from the evaluation committee.
Final Selection: Based on the scores from the remote evaluation and interviews, a final ranking will be established, and the selected startups will be communicated.

Legal Validation and Grant Agreement: Selected startups will undergo legal validation and prepare the sub-grant agreement.

Additional Support Beyond Funding

Beyond financial support, selected startups will receive comprehensive assistance to accelerate their growth:

Tailored Mentorship: Access to experienced mentors from the deep-tech and corporate sectors.
Acceleration Program: Participation in a structured acceleration program designed to refine business models, enhance product development, and prepare for investment.
Networking Opportunities: Direct access to a wide network of corporations, investors, industry experts, and fellow entrepreneurs.
Visibility: Public listing through Open Horizons communication channels, including its website and social media platforms, enhancing market visibility.
Open Innovation Opportunities: Facilitated collaboration with leading corporations to co-develop solutions and gain market traction.

Important Dates

1st Open Call Launch: June 11, 2025.
1st InfoDay Session: June 18, 2025, 14:00 CEST (Brussels).
2nd InfoDay Session: July 16, 2025, 10:00 CEST (Brussels).
Submission Deadline: August 21, 2025, 17:00 CEST (Brussels time).
Programme Starts: October 2025.

Final Thoughts on Open Horizons Open Call 1

The Open Horizons Open Call #1 represents a significant opportunity for women-led, digital, and deep-tech early-stage startups in Europe. With substantial funding, a structured acceleration programme, direct corporate collaboration, and expert mentorship, this call is uniquely positioned to propel innovative solutions to market. We encourage applicants to attend the Info Days (June 18, 2025, and July 16, 2025) to gain a deeper understanding of the programme objectives and application process. Don’t miss this chance to scale your deep-tech innovation and make a lasting impact.